Tamper-Evident Sealing Label for Varnished Cardboard
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tamper-evident labels can be detached and reused without visible damage, allowing potential counterfeiting, and previous solutions with incisions or perforations lead to adhesive leakage and handling issues.
Innovation Solution
A label with a carrier layer and adhesive layer designed to require a higher force to detach than to break the cardboard, ensuring irreversible stretching and tearing upon separation, preventing unauthorized reuse and maintaining a smooth surface for easy handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If incisions or perforations are added to the label to prevent reuse, then security against counterfeiting is improved, but adhesive leakage occurs and handling becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the label material by using a stretched plastic carrier layer with specific mechanical properties (elongation at break ≥ 20%). The stretching creates visual evidence of tampering without requiring incisions or perforations, thereby maintaining handling ease while achieving security against counterfeiting.
2Reliability
If the label is made stronger to prevent detachment, then security is improved, but the label becomes difficult to apply and remove
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a differentiated structure where the carrier layer has high tensile strength and elongation properties, while the adhesive layer maintains normal bonding characteristics. This allows the label to be easily applied and removed during legitimate use, but shows clear visual evidence of tampering when attempted to be unauthorizedly removed or reused.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses visual changes (stretching marks, deformation, or color changes) in the carrier layer as evidence of tampering. When the label is stretched or deformed during unauthorized removal attempts, these visual changes provide clear indication of tampering while allowing legitimate application and removal to proceed normally.
3Ease of operation
If the label material is made more flexible to allow stretching, then ease of application is improved, but the label may be detached without visible damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully controls the mechanical parameters of the carrier layer, specifically setting the elongation at break to be ≥ 20% but not excessive. This allows the label to be flexible enough for easy application while ensuring that any stretching beyond normal application parameters creates visible deformation or damage that serves as tampering evidence.
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 label effectively prevents unauthorized reuse by causing visually detectable damage upon detachment, ensuring the package's integrity and reducing handling complications.
Implementation Method 1
an adhesive layer, wherein the thickness of the carrier layer, the material of the carrier layer, and the composition of the adhesive layer have been selected such that: a minimum deformation force of the label is smaller than a first breaking force needed to break the cardboard material
Implementation Method 2
a minimum detaching force of the label is greater than the first breaking force, and the minimum detaching force is smaller than a second breaking force needed to break the label
Data Source
Figure 1~2b
Figure 2c~3a
Figure 3b~3c
AI summary
A sealing label suitable for sealing a package made of varnished cardboard comprises: - a carrier layer, and - an adhesive layer, wherein the thickness of the carrier layer, the material of the carrier layer, and the composition of the adhesive layer have been selected such that: - a minimum deformation force (FLIM) of the label is smaller than a first breaking force (FC) needed to break the cardboard material of the varnished cardboard, - a minimum detaching force (FA) of the label is greater than the first breaking force (FC), and - the minimum detaching force (FA) is smaller than a second breaking force (FBRK) needed to break the label, wherein the first breaking force (FC) is a first pulling force which causes breaking of the cardboard material in a situation where the label is separated from the varnished cardboard by pulling the label with said first pulling force, and the minimum detaching force (FA) is a second pulling force which is needed to separate the adhesive layer of the label from the surface of the varnished cardboard in a situation where the label is pulled with said second pulling force.