Controllable integrity packaging

CA 02494401 2005-01-25 1 Controllable integrity packaging Field of the invention The present invention relates to packaging elements, such as envelopes, boxes or packages, the integrity of which can be electronically controlled.

PRIOR ART Radio-identification (RFID) technology is now widely used in many fields.

This technology is most often implemented in so-called radio tags which include an electronic chip which contains digital information that can be viewed remotely by radio frequency by means of a reading device.

Although their primary function is to store information which is easily accessible from a distance, these labels are sometimes used as a witness & integrity to control unauthorized opening of a packaging element such as an envelope or a package.

In this case, the label is provided with a link which, once cut, prevents any possibility of reading the information contained in the chip of the label. The label provided with a link then acts as a seal and is placed at the level of the parts of the object that is handled when it is opened.

In the case of an envelope for example, the link of the label is attached between the opening flap and the rest of the body of the envelope so that the latter cannot be opened normally without cutting the link.

However, this type of label only makes it possible to control an unauthorized opening in cases where the packaging element has been opened in a conventional manner, namely by manipulation of the means provided for its opening. opening.

For example, it is quite possible to access the contents of an envelope or a package without touching the opening means provided for this purpose by cutting an edge of the envelope or the surface of the package.

In this case, the link is not broken and the electronic remote control of the integrity of the packaging is ineffective.

Only a careful visual inspection could determine that the packaging has been tampered with.

In an industrial context such as that of a transport company for example, such a solution seems unrealistic in view of the quantities of envelopes or packages to be processed each day.

Object and dC ~ succinct description of the invention The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks and to provide a package which allows its integrity to be electronically controlled, regardless of the part of the package which has been opened.

These objects are achieved by means of a packaging with controllable integrity comprising a remotely searchable electronic component formed of a data storage means connected to an antenna circuit, and a hermetically sealed body, said body being shaped by folding it. 'a sheet of material previously cut into a predefined shape, characterized in that said antenna circuit extends over the entire circumference of the inner surface of the sheet of material so as to pass at least once fold lines forming the edges of said body have become.

CA 02494401 2012-02-07 2a Thus, the packaging according to the invention comprises remotely searchable storage means which are useful for the identification and tracking of an object transported in the packaging while playing the role of witness to the integrity of the packaging.

Indeed, the antenna circuit being arranged over the entire perimeter of the sheet of material, any opening of the packaging from any edge of the latter will be detected since 'it will break the antenna circuit.

The packaging integrity is checked by interrogating it remotely: if it is not possible to read the information stored in the component, the antenna has been broken following a fraudulent opening.

The antenna circuit may further extend over the major internal faces of the sheet of material.

The level of opening detection is thus increased because even an opening of the packaging by an incision on one of the faces of the latter can be detected.

In order to cover more detection areas on the packaging, the antenna circuit arranged on the sheet of material can describe a series of ripples or zigzags.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the data storage means and the antenna circuit of the electronic component are arranged on the internal surface of the sheet of material so as to be protected inside the packaging once the latter. assembled.

According to another characteristic of the invention, a first part of the antenna circuit is arranged on an internal face of the sheet of material, the second complementary part of the antenna circuit being arranged on the other internal face of the sheet. a location determined so as to complete the first part of the circuit once the packaging has been assembled.

The antenna circuit may consist of a conductive wire of very thin thickness which is bonded to the internal surface of the sheet of material or of a conductive ink deposited on the internal surface of the sheet of material. The use of a conductive ink makes it easy to form various patterns in the antenna circuit such as undulations or zigzags for example.

CA 02494401 2005-01-25 4 The invention applies to various types of packaging such as in particular envelopes or folding boxes used as packages.

When the latter include weakening portions, part of the antenna circuit can pass through these portions so as to facilitate its rupture in the event of fraudulent opening.

Brief description of the drawings Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description of particular embodiments of the invention, given by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a view of an envelope in unfolded form showing a first embodiment of the packaging of the present invention, - Figure 2 is a view of the envelope of Figure 2 once assembled, - the Figure 3 is a view of a box in unfolded form corresponding to a second embodiment of the packaging of the invention, - Figure 4 is a view of the box of Figure 3 once assembled, and - Figure 5 is an alternative embodiment of the envelope of Figure 1.

Detailed description of the embodiments of the invention In order not to unnecessarily complicate the description, the present invention will be essentially described in relation to envelopes and CA 02494401 2005-01-25 boxes of packages which are elements of packaging commonly used to transport documents or objects.

However, it will clearly appear that the present invention applies to any other type of packaging which, once assembled, forms a hermetic enclosure 5 around the packaged object.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the packaging object of the present invention applied to a traditional mail envelope.

Figure 1 shows an envelope 100 in its unfolded form. The envelope 100 is formed from a sheet 101 of paper or the like which is cut according to a diagram which defines the various elements to be folded and assembled in order to form the body of the envelope in which the object (ex. documents) to be transported can be accommodated.

In the example considered, the sheet 101 comprises a first portion 110 comprising three parts 111, 112 and 113 and a second portion 120.

In a well-known manner, the envelope is assembled by folding the portions 110 and 120 along the fold line 120a, the flaps 111 and 113 closing the side edges of the envelope by folding along the lines 111a and 113a and gluing against the portion 120.

The sheet 101 thus folded and glued forms the envelope 100 in which objects, such as documents, can be introduced through the opening left free by the portion 112.

Once filled, the envelope is definitively closed in a well-known manner by means of the portion 112, the face of which facing the portion 120 is provided with a self-adhesive strip 114.

In the present invention, it is sought to achieve a package whose integrity can be controlled remotely in a safe and rapid manner.

For this, an electronic component 130 of the transponder type is used as a witness of this integrity.

Indeed, since the electronic component can be interrogated remotely as described later in detail, if the latter is physically damaged to the point of no longer being searchable, it is possible to determine that the packaging has been opened without authorization.

In CA 02494401 2005-01-25 6 ​​in other words, the integrity of the packaging according to the invention is ensured by the mechanical and, consequently, electronic integrity of the component.

More precisely, as shown in FIG. 1, the electronic component 130 is formed of an electronic chip 131 connected to an antenna 132 both arranged on an internal surface of the sheet 101.

The antenna 132 allows the remote reading of the information contained in the chip. The antenna 132 is formed by a circuit or coil 133 which comprises two conductors 1331 and 1332 meeting at the end of the antenna circuit 133.

Conductors 1331 and 1332 are also connected to chip 131.

The conductors 1331 and 1332 therefore form a closed circuit (loop) corresponding to the antenna circuit 133.

Thus, any cutting of one or both conductors 1331, 1332 at any point in the antenna circuit 133 results in opening this circuit and makes any transmission with the electronic chip impossible.

According to the invention, the integrity of the packaging (ie detection of opening) is checked as a function of the state of the antenna circuit which is either closed and operational, indicating that the packaging is intact, or interrupted at one or more places then indicating an opening of the packaging.

In addition, the presence of the electronic chip 131 and of the antenna circuit 132 only on the internal surface of the casing ensures perfect confidentiality for this integrity check.

Chip 131 mainly comprises an electronic data storage circuit which can be accessed in reading as well as in writing if necessary.

The reading, and possibly the writing, of data in the memory circuit is carried out by radiofrequency transmission thanks to the antenna 132 in particular.

If the circuit which constitutes the antenna 132 is interrupted, the latter becomes inoperative and no transmission with the chip 131 can no longer be carried out, thus testifying to a fraudulent opening of the envelope.

CA 02494401 2005-01-25 7 In order to detect an unauthorized opening of the casing, regardless of the edge of the casing cut or torn, the antenna circuit 133 is placed at least on the whole of the casing. periphery of the envelope (turn 133c in FIG. 1) so as to cover all the edges of the envelope.

In this way, the antenna 132 passes at least once over the fold lines 111a, 112a, 113a and 120a which form the edges of the envelope 100 after assembly.

Thus, once the envelope has been assembled and closed as illustrated in FIG. 2, the antenna 132 is present on all the edges of the envelope and any attempt to open by one of these edges can be detected unlike the device of the prior art which only makes it possible to detect an opening through the flap 112.

The antenna circuit 133 can also extend over the interior parts of the portions 110 and 120 (turns 133a and 133b) to allow the detection of an opening of the envelope by the main faces at the front or at the front. back.

On the other hand, in order to further increase the level of safety, the antenna 132 may have portions in the form of zigzags or undulations as shown on the flaps 111 and 112 of FIG. 1.

This forms more detection zones on the casing so that even a small incision in the casing can be detected.

More generally, the angle of undulation or of zigzag is chosen so as to prevent any extraction of a document or of an object from the packaging.

Therefore, the spacing between two corrugations or zigzags is determined depending on the size of the object enclosed in the package.

Still with a view to increasing the level of detection of an opening of the envelope, the latter may be provided with weakening portions which correspond to discontinuous cutouts or to micro-perforations at the level of the areas where the shutters are bonded. in order to cause the tearing of part of the shutter and / or of the portion of the corresponding envelope.

In the example of FIG. 1, portions of CA 02494401 2005-01-25 8 embrittlement 141 and 142 are respectively present on the flap 112 at the level of the passage of the antenna circuit 133 and on the portion 120 at the level of the gluing zone of the shutter 112.

Thus, any attempt to open the shutter 112 will lead to tearing off one or more parts of the latter and / or of the portion 120.

The parts torn off on the shutter 112 lead to definitive breaking points in the antenna circuit.

Portions of weakening may of course be present on the other flaps and portions of the corresponding envelope.

FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of an envelope with controllable integrity in accordance with the invention. The envelope illustrated in FIG. 5 differs from that of FIG. 1 in that complementary portions of the antenna circuit 333 are arranged both on the flaps and on the main portions of the envelope.

In the example of FIG. 5, part of the antenna circuit 333 is arranged on the flap 312 while another complementary part, corresponding to the missing parts of the conductor 3331 on the flap 312, is arranged on the portion 320 of the opposite side of the material sheet.

Thus, it is only once the envelope is closed by flap and gluing of the flap 312 on the portion 320 (previously folded over the portion 310 as in FIG. 2) that the conductors 3331 and 3332 form a continuous path on the inner surface of the sheet of material which closes the antenna circuit 333.

When the envelope is closed, we find ourselves in the configuration illustrated in Figure 2.

This makes it possible to possibly detect an opening of the casing by detaching the flap 312.

Indeed, even if the flap 312 is delicately detached, it will then have to be glued perfectly, namely in a reliable and correctly adjusted manner, otherwise the antenna circuit will remain open and therefore inoperative.

In addition, as for the embodiment of FIG. 1, weakening portions (precut) 341 and / or 342 may be present in particular on the passage of circuit 333 making it impossible CA 02494401 2005-01-25 9 an opening of the 'envelope without tearing off portions of weakening which lead to definitive breaking points in the antenna circuit.

The use of weakening portions is described here in relation to envelopes but these can be implemented in any other type of packaging.

Consequently, according to the invention, it is possible to produce envelopes whose integrity can be controlled remotely with a high level of security.

In addition, as the electronic component 130 and more particularly the antenna 132 are arranged only inside the envelope, it is very difficult to determine the passage points of the antenna when observing the envelope of the. 'outside.

The component 130 is further protected inside the envelope, which prevents the latter from being damaged by handling of the envelope during sorting or transport.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a second embodiment of the packaging according to the invention which is this time applied to a folding box 200 such as those commonly used for postal parcels.

The principle implemented is the same as described above in relation to the casing 100 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, an electronic component 230, formed of an electronic chip 231 connected to an antenna 232, is arranged on the internal surface of a sheet 201 made of cardboard or the like. The antenna 232 extends at least in the vicinity of the entire periphery of the envelope (turn 233c in FIG. 1) so as to cover all the edges of the box 200.

In this way, the circuit 233 of the antenna 232 passes at least once over the fold lines which form the edge of the box 200 after assembly (FIG. 4).

As for the envelope described above, the antenna circuit 233 can also extend over the main faces to CA 02494401 2005-01-25 the interior of the box 200 (turns 233a and 233b) so as to cover also the faces of the latter (ie cover, bottom and side faces).

Consequently, an opening made on one of the surfaces of the box can also be detected. The antenna may be arranged in a conventional coil or in a wavy or zigzag shape in order to further increase the detection areas in the box.

As for the envelopes described above, the folding box type packaging may include weakening portions serving as opening indicators.

These portions weakened by a precut are irreparably torn off when the packaging is opened, thus making it possible to visually observe an opening of the box even if the opening parts are re-glued.

Such witnesses are shown on box 200 in Figures 3 and 4.

They are formed by a series of pre-cut circles 241 and 242 respectively arranged at the level of the flaps 212 and 221 by which the box is opened.

In the case of a box or any other type of packaging comprising such indicators, it may be advantageous to place part of the antenna circuit on these indicators so as to increase the detection of any attempt to open the box. .

The antenna circuits 133 or 233 described above can be formed with a very thin flat conductor wire which is bonded to the inner surface of the sheet of material before assembly or by means of a conductive ink deposited by hand printing. internal surface of the material sheet.

The formation of the antenna by depositing (printing) a conductive ink makes it possible to produce various shapes in an easy manner, in particular facilitating the formation of undulations or zigzags in the antenna circuit.

The antenna circuit shapes described above are just a few examples of possible configurations of an antenna circuit.

Those skilled in the art will easily envision any other form of antenna circuit CA 02494401 2005-01-25 11 suited to the shape or dimensions of the packaging or to specific packaging security needs.

[! The invention provides a package which comprises electronic means which not only allow remote identification and tracking, but also rapid and secure control of the integrity of the package.

This check does not require the use of means other than those usually used, since the check is carried out when reading the information stored in the electronic chip.

Indeed, if the reader cannot read the stored information, it is because the antenna circuit was broken during a fraudulent opening of the packaging.

The means used to read information remotely are well known.

For example, the reading of the stored data, such as an identification code, can be carried out for example using a portable reader (not shown) which mainly comprises a display screen, a control keyboard and means. to activate the chip (transponder) by radio frequency (RF).

These activation means send a radiofrequency wave to the chip via the antenna fixed in the packaging.

The received wave charges a capacitor present in the circuit of the chip which, when the capacitor is discharged, sends back to the reader a code or information, written in the memory of the chip.

The code and / or the information of each questioned chip are thus sent to the reader and displayed on its screen and / or stored in a memory, or transferred, via a serial link, to a processing computer for sorting or monitoring. packaging.

Alternatively, when the identification and monitoring must be carried out on a large scale automatically, it is possible to use various types of non-portable readers, such as a gantry-type reader under which the packages are scrolled, which have different geometries. 'antennas allowing serial reading at a greater distance.