Colour Shifting Marking on Smoking Article Wrappers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current smoking articles face challenges in distinguishing genuine products from counterfeit ones, as existing visual markings, such as colour shifting portions, often do not shift colours smoothly or continuously, making them less effective in consumer recognition.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a colour shifting pigment on visible surfaces of smoking articles, such as wrappers, that changes colours smoothly with the viewing angle, using goniochromatic pigments and suitable inks, allowing for a continuous visual effect that can enhance product authentication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If printing and embossing features are aligned to achieve colour shifting, then colour shifting effect is produced, but the colour transition is not smooth or continuous and operational difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by incorporating color shifting pigments that change color based on viewing angle. This eliminates the need for complex printing and embossing alignment, as the color shifting effect is achieved through the inherent optical properties of the pigment rather than through precise alignment of multiple features. The pigment particles are distributed in the wrapper material, providing color shifting without requiring manufacturing alignment precision.
2Reliability
If printing and embossing alignment is used for colour shifting, then colour shifting marking is achieved, but operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of color shifting from being structure-dependent (requiring printing and embossing alignment) to being material-dependent (using color shifting pigments). This simplifies the marking system by eliminating the need for complex aligned features while maintaining authentication reliability through the unique optical properties of the pigments that are difficult to replicate in counterfeit products.
3Illumination intensity
If multiple printing and embossing features are aligned, then colour shifting effect is produced, but the visual effect is not smooth or continuous
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses color shifting pigments that inherently provide smooth and continuous color transitions based on viewing angle. Unlike printed and embossed features that create abrupt color changes at alignment boundaries, the pigment particles create a gradual color shift across the surface, providing superior visual effect quality without increasing manufacturing complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The colour shifting marking provides a novel visual effect that allows consumers to more readily identify genuine smoking articles, potentially reducing counterfeit issues by offering a seamless and appealing colour transition.
Implementation Method 1
an optically variable ink or other color shifting pigment... changes colours smoothly with the viewing angle
Data Source
AI summary
Smoking articles include a colour shifting marking. The marking may be provided on a wrapper, such as a plug wrap, a smokable material wrap, or a tipping paper wrap. The marking may be produced by a gonichromatic pigment to provide a smooth transition between colours as viewing angles change. The marking may allow a consumer to identify the smoking article as genuine, as opposed to counterfeit.