Tamper-Evident Security Label With Layered Adhesion Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional security labels and adhesive tapes with optically active features lack clear evidence of tampering and often have a metallic appearance that makes them indistinguishable from each other, failing to provide a unique visual impression and reliable proof of manipulation.
Innovation Solution
A security label or adhesive tape with a flexible plastic film carrier substrate, featuring an embossed lacquer layer, a semi-transparent metal layer, a partial release lacquer layer, and one or more lacquer layers with optical properties, where the adhesion conditions are carefully controlled to ensure clear separation and evidence of tampering, providing a unique visual effect distinct from traditional metallic holograms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional metallic holograms are used for product protection, then the security label provides an optically active security feature with high recognizability, but the metallic sheen and similar diffractive effects make all such products indistinguishable from each other
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different optical properties to different layers of the security label. Specifically, it uses a combination of metallic and non-metallic layers with varying optical characteristics (iridescent, fluorescent, phosphorescent, or transparent) to create a unique visual appearance that differs from conventional uniform metallic holograms, while maintaining the optically active security feature
Solution Approach 2:
The security label employs a composite structure consisting of multiple layers with different materials and optical properties. This includes combining metallic layers with non-metallic layers that have specific optical characteristics, creating a multi-layered composite that provides both security functionality and unique visual identification
2Strength
If a carrier substrate is used to hold the hologram and adhesive layers, then the structure provides mechanical support, but in the event of tampering the layers may separate not only in the area of the release layer but also in the area of the hologram structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the adhesive system into two distinct parts: a release layer that allows controlled removal, and a permanent adhesive layer that remains on the substrate after removal. This segmentation ensures that upon tampering, the label separates cleanly from the substrate while leaving definitive evidence (the permanent adhesive layer) behind, providing conclusive proof of unauthorized removal
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a permanent adhesive layer as an intermediary between the label structure and the substrate. This layer serves as a mediator that ensures the label adheres strongly during normal use but creates clear tamper evidence upon removal, as it remains on the substrate after the label is peeled off
3Ease of operation
If the label is designed to be removed from the packaging, then the user can access the product, but any attempt at unauthorized removal should be clearly detectable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares the label with a permanent adhesive layer in advance, positioned to remain on the substrate after label removal. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when the label is legitimately removed for product access, the permanent adhesive layer is left behind as tamper evidence, allowing detection of any unauthorized removal attempts
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 solution ensures clear evidence of tampering and a distinct visual appearance, preventing unauthorized removal and maintaining the integrity of the product's authenticity by creating a unique optical effect that differs from conventional metallic structures.
Implementation Method 1
When the viewing angle changes, diffraction of light at the hologram's structures creates a play of rainbow colors
Implementation Method 2
an embossed lacquer layer
Implementation Method 3
a semi-transparent metal layer or a layer with a high refractive index
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a security label or adhesive tape with evidence of tampering, having a flexible carrier substrate 1 on the basis of a flexible plastics film, and characterised in that the following layers are applied to a surface of the carrier substrate: a) an embossed lacquer layer 2; b) a semi-transparent metal layer or a layer with a high refractive index 3; c) a partial separating lacquer layer 4 in the form of letters, signs, symbols, lines, guilloche, numbers or writing; d) one or more lacquer layer(s) 5 with optical properties; and e) a self-adhesive coating 6. In the regions not coated with the separating lacquer layer 4, the adhesion of layer 3 to layer 5 and the adhesion of layer 6 to the object to be secured is greater than the adhesion of layer 5 to layer 6, or the adhesion of layer 3 to layer 5 and the adhesion of layer 5 to layer 6 is greater than the adhesion of layer 6 to the object to be secured, and in the regions that are coated with the separating lacquer layer 4, the adhesion of layer 5 to layer 6 and the adhesion of layer 4 to layer 5 is greater than the adhesion of layer 3 to layer 4, or the adhesion of layer 3 to layer 4 and the adhesion of layer 5 to layer 6 is greater than the adhesion of layer 4 to layer 5.