Film composite with tamper protection

Abstract

A film composite (1) with tamper protection, comprising: a base film (10) which is arranged as the lowermost layer in the film composite; and a cover layer (40) which is arranged as the uppermost layer in the film composite. In addition, the film composite (1) comprises: an intermediate film (20) which is arranged between the base film (10) and the cover layer (40); and a laser - markable layer (30) which is arranged in the film composite between the base film (10) and the intermediate film (20). In the film composite (1), there is a thinning line (50) which extends within the base film (10) and within the intermediate film (20).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a film composite with tamper protection, in which an identification can be introduced by means of a laser beam. Background Art

[0002] Labels are generally used to identify a variety of products. The label has a film composite, and the film composite has a markable film for introducing an identification. The label is generally pasted onto an article to be identified by means of an adhesive coating. Due to the flexible material characteristics of the film composite, the label can be pasted onto articles with different shapes.

[0003] A variety of products must be provided with tamper-proof identification. Such identification includes, for example, a model name in the automotive field, which uniquely identifies a specific vehicle, or an environmental protection label, which is associated with vehicles in a specific pollutant emission group. Such identification has the characteristics of a certificate and thus should be tamper-proof.

[0004] In order to prevent a certificate-style identification from being successfully tampered with, it must be ensured that it is almost impossible for a counterfeiter to remove the film composite with the characteristics of a certificate from the substrate to which the film composite is pasted and transfer it to another article without the forgery being detected. For safety reasons, an attempt to tamper with the label should cause damage to the film composite, so that any misuse of the film composite due to tampering can be excluded. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Therefore, it is desirable to provide a film composite with tamper protection, which has a reliable self-destruction mechanism that is triggered when an attempt is made to tamper with it.

[0006] A film composite with tamper protection is provided herein, in which it is ensured that the film composite is safely damaged when an attempt is made to tamper with it.

[0007] The film composite with tamper protection includes: a base film, which is provided as the lowermost layer in the film composite; and a cover film, which is provided as the uppermost layer in the film composite. In addition, the film composite has an intermediate film, which is provided between the base film and the cover layer. In addition, the film composite includes a laser-markable layer, which is between the base film and the intermediate film in the film composite. A thinning line is provided in the film composite, and the thinning line extends within the base film and within the intermediate film.

[0008] The thinning line should be particularly understood as an interruption line, that is, along its path, the film or film layer is separated through its entire thickness or at least partially through its thickness. The thinning line can be configured as a stamping line or a punching line, or can also be configured as a cut, a perforation, a groove, etc.

[0009] The thinning lines can extend continuously from the base film into the intermediate film in the film composite. The thinning lines thus also extend within the laser-markable layer. The thinning lines can be introduced into the material of the base film, the laser-markable layer and the intermediate film so that the thinning lines form a desired breaking point that is triggered in the event of tampering, at which the film composite is damaged in the event of an attempt to remove it.

[0010] According to an advantageous embodiment of the film composite, the cover layer has no thinning lines. The cover layer can be applied to the upper side of the intermediate layer by means of an adhesive layer, for example a transfer adhesive. The cover layer can be formed as a cover laminate layer, in particular as a film / cover laminate film.

[0011] By arranging the cover layer above the thinned film layer, the film composite has sufficient stability on the one hand to be able to be securely arranged on the object to be labeled. On the other hand, the introduction of the thinning lines into the entire film layer arranged below the cover layer ensures that the film composite is definitely damaged in the event of tampering attempts, such as attempts to remove it.

[0012] The non-thinned cover layer makes it possible that the thinning line can extend completely through the remaining layers, namely in particular the base film, the intermediate film and the laser-markable layer carrying the information. The arrangement of base film, intermediate film and laser-markable layer present below the cover layer can be completely punched through by providing the non-thinned cover layer. Nevertheless, the film composite still has sufficient stability to be adhered to an object by means of the adhesive layer provided on the underside of the base film.

[0013] According to a possible embodiment, the adhesion of the adhesive layer between the intermediate film and the cover layer can be configured so that the cover layer can be removed from the intermediate film in a simple manner. In order to make the cover layer easy to remove from the intermediate film, the cover layer can be configured as a film with a grip tab, for example.

[0014] In this embodiment, the cover layer can be peeled off relatively easily from the other film layers of the film composite in the event of tampering. After the cover layer has been removed, completely thinned material, for example a completely punched-through film composite, remains on the component to be labeled. In the event of a peeling attempt, the individual layers are inevitably separated due to the thinning lines in the base film, the intermediate film and the laser-markable layer, so that attempts at tampering without damaging the film composite are almost excluded. The label or the film composite can ultimately only be removed from the substrate in sections. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Embodiments of the film composite with tamper protection are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0016] The accompanying drawings show:

[0017] Figure 1 Shows a cross-section through an embodiment of a film composite with tamper protection.

[0018] Figure 2A And Figure 2B Shows the self-destruction mechanism of a film composite with tamper protection when attempting to remove the film composite from the substrate.

[0019] Figure 3A Shows a top view of the intermediate film of a film composite with tamper protection in a first embodiment having the profile of thinning lines.

[0020] Figure 3B Shows a top view of the intermediate film of a film composite with tamper protection in a second embodiment having the profile of thinning lines.

[0021] Figure 4 Shows another embodiment of a film composite with tamper protection having a laser-markable layer on the base film of the film composite.

[0022] Figure 5 Shows another embodiment of a film composite with tamper protection having a printed layer partially provided on the intermediate film.

[0023] Figure 6 Shows another embodiment of a film composite with tamper protection having a protective layer provided on the intermediate film, and

[0024] Figure 7 Shows a top view of the cover film of a film composite with tamper protection having gripping fishtails. Detailed Description

[0025] A schematic construction of a first embodiment of a film composite 1 with tamper protection is shown in cross-section in Figure 1 . The film composite 1 includes a base film 10, which is provided as the lowermost layer in the film composite. In addition, the film composite has an intermediate film 20 and a laser-markable layer 30. The laser-markable layer 30 is provided in the film composite between the base film 10 and the intermediate film 20.

[0026] The base film 10 can be configured as a white-dyed film. The intermediate film 20 can be configured as a transparent film. The base film 10 and the intermediate film 20 can each be configured as a layer made of plastic, for example, made of polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

[0027] The laser-markable layer 30 can be configured as a metal layer that can be ablated by the action of a laser beam. The term "ablatable" should be understood to mean that the laser-markable layer is peeled off or damaged by the action of a laser beam, in particular by the thermal energy of the laser beam, such that it loses its light-blocking property. The laser-markable layer 30 can, for example, be configured as an aluminum layer / aluminum metallization. It can have a thickness of less than 3 μm, in particular a thickness between 0.1 μm and 0.4 μm.

[0028] The laser-markable layer 30 can have a coloring, for example a black coloring. When the marking is introduced into the film composite by means of a laser, the laser-markable layer 30 is peeled off at the underside of the intermediate film 20 in specific regions, such that the base film 10 located thereunder is visible.

[0029] The laser-markable layer 30 can be arranged on the underside of the intermediate film 20 facing the base film 10. Applying the laser-markable layer 30 on the underside of the intermediate film 20 can be carried out, for example, by means of an evaporation or sputtering process.

[0030] The film composite furthermore includes a cover layer 40, which is arranged as the uppermost layer in the film composite 1. The cover layer 40 can be configured as a covering laminate. In particular, the cover layer 40 can be configured as a film, for example a film made of PU, PE or PET. According to another embodiment, the cover layer 40 can be configured as a readily frangible film, for example an acrylate film. According to another embodiment, the cover layer 40 can be configured as a printable layer / printing layer.

[0031] The cover layer 40 can be printed on the upper side facing away from the intermediate film 20. The cover layer 40 can optionally have a dispersion print 120 visible in Figure 1 it on its upper side.

[0032] The intermediate film 20 is arranged between the base film 10 and the cover layer 40. In order to connect the intermediate film 20 to the cover layer 40, an adhesion layer 80 can be arranged between the intermediate film 20 and the cover layer 40. In order to connect the base film 10 and the intermediate film 20, the film composite 1 has a connecting layer 60, which is arranged between the base film 10 and the intermediate film 20. The connecting layer 60 can, for example, be a transfer adhesive. Another possibility is that the base film 10 is directly coated with the connecting layer 60.

[0033] The film composite 1 can furthermore include an adhesive layer 70, which is arranged on the underside of the base film 10 facing away from the intermediate film 20. The adhesive layer 70 is configured to paste the film composite 1 onto a substrate. In order to protect the adhesive layer 70, the film composite 1 can have an anti-adhesive carrier film / liner 110.

[0034] As according Figure 1As can be seen in the cross section of the film composite 1 in FIG. 1 , there are thinning lines 50 provided in the film composite, which extend within the base film 10 and between the intermediate films 20 . The thinning lines 50 can be designed, for example, as punching lines, perforations or the like.

[0035] The thinning line 50 can extend continuously through all layers below the cover layer 40 or the adhesive layer 80 in the film composite 1. In particular, the thinning layer 50 extends from the underside of the base film 10 through the base film 10, the connecting layer 60, the laser-markable layer 30 and the intermediate film 20. Only the cover layer 40 or the adhesive layer 80 does not have a thinning line 50 and is therefore an unthinned / undamaged layer within the film composite.

[0036] By providing the thinning lines 50 in all layers of the film composite below the cover layer 40 or below the adhesive layer 80 , the entire film composite 1 is thinned so that it self-destructs in the event of tampering attempts, in particular attempts to remove the film composite from the substrate.

[0037] On the other hand, the film composite has sufficient stability due to the topmost layer of the cover layer 40, which has not been thinned, so that it can be adhered to the object reliably and without damage. At the same time, the cover layer 40 makes it possible that all layers of the film composite located below the cover layer 40 or the adhesive layer 80, that is, in particular also the layers carrying the information, can be completely thinned or punched through. By providing the cover layer / cover laminate 40, the resistance requirements can be ensured, even though the layers 20, 30 carrying the information are completely separated / punched through.

[0038] Figure 2A and 2B The diagram illustrates the self-destruction mechanism of the film composite 1 during an attempt to remove the film composite from the adhesive substrate / object 2 . Figure 2A The upper figure shows the film composite 1 in the form of an adhesive label attached to an object 2. Figure 2A The lower figure of FIG. 2 shows how the lower adhesive layer is removed in order to remove the film composite 1 from the substrate 2 .

[0039] The desired breaking point is present in the lower layer by the thinning line in the layer below the cover layer. If a counterfeiter attempts to peel the film composite 1 off the adhesive substrate 2, the completely thinned, for example punched-through material portions below the unthinned cover layer 40 will break away from the film composite.

[0040] As in Figure 2BIn the upper view, the individual sections 3 consisting of the adhesive layer, the base film, the connecting layer, the laser-markable layer and the intermediate film remain attached to the peeled-off cover layer, while other sections of the base film, the intermediate film and the laser-markable layer remain on the adhesive substrate. In relation to the adhesive substrate, due to the continuously thinning layer consisting of the base film 10, the intermediate film 20 and the laser-markable layer 30, the individual punching elements are completely removed from the film composite, creating holes in the film composite.

[0041] So externally Figure 2B In the lower view visible, furthermore, the individual sections 4 consisting of the intermediate film and the laser-markable layer can be removed from the base film and broken outwards from the film composite. The sections 4 consisting of the intermediate film and the laser-markable layer attach to the cover layer 40 when attempting to remove the film composite 1 from the adhesive substrate 2, while the underlying base film remains attached to the article 2.

[0042] Even when the unthinned cover layer 40 should be successfully removed from the film composite, after removing the cover layer 40, the completely thinned / perforated material in the base film 10, the intermediate film 20 and the laser-markable layer 30 remains on the labeled article 2, and the material can only be removed in sections.

[0043] In addition to the thinning of the film composite 1 by the thinning lines 50, the adhesion between the base film 10 and the intermediate film 20 is additionally thinned by the marks in the form of laser markings introduced into the laser-markable layer 30. In relation to the markings, when tampering with the film composite, separation between the layers is additionally caused.

[0044] The thinning lines 50 can be introduced into the film composite 1 such that they form a diamond pattern in a top view on the side of the intermediate film 20 facing the cover layer 40, as shown in Figure 3A or an H-shaped pattern (H punching section), as shown in Figure 3B The length of the thinning lines / stamping lines in the top view of the intermediate film 20 up to the direction change can be between 3 mm and 7 mm, particularly about 5 mm, in an advantageous embodiment. This means that in the case of the diamond pattern of the thinning lines, the side length of each diamond is between 3 mm and 7 mm, for example 5 mm.

[0045] In particular, by introducing H-shaped thinning lines into the film composite, the number of desired breakage sites can be significantly increased. By the thinning lines / stamping lines intersecting at right angles to each other, force peaks are obtained at which the material is easily damaged when attempting to tamper with it.

[0046] The proposed configuration of the film composite 1 can additionally enable the film composite to be adhered on a narrow radius, since the lines of force are interrupted in order to transfer the restoring force via the closely arranged thinning lines / stamping lines to the next pixel. The flexible upper adhesive layer 80 between the intermediate film 20 and the cover layer 40 can additionally enable the pixels to move individually to a certain extent "like large ice floes", so that the restoring force is intercepted therein. The film composite 1 can thus be adhered to a radius of, for example, 1 cm - 1.5 cm and can thus be adhered to a tube with a small diameter, for example.

[0047] Below, according to Figures 4 to 7 Other embodiments of the film composite 1 will be elaborated in detail.

[0048] Figure 4 An embodiment of the film composite 1 is shown, in which the laser - markable layer 30 is arranged on the upper side of the base film 10 facing the intermediate film 20. In this embodiment of the film composite, the adhesion of the connecting layer 60 can be selected such that the laser - markable layer 30 remains on the base film 10 during an attempt at separation, even if the intermediate film 20 is removed from the base film 10 during an attempt at tampering.

[0049] As also in the embodiment of the film composite in Figure 1 which the laser - markable layer 30 is arranged on the lower side of the intermediate film 20 facing the base film 10, the laser - markable layer 30 can be configured as an aluminum layer / aluminum metallization, which is applied, for example, by evaporation or sputtering processes on the upper side of the base film 10.

[0050] Figure 5 Another embodiment of the film composite 1 with a printed layer 90 is shown, which is arranged on the upper side of the intermediate film 20 facing the cover layer 40. The printed layer 90 can, in this embodiment, serve to strengthen or weaken the adhesion between the intermediate film 20 and the cover layer 40. The printed layer 90 can thus enable a partial and controlled weakening or strengthening of the adhesion of the cover layer 40. The printed layer 90 can be configured as an adhesion inhibitor in order to weaken the adhesion between the intermediate film 20 and the cover layer 40 or as a primer in order to strengthen the adhesion.

[0051] The printed layer 90 can be arranged on the intermediate film 20 diffusely as a structured layer, for example in the form of a guilloché, or precisely adapted to the stamping geometry, for example checkerboard - like in the case of a diamond stamping or in a similar stamping geometry. Thus, the separation image of the lower layer can be introduced into the film structure in a targeted manner.

[0052] Figure 6Shows another embodiment of the film composite 1, which has a protective layer 100. The protective layer is provided as a continuous or unbroken layer on the upper side of the intermediate film 20 facing the cover layer 40 and is used to protect the film layers located below it. The protective layer 100 can be configured, for example, to protect the film structure composed of the base film 10, the intermediate film 20, and the laser-markable layer 30 provided below the protective layer 100 against the entry of substances, such as battery acid. The adhesion of the adhesive layer 80 can be designed in this embodiment such that the cover layer 40 can be peeled off as easily as possible.

[0053] In all the embodiments of the film composite 1 shown in the drawings, the cover layer 40 can be configured as a film layer having a gripping tail fin 41, and the gripping tail fin is used to remove the cover layer 40 from the intermediate film 20. The corresponding design of the cover layer / film layer 40 is shown in Figure 7 Shown. The gripping tail fin 41 can be configured as a laser-treated gripping tail fin having a design that matches the stamping layout. In this case, it is feasible to laser-treat the gripping tail fin in each film composite by a matching laser design.

[0054] With the help of the gripping tail fin 41, the cover layer 40 can be removed directly after the film composite 1 is applied to the article. After the cover layer 40 is removed, the device composed of the thinned film layers 10 and 20 and the laser-markable layer 30 remains on the labeled article and can only be removed in sections. Especially when tampering is carried out by heat treatment, such as by using a hair dryer, the self-destruction mechanism is reliably triggered in this variant of the film composite.

[0055] In order to be able to peel off the cover layer 40 directly from the remaining layers after applying the film composite, the adhesion of the adhesive layer 80 between the cover layer 40 and the laminate composed of the base film 10, the intermediate film 20, and the laser-markable layer 30 can be designed such that the adhesion of the adhesive layer 80 is as small as possible. In particular, the adhesive layer 80 can be configured such that the adhesion of the adhesive layer 80 to the intermediate film 20 is less than the adhesion to the cover layer 40.

[0056] In addition, the adhesive layer 80 can be configured such that the adhesion of the adhesive layer 80 to the cover layer 40 is less than the adhesion of the connecting layer 60 to the base film 10 and the intermediate film 20, or less than the adhesion of the adhesive layer 70 to the substrate. Thus, the cover layer 40 can be removed from the film composite after the film composite is applied to the bonding substrate, and the remaining layers of the film composite remain on the labeled article. Therefore, only the completely punched-through film structure remains on the substrate, thereby significantly increasing the vulnerability of the film composite again.

[0057] To counteract possible poor resistance of the film composite, the covering layer 40 can be designed as a paint layer instead of a film, and the paint layer is directly applied to the upper side of the intermediate film 20. The paint layer can be applied to the upper side of the intermediate film 20 before the thinning line is introduced, for example, before the stamping process, or also after the thinning line is introduced or after stamping. This latter manufacturing variant has the advantage that the stamping profile can be levelled out by the paint, thereby reducing the visibility of the stamping profile.

[0058] List of reference signs:

[0059] 1 Film composite

[0060] 2 Article to be labelled / Adhesion substrate

[0061] 10 Base film

[0062] 20 Intermediate film

[0063] 30 Laser-markable layer

[0064] 40 Covering layer

[0065] 41 Gripping tail fin

[0066] 50 Thinning line

[0067] 60 Connecting layer

[0068] 70 Adhesive layer

[0069] 80 Adhesion layer

[0070] 90 Printing layer

[0071] 100 Protective layer

[0072] 110 Carrier film / Liner

[0073] 120 Dispersion printing

Claims

1. A film composite (1) with tamper protection, comprising: - A base film (10) which is arranged as the lowermost layer in the film composite; - A cover layer (40) which is arranged as the uppermost layer in the film composite, - An intermediate film (20) which is arranged between the base film (10) and the cover layer (40), - A laser - markable layer (30) which is arranged in the film composite between the base film (10) and the intermediate film (20), - An adhesion layer (80) which is arranged between the intermediate film (20) and the cover layer (40) in order to connect the intermediate film (20) and the cover layer (40), - wherein a thinning line (50) is provided in the film composite, and the thinning line extends within the base film (10), within the laser - markable layer (30) and within the intermediate film (20), and - wherein the adhesion layer (80) is configured such that the adhesion of the adhesion layer (80) to the intermediate film (20) is less than the adhesion of the adhesion layer (80) to the cover layer (40).

2. The film composite according to claim 1, wherein the cover layer (40) does not have a thinning line (50).

3. The film composite according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the thinning line (50) forms an H - shaped or diamond - shaped pattern in a top view on the side of the intermediate film (20) facing the cover layer (40).

4. The film composite according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the thinning line (50) is configured as a stamping line.

5. The film composite according to claim 1 or 2, the film composite comprising: - A connection layer (60) which is arranged between the base film (10) and the intermediate film (20) and is configured to connect the base film (10) and the intermediate film (20), - An adhesive layer (70) which is arranged on the lower side of the base film (10) facing away from the intermediate film (20) and is configured to paste the film composite onto a substrate.

6. The film composite according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the laser - markable layer (30) is arranged on the lower side of the intermediate film (20) facing the base film (10).

7. The film composite according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the laser - markable layer (30) is arranged on the upper side of the base film (10) facing the intermediate film (20).

8. The film composite according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cover layer (40) is printed on the upper side facing away from the intermediate film (20).

9. The film composite according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cover layer (40) is configured as a film or a printable layer.

10. The film composite according to claim 1 or 2, the film composite comprising: - A printing layer (90) which is partially arranged on the upper side of the intermediate film (20) facing the cover layer (40), - wherein the printing layer (90) is configured to enhance or weaken the adhesion between the intermediate film (20) and the covering layer (40).

11. The film composite according to claim 1 or 2, the film composite comprising: - a protective layer (100), the protective layer being provided on the upper side of the intermediate film (20) facing the covering layer (40), - wherein the protective layer (100) is configured to protect the base film (10) and the intermediate film (20) provided thereunder from the ingress of substances.

12. The film composite according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the covering layer (40) is configured as a film layer having a gripping tail fin (41) for removing the covering layer (40) from the intermediate film (20).

Images