CH711866A1 - Part with authentication, object incorporating this part and method of authenticating a part. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a part (2) other than a printable sheet at least locally coated with a security ink (15) incorporating an authentication code. The invention also relates to an authentication method which makes it possible to obtain said piece and which comprises the following steps: a) a coating is coated with a security ink (15) incorporating an authentication code, and this picture is scraped off in order to leave in place the security ink (15) present in at least one indentation formed in the plate, b) an elastomer pad (18) is pressed onto the plate so that the security ink ( 15) in the intaglio print is transferred to this pad (18), and c) the pad (18) is pressed onto the workpiece (2) so that the security ink (15) is transferred from the pad (18). 18) to this piece (2).

Description

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to the field of techniques for combating injurious practices such as counterfeiting or deception on the manufacturer of a product. More specifically, it relates to a part other than a printable sheet and an object incorporating this part. The invention also relates to a method of authenticating a part, which may in particular be a watch piece. State of the art [0002] It is known to provide passports, identity cards and security banknotes designed to discourage the production of forgeries. Guillochis, the use of special inks such as invisible inks in natural lighting, holograms, numbering and watermarks are examples of security that can be combined in a secure document or in a banknote. Developed specifically for flexible paper sheets, such safeties are not suitable for watches and many other items made or not of an assembly of parts.

However, in the world, more and more products are copied, then marketed so that we can misunderstand the identity of the true manufacturer.

In some cases, illegal copies may affect consumer confidence. Sometimes they can even pose a risk to public health.

The copied manufacturer often suffers several prejudices, including a loss of turnover, a devaluation of his or her brands and / or after-sales service fees increased by interventions on copies of articles. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] The object of the invention is at least to facilitate the fight against clandestine copies of coins or articles, even when the object to be protected against such clandestine copies does not include any sheet of paper. , which is for example the case of watches and, more generally, timepieces.

According to the invention, this object is achieved through a part which, although not being a printable sheet, in particular a sheet of paper, is at least locally coated with a security ink incorporating an authentication code .

To cover at least locally the part with the security ink while this piece is not a sheet of paper, a specific process described below was invented.

For example by means of an electronic device for analysis and control, the security ink can be analyzed preferably optically, so that is determined the authentication code that it incorporates. A comparison of this authentication code with one or more predefined codes can then be performed to conclude on the origin of the piece.

Security is all the more effective because it is directly related to the room since it is on this room itself, not on a package or a label.

The part defined above may incorporate one or more other advantageous characteristics, alone or in combination, in particular among those specified below.

[0012] Advantageously, the identification code comprises a reflectance spectrum of the security ink.

Such a reflectance spectrum can be an authentication code both very precise and extremely difficult to copy in the sense that it is extremely difficult to develop an ink producing this reflectance spectrum for those who know only the reflectance spectrum, without knowing what is the composition of the ink.

The invented method for applying the security ink on the part is such that this security ink can cover a curved area of the workpiece. In this way, the application possibilities of the invention are very numerous.

The invented method for applying the security ink on the part is such that this part may be substantially rigid or elastically deformable at least where this part is coated with the security ink. In this way, the application possibilities of the invention are very numerous.

Advantageously, the security ink is invisible ink at least in natural light, for human vision. When this is the case, a third party may be unaware of the security on the part and, if he copies the part, he will fail to attempt to copy that security too. In addition, in the case where he is aware of the presence of a security ink, the third party will have difficulty in locating it on the part since this security ink is invisible at least in natural light.

Another advantage of using an invisible security ink at least in natural light is that this security ink can not alter the aesthetics of the product.

Advantageously, the security ink is a visible ink in the presence of ultraviolet illumination. When this is the case, the location of the security ink during a check can be facilitated.

Advantageously, said piece is a watch piece.

Advantageously, said piece is a watch face, a front face is at least locally coated with the security ink. When this is so, the security ink can be easily optically controlled through the watch ice, while being protected from being behind that ice.

The invention also relates to an object comprising a plurality of assembled parts, at least one of which is as defined above.

[0022] Advantageously, this object is a timepiece, for example a watch.

The invention further relates to a method of authenticating a part. This method comprises steps in which: a) a coating is coated with a security ink incorporating an authentication code, and this plate is scraped so as to leave in place the security ink present in a recessed impression formed in the image, b) an elastomer stamp is pressed onto the plate so that the security ink present in the intaglio print is transferred to this stamp, and c) the stamp is pressed onto the part so that the security ink is transferred from the stamp to this piece.

With this method, the security ink can be applied to a part that is other than a sheet of paper and on which traditional printing techniques such as screen printing and flexography can not be used.

The authentication method defined above may incorporate one or more other advantageous characteristics, alone or in combination, in particular among those specified hereinafter.

Advantageously, it is carried out several iterations of the succession of steps comprising step a), then step b), and then step c), so as to form a superposition of several layers of security ink on the piece. When this is so, an optical determination of the security code at the superposition of the security ink layers can be very reliable. In addition, the superposition of security ink layers has increased abrasion resistance and increased tear resistance.

Advantageously, the authentication method further comprises a control which follows step c) and wherein: d) the identification code incorporated in the security ink is determined using a device and e) the authentication code determined in step d) is compared with at least one predefined code, so as to estimate whether or not there is identity between the authentication code; and the predefined code.

Advantageously, in step d), an optical inspection of the security ink is performed using the electronic device for analysis and control, and a reflectance spectrum of the security ink is determined. at least on a predefined wavelength interval, from data from the optical inspection, the identification code comprising this reflectance spectrum.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0029] Other advantages and features will emerge more clearly from the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention given by way of non-limiting example and represented in the appended drawings, among which: fig. 1 is a plan view of a watch on the dial of which an invisible stamp has been affixed in natural light, using an authentication method according to the invention; figs. 2 to 5 are schematic and partial views, in section, each of which shows one of several states succeeding each other during the implementation of a method according to the invention and used to affix the stamp on the dial of the watch represented in FIG. 1; fig. 6 is a schematic view on which an adapted electronic analysis and control device optically controls the stamp on the dial of the watch shown in FIG. 1; and FIG. 7 is a simplified graph showing a reflectance spectrum of a security ink which is constituted by the stamp on the dial of the watch shown in FIG. 1.

Description of a preferred embodiment of the invention [0030] In FIG. 1, an example of a product according to the invention is a timepiece. More specifically, it is a watch 1, a dial 2 is an example of a part according to the invention. This dial 2 and hands 3 of the watch 1 are inside a casing 4 closed by an ice cream 5. The front face of the dial 2 bears a stamp 10.

In the present text and in the appended claims, the terms "front" and "rear" refer to the position of the watch 1 relative to an observer placed on the ice side of this watch, so as to be able to consult the time information indicated by this watch.

An authentication method according to the invention is used to affix the stamp 10 on the dial 2. FIGS. 2 to 5 show several states that follow one another during the course of this process.

In a first step of the method implemented to affix the stamp 10, a face of a plate is at least partially coated with a security ink 15, then scraped, after which the situation is that of the fig. 2. In this fig. 2, security ink 15 was not removed during scraping because it is in a recessed impression 16 engraved in the plate 17.

In the state shown in FIG. 2, partially or partially drying a surface portion of the security ink 15, so as to make it adherent.

Then, a buffer 18 is used whose operational surface is smooth and which is made of polymer, for example silicone polymer, natural rubber, synthetic rubber or a mixture thereof. The buffer 18 is pressed on the upper face of the plate 17, at the level of the hollow recess 16, which symbolizes the arrow P in FIG. 3. The security ink 15 present in the intaglio imprint 16 is then fixed temporarily on the pad 18. When this has taken place, this pad 18 is raised away from the plate 17.

In FIG. 4, the buffer 18 carrying the security ink 15 extracted from the intaglio 16 is opposite the front face of a dial 2, which replaced the plate 17 under the buffer 18. Still in FIG. 4, the arrow A symbolizes an actuation of the buffer 18 towards the dial 2. The actuation A is performed until the buffer 18 presses the security ink 15 on the front face of the dial 2, where this ink of security 15 is then fixed. Once the security ink 15 is on the dial 2, it is made or allowed to dry, or it is crosslinked, according to what is appropriate given its composition.

In FIG. 5, the security ink 15 is permanently attached to the front face of the dial 2 and the pad 18 has been removed. Still on this fig. 5, it can be seen that the stamp 10 has been affixed to a wavy and therefore non-planar portion of the front face of the dial 2. In effect, by implementing the method that has just been described, the stamp 10 can be affixed to a non-flat portion, for example on a curved or concave or undulating portion.

Mostly comparable to pad printing, the method described above with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5 has the specificity of being used to affix a stamp 10 made of security ink 15.

The succession of steps which has just been described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5 is repeated several times, without changing either plate 17 or dial 2. During each iteration of this succession of steps, the plate 17 is positioned in the same way under the buffer 18 before the illustrated step in fig. 3, then the same is true of the dial 2 prior to the step illustrated in FIG. 4. In this way, security ink 15 is deposited at each time at the same place on the dial 2, so that the stamp 10 is formed of several superimposed layers of security ink 15.

For example, the stamp 10 may be made of two or three layers of security ink 15. Thanks to the superposition of several layers of security ink 15 together forming the stamp 10, the surface density of pigments in this stamp 10 is increased, which reduces or even eliminates the risk of an error in the optical determination of the authentication code in a manner that will be explained later. Also thanks to its constitution in several layers of security ink 15, the stamp 10 is more resistant, in particular by having a greater resistance to abrasion, greater resistance to tearing and, more generally, a more high resistance to mechanical attacks.

With the method described above with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5, the coin receiving the stamp 10 may not be a flexible and printable sheet by conventional printing machines. In particular, the stamp 10 may be affixed in particular to a part which is rigid and / or which is in volume and / or whose surface has curvatures.

After the stamp 10 has been affixed to the dial 2, a check is made by means of an electronic analysis and control device 20 shown in FIG. 6. In this electronic analysis and control device 20, a processing unit 21 comprising a processor is connected to an optical reader 22 capable of producing radiation 23 on a predefined frequency band, for example in the infrared. This processing unit 21 is also connected to an electronic display device 24, which may be, for example, a tablet computer or a smartphone.

During the control, the radiation 23 is directed on the stamp 10. At the same time that it produces the radiation 23, the optical reader 22 captures the radiation reflected by the stamp 10. The processing unit 21 analyzes this reflected radiation, in which, with respect to the incident radiation 23, was subtracted that the security ink 10a absorbed. By comparing the radiation reflected by the stamp 10 to the incident radiation 23, the processing unit 21 is able to determine the reflectance spectrum of the security ink 15, at least over a predetermined interval of wavelength.

As used herein: the reflectance, also called reflection factor, is the ratio of the radiation reflected on the incident radiation, the spectral reflectance is the reflectance per unit of frequency, at a length of specified wave, and - the reflectance spectrum of a security ink 15 is the set of spectral reflectances p (in%) of this security ink 15, as a function of the wavelength A.

FIG. 7 shows an exemplary reflectance spectrum of a security ink 15. FIG. 7 being given for illustrative purposes only and offering a simplified example, the scales are not indicated.

The security ink 15 may include a combination of pigments embedded in a resin. As used herein, a pigment is a constituent influencing the reflectance spectrum of the security ink 15. It may be neutral in the visible spectrum and therefore not affect the color perceived visually.

In FIG. 7, the reflectance spectrum of a security ink 15 has several inflection points including peaks and minima. Each point of inflection of the reflectance spectrum is due to one of the pigments present in the security ink 15. The reflectance spectrum of FIG. 7 being only a simplified example, the reflectance spectrum of the security ink 15 may, in reality, have more points of inflection or fewer inflection points than there are in the FIG. . 7.

The combination of pigments in the security ink 15 determines the reflectance spectrum of this security ink 15. This combination is chosen from a very large number of available combinations, each of which corresponds to a specific reflectance spectrum. Each reflectance spectrum thus constitutes an authentication code present in a security ink 15. It is extremely difficult, from the knowledge of the reflectance spectrum of a security ink 15, to find out what pigment composition produces this spectrum. reflectance, which is very complex. In other words, the authentication code incorporated in a security ink 15 is extremely difficult to reproduce without prior knowledge of the pigment composition of this security ink 15, which guarantees a high level of security against a copy. fraudulent. An example of a security ink suitable for carrying out the invention is sold by the company Printcolor Screen Ltd., whose address is: Welschloh 299.8965 Berikon, Switzerland.

By means of a mathematical analysis, the processing unit 21 compares a reflectance spectrum from an optical inspection and a predefined spectrum, and thus determines whether these two spectra are identical or not. Several successive comparisons to several predefined spectra are performed. If the reflectance spectrum from the optical inspection is found to be identical to one of the predefined spectra, it is concluded that an authentic security ink has been detected. The result of the comparisons is displayed by the display apparatus 24.

The security ink 15 of the stamp 10 is preferably invisible at least in natural light, for human vision. For example, it may be an ink that is invisible in natural light in the absence of special conditions, but is visible when it receives ultraviolet light. When this is the case, ultraviolet illumination may be employed to locate the stamp 10 prior to a check performed on this stamp 10. Also, the security ink 15 may be invisible when it receives ultraviolet illumination.

When not seen because its security ink is invisible, the stamp 10 does not affect the aesthetics of the dial 2, in the case of the watch 1. As it is on the front panel of the dial 2, this stamp 10 can however be easily inspected optically by means of an electronic device for analysis and control, while being protected by the ice 5.

Another advantage of an invisible stamp is that a counterfeiter can remain ignorant of the existence of this stamp 10 on authentic watches.

Although it is advantageous to place it on the front face of the dial 2, the stamp 10 may be affixed to other parts of the watch 1, for example on its case 4. Other parts, for example example of the internal parts of the watch 1, may also bear the stamp 10. For example, the stamp 10 may be affixed to the platen of the movement of the watch 1 and / or on one or more bridges of this movement. The stamp 10 may also be affixed to spare parts. In this regard, it will be appreciated that the method described above with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5 has the advantage of allowing to affix the stamp 10 on almost any room, including rigid and / or non-flat portions of such parts.

In addition, the article provided with the stamp 10 may not be a watch. For example, it may be a luxury pen or jewel, etc., as well as a medical device, consumable or medicine.

The stamp 10 is used during subsequent controls in the manufacture of the watch 1, for example during or after the marketing of this watch 1. Specialized stores and after-sales services have a copy of the electronic device analysis and control 20 shown in FIG. 3. Each of these stores and after-sales services can thus easily perform a check on a watch 1. During this check, a portion of the reflectance spectrum of the security ink 15 in the stamp 10 is established, by means of the optical reader 22, and the processing unit 21 compares the authentication code taken from this reflectance spectrum with a plurality of codes present in a database. Each of the codes in this database has been assigned to a specific manufacturer. Through the comparison made, the processing unit 21 can identify counterfeits. The stamp 10 can therefore fill

Claims (13)

the function of a safety tattoo. It also facilitates traceability of a manufacturer's products when the control concludes that there is no deception as to the origin of these products. The invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. In particular, in place of a security ink incorporating the authentication code in the form of a reflectance spectrum, another security ink could be used without departing from the scope of the invention. claims 1. Part other than a printable sheet, especially other than a sheet of paper, characterized in that it is at least locally coated with a security ink (15) incorporating an authentication code. 2. Part according to claim 1, characterized in that the identification code comprises a reflectance spectrum of the security ink (15). 3. Part according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the security ink (15) covers a curved area of the workpiece. 4. Part according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the piece is substantially rigid or elastically deformable at least where this part is coated with the security ink (15). 5. Part according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the security ink (15) is an invisible ink at least in natural light, for human vision. 6. Part according to claim 5, characterized in that the security ink (15) is a visible ink in the presence of ultraviolet illumination. 7. Part according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that this piece is a watch face (2), a front face is at least locally coated with the security ink (15). 8. Object comprising several assembled parts, characterized in that at least one part of this object is according to one of the preceding claims. 9. Object according to claim 8, characterized in that this object is a timepiece (1), for example a watch. 10. A method of authenticating a part (2) so that said part is according to one of claims 1 to 7, comprising steps in which: a) coating a plate (17) with a security ink ( 15) incorporating an authentication code, and this plate (17) is scraped so as to leave in place the security ink (15) present in at least one indentation (16) formed in the plate (17), b) an elastomer pad (18) is pressed onto the plate (17) so that the security ink (15) present in the intaglio (16) is transferred to the pad (18), and c) the stamp (18) is pressed onto the workpiece (2) so that the security ink (15) is transferred from the stamp (18) to the workpiece (2). 11. Authentication method according to claim 10, wherein it carries out several iterations of the succession of steps comprising step a), then step b), and then step c), so as to form an overlay. several layers of security ink (15) on said part. The authentication method according to one of claims 10 and 11, further comprising a control which follows step c) and wherein: d) the identification code embedded in the security ink (15) is determined by means of an electronic device for analysis and control (20), then e) the authentication code determined in step d) is compared with at least one predefined code, so as to estimate there is or no identity between this authentication code and this predefined code. The authentication method according to claim 12, wherein in step d) an optical inspection of the security ink (15) is performed using the electronic analysis and control device (20), and a reflectance spectrum of the security ink (15) is determined over at least a predefined wavelength interval from data from the optical inspection, the identification code comprising this reflectance spectrum.