DK2577619T3

DK2577619T3 - Ink cartridge kit for marking documents

Info

Publication number: DK2577619T3
Application number: DK11719765.7T
Authority: DK
Inventors: Armin Stöckli
Original assignee: Beb Ind Elektronik Ag
Priority date: 2010-05-26
Filing date: 2011-04-21
Publication date: 2018-10-01
Also published as: EP2577619A1; EP2577619B1; DK2577619T4; WO2011147514A1; DE102010021515A1; EP2577619B2

Description

Anti-theft ink for marking documents

The invention proceeds from an ink staining kit for marking documents.

Such ink staining kits are frequently used in connection with document transport containers, in particular banknote cassettes for cash machines. In order to make raids on containers that are used to hold documents, such as certificates., valuable papers or banknotes, unattractive for criminals, one attempt, in addition to armour-plating the containers and other countermeasures, is to mark the content of the containers as soon as access to the container is gained by unauthorized people, Documents provided with marking which are being circulated must be removed as quickly as possible from circulation. That means that marking the documents must render them unusable for further use. This also includes depositing marked banknotes at a self-service terminal, such as a bank machine or cash machine. The marking of the documents must therefore both be discernible by a user with the naked eye and be easily detectable by a bank machine.

Known are anti-theft inks or robbery inks which cause both visible colouration and also a machine-readable identification of the documents that are provided with the marking. The robbery ink generally exhibits a certain resistance with respect to what is called washing, a treatment with chemical reagents for removing, bleaching or etching the robbery ink. Tins is intended to prevent the marking from being removed from documents which were originally rendered unusable and recirculating them. However, the difficulty with a number of robbery inks is that they exhibit, after a washing process, an appearance which is visually similar to dirt or soiling, which may likewise be present on the document. As a result, it is possible that remainders of a marking with robbery ink, after a washing process, are erroneously assumed by the public to be soiling of the document and that, as a result, the marking effect is lost.

Furthermore, banknotes are subjected with increasing frequency to what is known as a fitness check. During the fitness cheek, the banknotes which have been deposited at a self-service terminal are checked for stains, soiling, tears and holes.

Banknotes thai exhibit soiling and damage are kept by the bank machine. The banknotes to be checked are guided over a black roller. while an incident-light measurement by way of CIS sensors is used to detect damage or soiling. The corresponding locations therefore appear black. The problem is that, when checking the fitness of banknotes which have in particular passed on over banknote reading devices in bank machines, edge damage, open tears or holes appear as black regions and cannot be differentiated from any black colouration due to robbery ink.

Furthermore, bundles of notes that comprise a remotely triggerable miniature cartridge with red ink. I.e. an ink staining kit, are known from DE200004045U. To this date, it has been possible to attain machine-readability of the robbery ink by suitable sensors for example of a self-service terminal due to the fact that the robbery ink, in addition to the visible colouration, also has a proportion with UV fluorescence. However, these robbery inks have the disadvantage that the UV fluorescence is easily washed out by treatment with bleach or etching agents or is very easy to conceal by the addition of reagents, and for this reason is not. a suitable means for ensuring machine-readable marking of the documents. Moreover, UV features are not particularly resistant to environmental influences, and the signal strength of the UV fluorescence generally significantly decreases over the lifetime of a document, or banknote, in particular as soiling increases.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an ink staining kit having a robbery ink which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art, the colouration of which is still clearly differentiable from soiling and dirt even after having been subjected to a washing process, which does not interfere with a fitness cheek of the banknotes, and which has a machine-readability that is not easy to wash out or to conceal.

The object is achieved by an ink staining kit according to Claim 1. Furthermore described is a robbery ink having a reflection of electromagnetic radiation in at least one wavelength subrange of the visible spectrum of between 380 nm and 780 am, wherein the reflection of the electromagnetic radiation in the visible spectral range obviously also includes the scattering of the radiation at the surface of the robbery ink. The degree of scattering is here dependent on the surface constitution of the robbery ink. The reflection of the electromagnetic radiation of at least one wavelength or one wavelength range has the result that the robbery ink has a colouration that differs from black Consequently, the robbery ink maintains a marking character even after washing with chemicals and differs from dirt and soiling. Moreover, the robbery ink according to the invention has no interfering influence on a conventional fitness check of banknotes in a bank machine by way of incident-light cameras.

At the same time, the robbery ink exhibits absorption of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared range. In this range, conventional robbery inks exhibit no absorption or merely a negligibly low absorption. In the infrared range, they are transparent. The property of the robbery ink according to the invention of being absorbing in the Infrared range serves machine-readability, if the document is a banknote, the absorption in the infrared range is of particular use, because the largest proportion of the banknote, and in particular the banknote edge, is transparent in the infrared range, that is to say not. distinct. For this reason, a robbery ink exhibiting absorption in the infrared range is particularly easy to detect. To detect the absorption in the infrared range, primarily optical, Imaging sensors such as CMOS, SMOS and CCD sensors are used in banknote readers, which not only exhibit sensitivity in the visible spectral range but also sensitivity in the near infrared range.

According to an advantageous configuration of the invention, the robbery ink of the ink staining kit exhibits absorption of electromagnetic radiation in at least one further, second wavelength subrange of the visible spectrum, which differs from the first wavelength subrange w ith respect to the reflection of the electromagnetic radiation. By selective absorption of electromagnetic radiation of at least one wavelength or one wavelength range, for example a red. orange, blue, green or violet colouration of the robbery ink occurs in the case of a correspondingly complementary reflection of the remaining electromagnetic radiation. Said colourations are different from a. white colouration. Bright robbery inks cause more significant alarm in the consumer than a white colouration. Moreover, bright robbery ink is more advantageous in particular if the robbery ink happened to have landed only on imprinted regions of light-coloured documents. Especially when marking new, tightly bundled banknotes with robbery ink, the penetration depth is frequently not sufficient to wet more than the imprinted edge region. Due to a bright colouration of the robbery ink. a necessary contrast with respect to the light-coloured regions of the document is attained, which facilitates the optical detection of a document that is marked with robbery ink.

According to a further advantageous configuration of the invention, the first wavelength subrange exhibits radiation having wavelengths of between 400 nm and 575 nm, and the second wavelength subrange exhibits radiation having wavelengths of between 380 nm and 4^0 nm and/or between 575 nm and 780 nm A green robbery ink has the advantage that it still significantly differs front soiling in particular after washing out Moreover, a green robbery ink exhibits a high potential for alerting a user.

According to a further advantageous configuration of the invention, the first wavelength subrange exhibits radiation having wavelengths of between 380 nm and 490 nm, and the second wavelength subrange exhibits radiation having wavelengths of between 490 nm and 780 nm. This results in a blue robbery ink. This has the advantage that it still clearly differs from soiling in particular after washing. A correspondingly marked banknote can therefore be unambiguously visually differentiated from non-marked banknotes.

According to a further advantageous configuration of the invention, the proportion of the absorbed electromagnetic radiation in the infrared range is greater than the proportion in. the visible spectrum The absorption of the robbery ink has a higher value here in the infrared range, which is particularly important for machine-readability, than the absorption in the visible spectral range. This is particularly desirable if the document is treated with a reagent tor washing the visible colouration which also reduces the proportion which absorbs in the infrared. This becomes clear in a. case w here washing of the robbery ink is intended to achie ve as high a washing-out degree as possible, but the treatment with the chemicals entails causing damage to the document, which in particular in the case of banknotes can result in a loss of'features that are absolutely necessary for passing an authenticity check. For this reason, it is important to take into account during washing that a higher washing-out degree also causes more damage io the document Criminals performing washing will attempt to achieve a good balance between degree of washing-out and damage, because the banknote image should be kept as damage-free as possible. In this case, optical aspects are frequently considered when making a decision. Frequently, the degree of washing- out of the visible colouration is a criterion. In the case of a relatively high absorption in the infrared range, however, even after the visibie colouration has disappeared, there is still an invisible marking left on the document, by way of which documents which have improperly passed into circulation can be identified On the other hand, if the robbery ink were to have approximately equal values for the absorption in the visible and in the infrared range, the degree of washing-out in the infrared range could be more easily estimated judging by the decrease in the absorption in the visible range

According to a further advantageous configuration of the invention, the robbery ink has an absorption maximum in the infrared range. That means that the robbery ink. absorbs the electromagnetic radiation not over the entire infrared range, but only within a narrow wavelength range. The magnitude of the wavelength range can be between 2 and 50 nm, preferably between 2 and 20 nm, with particular preference between 2 and 5 run. However, ranges of merely I run are also conceivable. It Is possible for a plurality of these absorption maxima, even of different magnitudes, to be distributed over the infrared range. This has the additional advantage that a detection of a plurality of narrow-banded absorption maxima with a single sensor, the sensitivity range of which is generally limited, is very difficult.

According to a further advantageous configuration of the invention, the robbery ink emits electromagnetic radiation upon excitation by electromagnetic radiation. This is the case for example due to fluorescent properties of the robbery ink. Here, the robbery ink absorbs electromagnetic radiation of a lower wavelength and emits electromagnetic radiation of a higher wavelength. The excitation of the robbery Ink due to electromagnetic radiation can be effected at a wavelength of less than 380 nm. The emission of electromagnetic radiation takes place In the visible spectral range. However, it is also possible for the robbery ink to exhibit, in addition to the fluorescent properties or as an alternative thereto, up-conversion properties, in this case, the excitation is effected by longer-wave electromagnetic radiation, resulting in the emission of electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelengths. This up-conversion property includes the absorption of electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength m the visible spectral range and emission of electromagnetic radiation which likewise takes place in the visible range. The robbery ink preferably has both fluorescence and up-conversion properties. Moreover, further luminescence properties of the robbery ink are also conceivable

According to a further advantageous configuration of the invention, the robbery ink, upon excitation by electromagnetic radiation in the infrared range, exhibits absorption of energy of a higher wavelength with simultaneous emission of energy having a lower wavelength. For this purpose, the robbery ink exhibits up-conversion properties in the infrared range. That means that the robbery ink absorbs in the infrared range and emits electromagnetic radiation having a lower wavelength than the absorbed radiation in the infrared range or in the visible spectral range. Emission takes place regularly at wavelengths of between 380 nm and 1100 nm. It is in particular advantageous here if the excitation is effected at. wavelengths that are outside the operating range of CCD and CMOS sensors, that is to say frequently above 1 100 nm. In order to ensure excitation of the robbery ink with radiation at 'wavelengths that are outside the operating range of conventional CCD and CMOS sensors, a bank machine can be equipped with an additional light source for emitting electromagnetic radiation having correspondingly high wavelengths if the excitation is effected in this longwave Infrared range, and if the emission likewise takes place in the infrared range, it is very difficult for criminals to judge whether a marking has been washed out and to what degree.

According to a further advantageous configuration of the invention, the robbery ink includes at least one colouring means by way of which the reflection of the electromagnetic radiation in the visible spectral range Is effected. The colouring means can be an inorganic or organic colouring means, a pigment, or a colourant. In a particularly advantageous configuration, the colouring means additionally exhibits absorption in the infrared range. In a further, particularly advantageous configuration, the colouring means exhibits, in addition to the reflection of electromagnetic radiation in the visible spectral range and the absorption in the infrared range, an absorption in the visible spectral range and/or up-conversion properties. In addition, the colouring means can exhibit UV fluorescence. In the case that the colouring means exhibits a plurality of the stated properties at the same time, the concentration of the colouring means in the robbery ink can be selected to be particularly high, which is a prerequisite for a high optical density of the robbery Ink.

According to a further advantageous configuration of the invention, the robbery ink has at least one inorganic or organic component, by way of which the absorption of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared range is effected. If the component is an up-converter, the latter primarily consists of halogenides or chalcogenides of sodium, lithium or yttrium, which form a stable lattice and are doped with specific elements, typically with transition metals, lanthanides or actinides. Oxides can also be used as lattice structures. Mixtures of these up-converters are likewise conceivable.

The object of the invention is an ink staining kit for marking documents upon unauthorized access to the documents, having a robbery ink, having a reservoir for holding the robbery ink, and having a triggerabie protection device for releasing the robbery ink from the reservoir. One or more ink staining kits can. be integrated in a banknote transport cassette, a case or another container. A cartridge may serve as a reservoir for storing the robbery ink. it is particularly advantageous here that the robbery ink serves both for marking the documents in the visible spectral range and in the machine-readable infrared range. Consequently, it is possible to dispense with the use of a plurality of reservoirs having a plurality of different markings, ’which under some circumstances may not be intermixed before use. As soon as sensors of a protection device register unauthorized access, the robbery ink is released. The robbery ink can here be released by way of exerting pressure on the reservoir, wherein the robbery ink leaves the reservoir by way of a pressure valve. To this end, for example upon triggering of the protection device, gas is pushed into the reservoir by a CO2 pressure container. This mechanism allows extremely fast reaction to access by unauthorized persons. In addition, the ink staining kit can be equipped with a distribution device for distributing, the robbery ink on said documents. The distribution device can be a nozzle, a hose or a distributor arm which is arranged at the pressure valve of the reservoir for the targeted distribution of the robbery ink. Moreover, protection devices for releasing robbery ink by way of a detonator are also conceivable, it is consequently possible with the ink staining kit according to the invention both to mark documents upon access by unauthorized persons in the visible spectral range and to apply on the documents a machine-readable marking with absorption in the Infrared range. A further object of the Invention is a method for marking documents with an ink staining kit, comprising the steps of a) providing the robbery ink, b) triggering the protection device, c) distributing the robbery ink on the documents.

Providing the robbery ink is effected in a reservoir. The robbery ink is discharged from this reservoir upon triggering of the protection device. When the robbery ink is discharged with pressure by way of the protection device from the reservoir via a valve, the distribution of the robbery ink can be effected via nozzles, hoses, distributor arms and the like. It ts possible with the method according to the invention at the same time to mark the documents in the visible spectral range and to provide them with a machine-readable marking by way of absorption in the infrared range. A further object of the invention is the use of a robbery ink for marking documents..

Further advantages and advantageous configurations of the invention can be gathered from the following description, the drawing and the claims

Drawing

The drawing illustrates absorption spectra of exemplary embodiments of tbe invention, in the figures:

Figure 1 shows absorption spectra of a bine and a green robbery ink, which additionally exhibit absorption in the infrared range, wherein the proportion of the absorbed electromagnetic radiation in the infrared range is as great as the proportion in the visible spectrum.

Figure 2 shows absorption spectra of a blue and a green robbery ink, which additionally exhibit absorption m the infrared range, wherein the proportion of the absorbed electromagnetic radiation in the infrared range is greater than the proportion in the visible spectrum,

Figure 3 shows absorption spectra of a blue and a green robbery ink, which additionally exhibit an absorption maximum in the infrared range,

Figure 4 shows absorption spectra of a blue, a green and a red robbery ink, which additionally exhibit an absorption maximum in the infrared range and ft u o r e s c e n c e p r o p e r t i e s,

Figure 5 shows absorption spectra of a green and a red robbery ink, which additionally exhibit an absorption maximum in the infrared range and up-conversion properties.

Description of the exemplary embodiments

Figures I to 5 show absorption spectra of different robbery inks. The degree of absorption is here plotted over the wavelength. It should be noted here that the stated degree of absorption, is a logarithmic variable which corresponds to “absorbance’’. Accordingly, absorbance of 0 corresponds to reflection of the electromagnetic radiation of 100/-¾. and absorbance of 1 corresponds to 10% reflection, and absorbance of 2 corresponds to 1% reflection, etc. figure 1 illustrates two graphs which show an absorption spectrum of a blue robbery ink and of a green robbery ink, respectively. The upper graph here shows an absorption spectrum of a blue robbery ink. The robbery ink exhibits absorption of the electromagnetic radiation in a wavelength range from 490 nm and reflection of the electromagnetic radiation at lower wavelengths in the visible range of the spectrum The robbery ink additionally exhibits absorption in the infrared range. The absorbance of the electromagnetic radiation in the infrared range is as great as that in the visible spectrum.

The bottom graph in figure 1 shows an analogous absorption spectrum of a green robbery ink. Here, reflection of the electromagnetic radiation occurs between 500 and 600 nm, while the robbery ink in the remaining wavelength ranges of the visible spectrum and the infrared range exhibits absorption of the electromagnetic radiation.

Figure 2 illustrates two graphs, which show an absorption spectrum of a blue robbery ink and of a green robbery ink, respectively. The upper graph shows the absorption spectrum of a blue robbery ink having the characteristic The robbery ink exhibits a higher absorbance in the infrared range than in the visible spectral range, with the result that the absorption of the robbery ink at wavelengths that are suitable for machine-readability is stronger than in the visible range in the bottom graph of Figure 2, a corresponding absorption for a green robbery ink is illustrated. The robbery ink exhibits selective absorption of the electromagnetic radiation in the visible spectral range which is characteristic of the green, robbery ink and absorption in the infrared range, wherein the absorbance in the infrared wavelength range that is suitable for machine-readability is higher from a wavelength of approximately 850 nm than in the visible wavelength range.

Figure 5 illustrates the absorption spectra of a blue and of a green robbery ink, which additionally exhibit an absorption maximum in the infrared range. The upper graph shows in the visible spectral range a characteristic absorption spectrum of a blue robbery ink. The robbery ink has an absorption maximum in the infrared range The robbery ink here exhibits an absorbance that is greater in the infrared range than the absorbance of the robbery ink in the visible wavelength range.

The bottom graph in. Figure 3 shows in the visible spectral range a characteristic absorption spectrum of a green robbery ink. The robbery ink exhibit s an absorption maximum in the infrared range, wherein the robbery Ink exhibits an absorbance in the infrared range that is greater than the absorbance of the robbery ink in the visible wavelength range.

Figure 4 illustrates absorption spectra of a blue, a green and a red robbery ink. The robbery Inks additionally exhibit in the infrared range an absorption maximum and exhibit fluorescence properties The upper graph shows a blue robbery ink with the characteristic absorption spectrum in the visible spectral range. The robbery ink has an absorption maximum in the infrared range To this extent, the upper graph from Figure 4 corresponds to the upper graph from Figure 3. In addition, fluorescences in two ranges of the absorption spectrum are indicated schematically by way of two horizontal arrows. At the arrow end, which is marked by a dot, the excitation of the fluorescence occurs at wavelengths of approximately 350 nm and 650 nm. Here, the robbery ink is absorbing by necessity. The absorption spectrum liere exhibits additional absorption of the robbery ink in the range between 300 nm and 380 nm. The arrow tip symbolizes the emission of the electromagnetic radiation at a highe?' wavelength than the excitation wavelength. The emissions are effected at wavelengths of approximately 450 nm and 750 am. At the wavelengths at which emission occurs, the robbery ink must be transparent by necessity so as to make the emission detectable for cameras.

The central graph of Figure 4 exhibits a characteristic absorption spectrum of a green robbery ink in the visible spectral range. The robbery ink has an absorption maximum in the infrared range. To this extent, the central graph from Figure 4 corresponds to the bottom graph from Figure 3. in addition, fluorescences in two ranges of the absorption spectrum are schematically indicated by way of the h o r i zo nt a I a r ro w s.

The bottom graph of Figure 4 shows in the visible spectral range a characteristic absorption spectrum of a red robbery ink. Here, an absorption of the electromagnetic radiation up to 600 run occurs Typical of red robbery inks are also absorptions of up to 620 nm, which are not reproduced in Figure 4. In the wavelength range of the visible spectrum with wavelengths of over 600 nm, the electromagnetic radiation is reflected. The robbery ink has an absorption maximum in the infrared range. Additionally, a fluorescence in a range of the absorption spectrum is schematically indicated. This is shown by way of the horizontal arrow The excitation is effected at a wavelength of 550 nm, the emission at a wavelength of 650 nm.

Figure 5 shows absorption spectra of a green and a red robbery ink, which additionally exhibit an absorption maximum in the infrared range, and up-conversion properties The upper graph shows in the visible spectral range a characteristic absorption spectrum of a green robbery ink. The robbery ink has an absorption maximum in the infrared range. To this extent, the upper graph from Figure 5 corresponds to the central graph from Figure 4. in addition, an up-conversion is schematically indicated in a range of the absorption spectrum. This is illustrated in the graph by way of the horizontal arrow. The excitation wavelength is marked in the graph by way of the end that is denoted with the dot. while the arrow tip indicates the wavelength at which the emission of the electromagnetic radiation is effected. The excitation is effected in the visible spectral range at a wavelength of 650 nm Here, the robbery ink must exhibit absorption. The emission is effected at a shorter wavelength of 550 nm. Here, the robbery ink is transparent so that the emission can be detected.

The bottom graph of Figure 5 shows in the visible spectral range a characteristic absorption spectrum of a red robbery ink. In the infrared range, the robbery ink has an absorption maximum, in addition, an up-conversion is schematically indicated in a range of the absorption spectrum. This is illustrated by way of the horizontal arrow in the graph. The excitation wavelength in the graph is marked by the end which is denoted with the dot, while the arrow tip indicates the wavelength at which the emission of the electromagnetic radiation is effected. The excitation of the tip-conversion is effected in the infrared range at a wavelength of above 1100 ntn. The wavelength of the electromagnetic excitation radiation is consequently outside the sensitivity range of conventional CCD and CMOS sensors. The emission of electromagnetic radiation, on the other hand, is effected in the near infrared range

Claims

1. Ink coating kit for marking documents by unauthorized access to the documents, showing: an overflow color for marking the documents, wherein the overflow color exhibits a reflection of electromagnetic radiation in at least one wavelength region of the visible spectrum; a reservoir for absorbing the overflow color; and a releasable protective device for releasing the overflow color from the reservoir, characterized in that the overflow color further exhibits an absorption of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared region.

Ink coating kit according to claim 1, characterized in that the overflow color exhibits an absorption of electromagnetic radiation in at least one further second wavelength region of the visible spectrum which differs in relation to a first wavelength region in relation to the reflection of the electromagnetic radiation.

Ink coating kit according to claim 2, characterized in that the first wavelength region has wavelengths between 490 nm and 575 nm, and the second wavelength region has wavelengths between 380 nm and 490 nm and / or between 575 nm and 780 nm.

Ink coating kit according to claim 2, characterized in that the first wavelength region has wavelengths between 380 nm and 490 nm, and the second wavelength region has wavelengths between 490 nm and 780 nm.

Ink coating kit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the proportion of the absorbed electromagnetic radiation in the infrared region is greater than the proportion in the visible spectrum.

Ink coating kit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the overflow color has an absorption maximum in the infrared region.

Ink coating kit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the overflow color emits electromagnetic radiation by an excitation with electromagnetic radiation.

Ink coating kit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the overflow color upon an excitation with electromagnetic radiation in the infrared region has an absorption of higher wavelength energy while simultaneously emitting a lower wavelength energy.

Ink coating kit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the overflow color exhibits at least one colorant with which the reflection of the electromagnetic radiation in the visible spectrum occurs.

Ink coating kit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the overflow color exhibits at least one inorganic or organic component with which the absorption of the electromagnetic radiation in the infrared region occurs.

Ink coating kit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the overflow color emits electromagnetic radiation in the infrared region by an excitation with electromagnetic radiation over a wavelength of 1100 nm.

A method for marking documents with an ink coating kit according to one of claims 1 to 11, comprising the steps of: a) providing the overflow color, b) triggering the protective device, c) distributing the overflow color to the documents.

13. Use of an overflow color to mark documents by unauthorized access to the documents, wherein the overflow color exhibits a reflection of electromagnetic radiation in at least one wavelength region of the visible spectrum and an absorption of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared region.

Use of the overflow color according to claim 13, characterized in that, during an excitation with electromagnetic radiation over a wavelength of 1100 nm, the overflow color emits electromagnetic radiation in the infrared region.