Printed materials

Abstract

The objective is to provide printed materials that allow for easy determination of whether or not they are legitimate printed materials. [Solution] The printed material according to the present invention is a printed material in which an image is printed on a substrate 11 with ink, and the image includes an image portion 13 of a two-dimensional code in which information is represented by a pattern of light and dark in a cell unit in a plurality of cells C that spread two-dimensionally and the information can be read by a predetermined optical reading device, and all or part of the cells in the image portion 13 of the two-dimensional code are formed of raised dots Db.

Description

【Technical Field】 【0001】 The present invention relates to a printed matter having an anti-counterfeiting function. 【Background Art】 【0002】 As a printed matter capable of determining whether a printed matter such as a gift card or an authentication seal indicating that an article to which it is attached has obtained a predetermined authentication is a regular printed matter (whether it is a counterfeit printed matter), for example, the printed matter described in Patent Document 1 has been proposed. In this printed matter, a two-dimensional code (for example, a QR code (registered trademark)) is printed, and within the image portion of the two-dimensional code, a forgery identification image composed of characters, patterns, etc., such as language characters, numbers, symbols, etc., having a size smaller than the reading resolution of a reader (optical reading device) for reading the two-dimensional code is printed. 【0003】 When using a conventional printed matter as described above, even if the two-dimensional code formed on the printed matter is read by a reader, for example, if the forgery identification image (characters or patterns) that should be originally printed within the image portion of the two-dimensional code cannot be visually recognized by visually observing the image portion of the two-dimensional code using a magnifying glass, it can be determined that the printed matter is not a regular printed matter, that is, a counterfeit printed matter. 【Prior Art Documents】 【Patent Documents】 【0004】 【Patent Document 1】 Japanese Patent No. 7320309 【Summary of the Invention】 【Problems to be Solved by the Invention】 【0005】 Incidentally, generally speaking, two-dimensional codes are formed as image portions that are smaller in size than the text or picture / design portions that represent the information the printed material is intended to convey. In the conventional printed materials mentioned above, it is necessary to print characters or patterns for counterfeit identification in even narrower areas, such as cells or the margins between cells (for example, quiet zones), within these relatively small two-dimensional code image portions. Therefore, it is necessary to actually visually check the characters or patterns for counterfeit identification on the printed material using a magnifying glass, making efficient judgment difficult. 【0006】 This invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and provides a printed material that allows for easy determination of whether or not it is a legitimate printed material. [Means for solving the problem] 【0007】 The printed material according to the present invention is a printed material in which an image is printed on a substrate with ink, wherein the image includes an image portion of a two-dimensional code in which information is represented by a pattern of light and dark on a cell-by-cell basis in a plurality of cells that spread two-dimensionally, and the information can be read by a predetermined optical reading device, and all or part of the cells in the image portion of the two-dimensional code are formed of raised dots. 【0008】 With this configuration, all or part of the cells in the image portion representing the two-dimensional code are formed with raised dots, so the rough texture obtained by touching the image portion representing the two-dimensional code on the printed material with a fingertip can be used to confirm that the printed material is genuine. In the case of a counterfeit printed material obtained, for example, by copying this printed material, the raised dots are not present in the image portion of the two-dimensional barcode, and it can be determined that it is not genuine based on the feel when touched with a fingertip. 【0009】 In the printed material according to the present invention, even if the light cells in the plurality of cells are formed with raised ink dots that are read as light information by the optical reading device, the dark cells in the plurality of cells may be formed with raised ink dots that are read as dark information by the optical reading device. 【0010】 Furthermore, in the printed material according to the present invention, the plurality of cells in the two-dimensional code are divided into a plurality of groups, and in the image portion of the two-dimensional code, in each of the one or more groups selected from the plurality of groups, all or part of the cells are formed with raised dots. 【0011】 With this configuration, the multiple cells in the image portion of the two-dimensional code are divided into multiple groups, and one or more groups in which all or some of the cells are formed with raised dots can be changed according to predetermined conditions, such as temporal conditions or conditions based on the type of printed material. As a result, for a printed material in which the image portion of a two-dimensional code in which all or some of the cells are formed with raised dots is formed, it is possible to determine whether the printed material is a genuine printed material by determining whether the area in which the raised dots are formed corresponds to a group according to the aforementioned conditions. [Effects of the Invention] 【0012】 According to the present invention, instead of visually inspecting the printed material using a magnifying glass or the like, as in the past, it is possible to determine whether or not it is a genuine printed material by touching the image portion of the two-dimensional code formed on the printed material. Therefore, it is possible to easily determine whether or not it is a genuine printed material. [Brief explanation of the drawing] 【0013】 [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a plan view showing a printed material according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2]Figure 2 is a plan view showing the image portion of the two-dimensional code formed on the printed material shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3A] Figure 3A is a magnified cross-sectional view showing the image portion of the two-dimensional code related to the first example. [Figure 3B] Figure 3B is a magnified cross-sectional view showing the image portion of the two-dimensional code in the second example. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows the basic configuration of a dot matrix printer that forms the image portion of a two-dimensional code, along with its operation. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a plan view showing four groups that divide the multiple cells that spread two-dimensionally in a two-dimensional code formed on a printed material. [Figure 6A] Figure 6A is an example (part 1) of a group in the image portion of a two-dimensional code formed on a printed material in which all or part of the cells are formed with raised dots. [Figure 6B] Figure 6B is a diagram (part 2) showing an example of a group in the image portion of a two-dimensional code formed on a printed material in which all or part of the cells are formed by raised dots. [Modes for carrying out the invention] 【0014】 Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 【0015】 A printed material according to one embodiment of the present invention is configured as shown in Figure 1. 【0016】 In Figure 1, the printed material 10 is a gift card, on which an image is formed using a predetermined ink on the surface of a substrate 11 (for example, white), which is a rectangular piece of paper. This image includes a text image portion 12 (an image representing the string of characters "GIFT CARD") and a two-dimensional code (for example, a QR code®) image portion 13. The text image portion 12 is printed on a predetermined position on the surface of the substrate 11 using an ink suitable for a known printing method (letterpress printing, offset printing, gravure printing, screen printing, etc.). 【0017】 As shown in FIG. 2, the two-dimensional code has a rectangular shape as a whole, and finder patterns 130a, 130b, and 130c are arranged at three corners. Information (information regarding the gift card such as the issuer of the gift card, the content (amount) of the service that can be exchanged, etc.) is represented by the light and dark pattern of each cell unit in a plurality of cells C that spread two-dimensionally. Such a two-dimensional code can be read for the information represented by the light and dark pattern by a reader of a predetermined specification (a predetermined optical reading device). Note that the specification of the reader for reading the two-dimensional code is defined in standards such as the ISO standard (International Standard) and the JIS standard (Japan Industrial Standard). 【0018】 As shown in FIG. 2 by partially enlarging the region E of the image portion 13 of the two-dimensional code, the image portion 13 of the two-dimensional code is formed by dots of ink (for example, black ink) for which the dark cells Cb in all cells are read as dark information by the reader, and the light cells Cw in all cells are formed by the background of the base material 11 (piece of paper) (for example, "white" that is read as light information by the optical reading device). In particular, each dark cell Cb is formed by raised dots Db of black ink as shown in FIG. 3A. The height (thickness) h of each raised dot Db can be set within a range of, for example, 0.02 to 0.1 mm, and more specifically, can be set to about 0.06 mm. Note that the thickness (height) of the ink layer of the character image portion 12 formed by a known printing method as described above is about 0.02 mm. 【0019】 Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, the image portion 13 of the two-dimensional code can be printed and formed according to the known printing method described above using ink (e.g., black ink) in which all cells C including the dark cells Cb are read as dark information by the reader as the base layer. And the bright cells Cw in all cells C can be formed with ink (e.g., white ink) that is read as bright information by the reader. In particular, the bright cells Cw are formed by raised dots Dw of white ink. The thickness of the base layer formed with black ink is about 0.01 mm, and the height (thickness) h of each raised dot Dw can be set in the range of 0.02 to 0.1 mm, and more specifically, it can be about 0.06 mm. 【0020】 The raised dots Db (or Dw) of the image portion 13 of the two-dimensional code can be printed using, for example, a dot printer 50 as shown in FIG. 4. 【0021】 In FIG. 4, the dot printer 50 has a syringe 51 and a head 52, and the syringe 51 and the head 52 are connected by a tube 54. The ink (black ink or white ink) sent out from the syringe 51 is pressure-fed to the head 52 through the tube 54, and the ink is configured to be discharged as ink droplets IK from the tip nozzle 53 of the head 52. The head 52 is movable up and down in the Z direction (the vertical direction in FIG. 4) by a moving mechanism (not shown), and the head 52 and, for example, a printed matter 10 (base material 11) placed on a table (not shown) are relatively movable in the X direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 4) and the Y direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 4) by a moving mechanism (not shown). Then, while the ink droplets IK are discharged from the tip nozzle 53, the head 52 is lowered (see (a) in FIG. 4), and at the timing when the ink droplets IK adhere to the surface of the base material 11 (or the black base layer) (see (b) in FIG. 4), the head 52 is raised (see (c) in FIG. 4). By this operation, the ink droplets IK from the tip nozzle 53 adhere (print) onto the surface of the base material 11 (or the black base layer). 【0022】 Furthermore, the dot printer used to form the raised dots Db (or Dw) in the image portion 13 of the two-dimensional code is not limited to those described above (see Figure 4). Any other type of printer capable of dot printing may be used, such as an inkjet printer. 【0023】 In the printed material 10 that includes the image portion 13 of the two-dimensional code as described above, all (dark cells Cb and light cells Cw) or some cells (dark cells Cb or light cells Cw) in the image portion 13 of the two-dimensional code are formed with raised dots (see Figures 3A and 3B). Therefore, by touching the image portion 13 of the two-dimensional code on the printed material 10 with your fingertip, you can confirm that the printed material 10 is a genuine printed material (a genuine gift card). In the case of a counterfeit printed material (a fake gift card) obtained by, for example, copying this printed material 10, the raised dots are not present in the image portion 13 of the two-dimensional code, and you can determine that it is not a genuine printed material by the feel when you touch it with your fingertip. 【0024】 As described above, with the printed material 10, instead of visually inspecting it using a magnifying glass or the like as in the past, it is possible to determine whether or not it is a genuine printed material by touching the image portion 13 of the two-dimensional code, making it easy to determine whether or not it is a genuine printed material. 【0025】 In the image portion 13 of the two-dimensional code, all of the dark cells Cb and / or all of the light cells Cw are formed with raised dots, but this is not limited to this, and some of the dark cells Cb and / or some of the light cells Cw may be composed of raised dots. 【0026】 Furthermore, while each of the multiple cells in the two-dimensional code is composed of one raised dot Db (or Dw), the method is not limited to this, and each of the multiple cells may be composed of multiple raised dots Db (or Dw). 【0027】 Incidentally, as shown in Figure 5, multiple cells in a two-dimensional code can be divided into multiple groups, specifically, four groups G1, G2, G3, and G4. Then, in the image portion 13 of the two-dimensional code, one or more (any of 2 to 4) groups selected from the four groups G1, G2, G3, and G4 can have all or some of their cells formed with raised dots. In this case, there are 15 possible patterns for the regions (groups) in the image portion 13 of the two-dimensional code where raised dots are formed, as shown in Figures 6A and 6B. 【0028】 For example, as shown in Figures 6A(a), (b), (c), and (d), all or some cells in one of the four selected groups G1, G2, G3, and G4 can be formed as raised dots (see Figures 3A and 3B). Also, as shown in Figures 6A(e), (f), (g), and (h) and Figures 6B(i) and (j), all or some cells in one of the four selected groups (G1, G2), (G1, G4), (G2, G3), (G3, G4), (G1, G3), and (G2, G4) can be formed as raised dots (see Figures 3A and 3B). Furthermore, as shown in Figures 6B(k), (l), (m), and (n), all or some cells in any of the three groups selected from the four groups (G2, G3, G4), (G1, G3, G4), (G1, G2, G4), and (G1, G2, G3) can be formed as raised dots (see Figures 3A and 3B). Moreover, as shown in Figure 6B(o), all or some cells in all four groups selected from the four groups (G1, G2, G3, G4) can be formed as raised dots (see Figures 3A and 3B). 【0029】 As described above, the multiple cells in the two-dimensional code are divided into four groups (see Figure 5), and one or more groups (any of 2 to 4) in which all or some cells in the image portion 13 of the two-dimensional code are formed with raised dots can be changed, for example, according to temporal conditions. Specifically, in the image portion 13 of the two-dimensional code in the printed material 10 (gift card) issued during period 1, all or some cells of one group G1 shown in Figure 6A(a) are formed with raised dots, and in the image portion 13 of the two-dimensional code in the printed material 10 (gift card) issued during period 2, which is different from period 1, all or some cells of the two groups (G2, G4) shown in Figure 6B(j) are formed with raised dots. In this case, if all or some of the cells in the image portion 13 of the two-dimensional code of printed material 10 issued during period 1 are formed with raised dots in a portion other than group G1, or if all or some of the cells in the image portion 13 of the two-dimensional code of printed material 10 issued during period 2 are formed with raised dots in a portion other than the two groups (G2, G4), then printed material 10 can be determined not to be a genuine printed material, i.e., to be a counterfeit printed material. 【0030】 In this way, by changing the groups in which all or some cells in the image portion 13 of the two-dimensional code are formed with raised dots, from among the 15 patterns shown in Figures 6A and 6B, according to the conditions of the issuance period of the printed material 10, even if it is possible to determine that the printed material 10 is a genuine printed material by touching the image portion 13 of the two-dimensional code with a fingertip, it is possible to further determine whether the printed material 10 is truly a genuine printed material by comparing the issuance period of the printed material 10 with the parts (groups) in the image portion 13 of the two-dimensional code formed on the printed material 10 where all or some cells are formed with raised dots. 【0031】 In the example described above, the group of two-dimensional codes formed by raising dots in all or some cells was changed according to a temporal condition (the publication period of the printed material 10), but this is not limited to this, and the group can be changed according to other conditions, such as conditions based on the type of printed material 10 (the value offered by the gift card, etc.). 【0032】 Furthermore, the number of groups that divide the multiple cells of a two-dimensional code is not limited to the aforementioned "4," but may be 2, 3, or 5 or more. Moreover, there are no particular limitations on how the groups are divided, such as each group having a different size (number of cells included). 【0033】 Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments described above can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. [Industrial applicability] 【0034】 The printed material according to the present invention has the effect of allowing easy determination of whether or not it is a genuine printed material, and is useful as a printed material with a counterfeit prevention function. [Explanation of symbols] 【0035】 10 Printed matter 11 Base material 12 Character image section 13. Image portion of the QR code 50-dot printer 51 Syringe 52 heads 53 Tip Nozzle 54 tubes

Claims

[Claim 1] A printed material in which an image is printed and formed on a substrate using ink, The aforementioned image is, The image portion of the two-dimensional code represents information through the light and dark patterns of individual cells in multiple cells that spread out in two dimensions, and the information can be read by a predetermined optical reading device. A printed material in which all or part of the cells in the image portion of the aforementioned two-dimensional code are formed of raised dots. [Claim 2] The printed material according to claim 1, wherein the bright cells in the plurality of cells are formed by raised ink dots that are read as bright information by the optical reading device. [Claim 3] The printed material according to either claim 1 or 2, wherein the dark cells in the plurality of cells are formed by raised ink dots that are read as dark information by the optical reading device. [Claim 4] The multiple cells in the aforementioned two-dimensional code are divided into multiple groups, The printed material according to claim 1, wherein in the image portion of the two-dimensional code, in each of the one or more groups selected from the plurality of groups, all or some of the cells are formed of raised dots.

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