GB2182632A

GB2182632A - Labels

Info

Publication number: GB2182632A
Application number: GB8625733A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Reginald Robin Lowman
Original assignee: ULTRAMARK ADHESIVE PRODUCTS LI
Current assignee: ULTRAMARK ADHESIVE PRODUCTS LI
Priority date: 1985-10-29
Filing date: 1986-10-28
Publication date: 1987-05-20
Anticipated expiration: 2006-10-28
Also published as: GB8526584D0; GB8625733D0; GB2182632B

Abstract

An adhesive label 10 for a container has security markings 16 printed in an optical brightener so as to be visible only under U.V. light. The optical brightener may be in a solvent such as a printing ink base, or it may be combined with a PVC/PVA binder or an acrylic binder. The label may also include visible markings. The security markings may be provided directly on the container or on the contents thereof. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Labelling This invention concerns labelling.

Counterfeiting is an increasing problem for many manufacturers especially since the counterfeit goods are virtually impossible to distinguish from the authentic goods. Not only does counterfeiting cause loss of business but also there is a dangerto the customer since the counterfeit goods are usually not produced to anything approaching the required safety standards of the authentic goods.

There is, therefore, a need for a way of distinguish- ing counterfeit goods from authentic goods and it is to this object that the present invention is directed.

Many goods bear a printed label that is stuck to the outside ofthe goods, are sold in printed boxes packages or even the printing is directly onto the goods. The present invention proposes, therefore, that the labels, boxes or goods be printed with a mar king that is detectable on Iy when illuminated with light of a particularwavelength.

The term "label" is used from now on to mean a label attachableto a container or an area on a containerthat may contain information.

Preferably the marking is a printing of an optical brighteneronlydetectableunderU.V. light. Thus, it will be possible to detect which goods are counterfeit and which goods are authentic according to the absence or presence of the marking.

The marking can be varied at any convenienttime so as to overcome the possibility of counterfeiters also adding such markings. For example, the marking couid be changed for each production run,from factory to factory or from week to week. These are onlyexamplesofthemanypossibilitiesforchanging the marking for which only the receiver of the goods has to be advised for checking.

The optical brightenercan be printed onto the labels or boxes in any convenient conventional print ing process which may depend on the type of material on which the marking is being printed. Forex- ample, it may be possible to use gravure, letter press, screen printing, flexographic or any other suitable method for printing the optical brightener marking. A suitable optical brightener is that sold underthe trade name UVITEX OB but any other optical bright ener could be used provided it can be printed onto a substrate such as paper, cardboard, plastics or metal which are all commonly used for making containers and labels. For printing the optical brightener may be in a solvent, such as a printing ink base or may be combined with a binder such as a PVC/PVA binder or an acrylic binder.

The type of marking used may be anything thatthe manufacturer chooses but a bar coding may be the most popularasthat may tie in with stock control.

The present invention is particularly concerned with the provision of optical brightener marked labels for adhering to goods or containers for goods.

These labels may be remoistenable, hot melt applied or self-adhesive say by having a pressure sensitive adhesive applied to the reverse side thereof or may require adhesive to be applied thereto, the latter being more customary for labelling bottles. The labels may be so-called "ultra destructable labels" which have an acrylic adhesive on the reverse side that is actually strongerthan the label material itself so that removal of the label cannot be effected easily or cleanly.

The invention also provides a process of making labels comprising the steps of printing onto one side of label shaped substrates an optical brightener marking, printing on the same side the label design and coating the other side with adhesive and if necessary covering the adhesive with a permanentprotective layer.

The above steps need not be carried out in the order given but may be carried out in any convenient order. The process of the invention is preferably also of a continuous nature.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure lisa front view of one form of label according to the invention, and Figure2 is a side view of the label of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, a label 10 comprises a substrate 12 of any paperthat has on its face markings 16 of the bar code type printed in optical brightenerso asto be invisibletothe naked eye but visible in U.V. light. On its underside, the label has a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive 20 protected by a peel able layer 22.

The label may be affixed to a container once the peelable layer has been removed and the optical brightener marking may be detected under U.V.

light. The label may also be printed with conventional visible markings.

In summarythe invention provides a means of marking goods that may be used to distinguish counterfeit goods from authentic goods. This distinction may be made in warehouses in docks etc, such by customs officials, before the goods are despatched to shops and so avoid inconvenience to the shops.

1. A label on or for a container, comprising a substrate having thereon a marking that is detectable only when illuminated with lightofa particularwavelength.

2. A label as claimed in claim 1,wherein the marking is a printing of an optical brightener only detectable under U.V. light.

3. A label as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein for printing purposes the optical brightener is in a solvent.

4. A label as claimed in claim 3, wherein the solvent is a printing ink base.

5. A label as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein for printing purposes the optical brightener is combined with a binder.

6. A label as claimed in claim 5, wherein the binder is a vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer or an acrylic binder.

7. A label as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the marking is intheform of a barcoding.

8. A label as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7,

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Labelling This invention concerns labelling. Counterfeiting is an increasing problem for many manufacturers especially since the counterfeit goods are virtually impossible to distinguish from the authentic goods. Not only does counterfeiting cause loss of business but also there is a dangerto the customer since the counterfeit goods are usually not produced to anything approaching the required safety standards of the authentic goods. There is, therefore, a need for a way of distinguish- ing counterfeit goods from authentic goods and it is to this object that the present invention is directed. Many goods bear a printed label that is stuck to the outside ofthe goods, are sold in printed boxes packages or even the printing is directly onto the goods. The present invention proposes, therefore, that the labels, boxes or goods be printed with a mar king that is detectable on Iy when illuminated with light of a particularwavelength. The term "label" is used from now on to mean a label attachableto a container or an area on a containerthat may contain information. Preferably the marking is a printing of an optical brighteneronlydetectableunderU.V. light. Thus, it will be possible to detect which goods are counterfeit and which goods are authentic according to the absence or presence of the marking. The marking can be varied at any convenienttime so as to overcome the possibility of counterfeiters also adding such markings. For example, the marking couid be changed for each production run,from factory to factory or from week to week. These are onlyexamplesofthemanypossibilitiesforchanging the marking for which only the receiver of the goods has to be advised for checking. The optical brightenercan be printed onto the labels or boxes in any convenient conventional print ing process which may depend on the type of material on which the marking is being printed. Forex- ample, it may be possible to use gravure, letter press, screen printing, flexographic or any other suitable method for printing the optical brightener marking. A suitable optical brightener is that sold underthe trade name UVITEX OB but any other optical bright ener could be used provided it can be printed onto a substrate such as paper, cardboard, plastics or metal which are all commonly used for making containers and labels. For printing the optical brightener may be in a solvent, such as a printing ink base or may be combined with a binder such as a PVC/PVA binder or an acrylic binder. The type of marking used may be anything thatthe manufacturer chooses but a bar coding may be the most popularasthat may tie in with stock control. The present invention is particularly concerned with the provision of optical brightener marked labels for adhering to goods or containers for goods. These labels may be remoistenable, hot melt applied or self-adhesive say by having a pressure sensitive adhesive applied to the reverse side thereof or may require adhesive to be applied thereto, the latter being more customary for labelling bottles. The labels may be so-called "ultra destructable labels" which have an acrylic adhesive on the reverse side that is actually strongerthan the label material itself so that removal of the label cannot be effected easily or cleanly. The invention also provides a process of making labels comprising the steps of printing onto one side of label shaped substrates an optical brightener marking, printing on the same side the label design and coating the other side with adhesive and if necessary covering the adhesive with a permanentprotective layer. The above steps need not be carried out in the order given but may be carried out in any convenient order. The process of the invention is preferably also of a continuous nature. The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure lisa front view of one form of label according to the invention, and Figure2 is a side view of the label of Figure 1. Referring to the drawings, a label 10 comprises a substrate 12 of any paperthat has on its face markings 16 of the bar code type printed in optical brightenerso asto be invisibletothe naked eye but visible in U.V. light. On its underside, the label has a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive 20 protected by a peel able layer 22. The label may be affixed to a container once the peelable layer has been removed and the optical brightener marking may be detected under U.V. light. The label may also be printed with conventional visible markings. In summarythe invention provides a means of marking goods that may be used to distinguish counterfeit goods from authentic goods. This distinction may be made in warehouses in docks etc, such by customs officials, before the goods are despatched to shops and so avoid inconvenience to the shops. CLAIMS

4. A label as claimed in claim 3, wherein the solvent is a printing ink base.

8. A label as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the substrate may be adhered to a container.

9. A label as claimed in claim 8 having are moistenable substrate surface for adhering to a container.

10. A label as claimed in claim 8 having a substrate that may be hot melt applied to a container.

11. A label as claimed in claim 8 having a selfadhesive substrate surface.

12. A label as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 having an acrylic adhesive layer.

13. Aprocessofmaking labels comprising the steps of printing onto one side of label shaped substrates an optical brightener marking, printing on the same sidethe label design and coating the other side with adhesive.

14. A label substantially as herein described.

15. A process of making a label substantially as herein described.