Tamper-evident package

<u>Field of the Invention</u>

The present invention relates to packing elements, such as envelopes, boxes or packages whose integrity can be controlled electronically.

<u>prior art</u>

The radio identification (RFID) technology is today widespread in many areas. This technology is most often implemented in so-called tags "radio tags" that comprise an electronic chip that contains information Available digital remote radio frequency by means of a reading device.

While their main function is to store information which are within easy walking distance, these labels are sometimes used as control of integrity to control an opening not allowed a packaging member such as an envelope or package. In this case, the label is provided with a link that, when cut, prevents possibility of reading the information contained in the chip the label. The label provided with a link then serves and sealed up at portions of the object that is handled during opening. In the case of a jacket for example, the label link is attached between the opening flap and the rest of the body of the envelope so that it can not be opened normally without breaking the link.

However, this type of label to control a unauthorized opening only in cases where the package member was open in a conventional manner, namely by handling means provided for its opening. For example, it is quite possible to access the contents of an envelope or package without touching the means opening provided for this purpose by cutting an edge of the envelope or surface of the package. In this case, the link is not broken and control electronic remote from the package integrity is ineffective. Alone a thorough visual inspection could determine that packaging has been violated. In an industrial environment such as a delivery company, for example, such a solution seems unrealistic given the quantities of envelopes or parcels to be treated every day.

<u>Purpose and brief description of the invention</u>

The present invention aims to overcome the above drawbacks and to achieve packaging that can electronically control its integrity and this, regardless of the part of the package which has been opened.

These goals are achieved through a controllable packaging integrity comprising a sealed body, the body being shaped by folding a sheet of material previously cut in a predefined shape, which packaging, in accordance with the invention comprises a remotely interrogatable electronic component formed from a means of storing data related to an antenna circuit, said circuit antenna extending at least over the entire periphery of the surface internal of the sheet of material.

Thus, the packaging according to the invention comprises means for Remote searchable storage that are useful for identifying and monitoring of an object transported in the package while acting as control of the integrity of the package. Indeed, the antenna circuit being arranged on the entire periphery of the sheet of material, any opening the package from any edge of the latter will be detected as it will result in rupture of the antenna circuit. The checking the integrity of the packaging is effected by remote inquiry thereof: it is not possible to read the information stored in the component is that the antenna has been broken due to an opening fraudulent.

The antenna circuit can extend further on the internal faces of the main sheet of material. The opening detection level thus increased because even the packaging opening through an incision on one of the faces of the latter may be detected.

To cover more detection zones on the package, the circuit antenna disposed on the sheet of material can describe a series undulations or zigzags.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the storage means data and the antenna circuit of the electronic component are disposed on the inner surface of the sheet of material so as to be protected inside the packaging once it has been assembled.

According to another characteristic of the invention, a first portion the antenna circuit is disposed on an inner face of the sheet material, the second complementary part of the antenna circuit being disposed on the other inner face of the sheet at a predetermined location so as to complete the first part of the circuit once the packaging assembled.

The antenna circuit can be made of a conductive wire of very small thickness which is bonded to the inner surface of the sheet of material or a conductive ink deposited on the internal surface of the sheet material. The use of a conductive ink used to form easily varied patterns in the antenna circuit such as undulations or zigzags example.

The invention applies to various types of packaging such as including envelopes or folding boxes used as packages. When the latter comprise weak portions, part of the antenna circuit can pass through these portions so as to facilitate its rupture in case of fraudulent opening.

<u>Brief Description of Drawings</u>

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description of specific embodiments of the invention, given by way of nonlimiting examples, with reference to the drawings accompanying, in which:<ul><li>FIG 1 is a view of an envelope in unfolded form showing a first embodiment of the package of the present invention,</li><li>FIG 2 is a view of the casing of Figure 2 once Assembly,</li><li>Figure 3 is a view of a box as unfolded corresponding to a second embodiment of the package the invention,</li><li>Figure 4 is a view of the box in Figure 3 once meeting and</li><li>Figure 5 is an alternative embodiment of the casing of the figure 1.</li></ul>

<u>Detailed description of embodiments of the invention</u>

In order not to unnecessarily complicate the description, this invention will be primarily described in conjunction with envelopes and parcel boxes that are commonly used packing materials to carry documents or objects. However, it appears clearly that the present invention applies to any other type packaging which, once assembled, form a sealed enclosure around the packaged item.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the package object of the present invention applied to a mail envelope Traditional. Figure 1 shows a casing 100 in form unfolded. The casing 100 is formed from a sheet 101 of paper or another which is cut in a pattern which defines the various elements to fold and assemble to form the body of the envelope wherein the object (ex. document) to be transported may be housed.

In the example, the sheet 101 includes a first portion 110 includes three sections 111, 112 and 113 and a second portion 120. well known, the envelope is assembled by folding portions 110 and 120 along the fold line 120a, the flaps 111 and 113 closing the side edges of the shell by folding along the lines 111a and 113a and bonding against the portion 101 and 120. The sheet folded and glued form the envelope 100 in which objects, such as documents, may be introduced through the opening left free by the portion 112. When completed, the enclosure is permanently closed well known manner by means of the portion 112, the side facing the portion 120 is provided with an adhesive strip 114.

In the present invention, one seeks to achieve packaging that integrity can be controlled remotely safely and quickly. We use why a transponder-type electronic component 130 as witness of that integrity. Indeed, since the electronic component is remotely interrogatable as described later in detail, if it is physically damaged to the point of no longer being interrogated, it is possible to determine that the package has been opened without authorization. In other words, the package integrity according to the invention is provided by mechanical integrity and therefore the electronic component.

More specifically, as shown in Figure 1, the component E 130 is formed of an electronic chip 131 connected to a antenna 132 both disposed on an inner surface of the sheet 101. The antenna 132 enables the remote reading of information in the chip. The antenna 132 is formed by a circuit or coil 133 which comprises two conductors 1331 and 1332 being joined to the end of antenna circuit 133. 1331 and 1332 drivers are also connected to the chip 131. The conductors 1331 and 1332 thus form a closed circuit (loop) corresponding to the antenna circuit 133. Thus, any cleavage of one or both conductors 1331, 1332 at a location any antenna circuit 133 leads to open this circuit and makes impossible transmission with the electronic chip. According to the invention, monitoring the integrity of the package (ie opening detection) is performed depending on the state of the antenna circuit is to be closed and operational indicating that the packaging is intact or interrupted at one or several places while indicating an opening of the package. In Furthermore, the presence of the electronic chip 131 and the antenna circuit 132 solely on the internal surface of the casing ensures a perfect Privacy to this integrity check.

The chip 131 mainly includes an electronic circuit storing data that can be accessed for reading as well as writing appropriate. Reading, and possibly writing, data in the memory circuit is made by transmission radio frequency through the antenna 132 in particular. If one stops the circuit that constitutes the antenna 132, it becomes inoperative and no transmission with the chip 131 can not be achieved, thus showing a fraudulent opening of the envelope.

To detect unauthorized opening of the envelope and that, whatever the edge of the envelope cut or torn, the available antenna circuit 133 at least on the whole periphery of the envelope (133c turn on Figure 1) to cover all edges of the envelope. In this way, the antenna 132 pass at least once on the Fold lines 111a, 112a, 113a and 120a which form the edges of the envelope 100 after assembly. Thus, once the casing assembly 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 in contrast to the prior art device which will detect an opening through the flap 112.

The antenna circuit 133 may also extend to the parts Interior portions 110 and 120 (133a and 133b turns) to allow detecting an opening of the envelope by the main faces to the front or the rear.

Moreover, to further increase the level of security, antenna 132 may have portions shaped undulations or zigzags as shown in the shutters 111 and 112 of Figure 1 is formed and more detection zones on the shell so that even a small incision of the envelope can be detected. More generally, the crimp angle or zigzag is selected so as to prevent retrieving a document or object from the package. Therefore, the spacing between two undulations or zigzags is determined according the size of the object enclosed within the packaging.

Again in the interest of increasing the level of detection of opening of the casing, the latter may be provided with portions embrittlement corresponding to discontinuous cutouts or micro-perforations at the flap adhesive zones to cause tearing of a portion of the flap and / or the portion of the corresponding envelope. In the example of Figure 1, portions of weakening 141 and 142 are respectively present on the flap 112 at the passage of the antenna circuit 133 and the portion 120, level of the bonding area of ​​the shutter 112. Thus, any attempt Opening the flap 112 will lead to snatch one or more parts of thereof and / or of the portion 120. The portions cut away on the flap 112 lead to definitive breakpoint in the antenna circuit. of the embrittlement portions may of course be present on the Other components and corresponding portions of the envelope.

5 shows an alternative embodiment of an envelope controllable integrity in accordance with the invention. The envelope illustrated in Figure 5 differs from that of Figure 1 in that portions Further the antenna circuit 333 are disposed on both the vouchers and the main portions of the envelope. In the example of 5, a part of the antenna circuit 333 is disposed on the flap 312 while another complementary part, corresponding to parts missing of the driver 3331 on the shutter 312, is disposed on the portion 320 on the opposite side of the sheet of material. Thus, it is only a Once the envelope flap closed by gluing and the flap portion 312 on 320 (Previously folded over the portion 310 as shown in Figure 2) that 3331 and 3332 drivers form a continuous path on the surface internal to the sheet of material that closes the antenna circuit 333. When the envelope is closed, we are left in the configuration illustrated in Figure 2. This enables possible to detect any opening of the envelope by peeling the flap 312. Indeed, even if the flap 312 is lifted off gently, it will then pick well, that reliably and accurately adjusted without What the antenna circuit remain open and therefore ineffective.

Moreover, as for the embodiment of Figure 1, of weak portions (perforate) 341 and / or 342 can be These including the passage of the circuit 333 making it impossible an opening of the envelope without cutaway portions embrittlement leading to the final break points in the antenna circuit.

The use of weak portions is here described in connection with envelopes but they can be implemented in any other packaging.

Therefore, according to the invention, it is possible to make envelopes whose integrity can be controlled remotely with a high level of safety. In addition, as the electronic component 130 and more particularly the antenna 132 are arranged only to Inside the envelope, it is very difficult to determine the points passage of the antenna when viewed the casing from the outside. The component 130 is also protected inside the casing, which prevents the latter from being damaged by manipulations the envelope during sorting or transportation.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a second embodiment of the package according to the invention which is this time applied to a box Folding 200 such as those commonly used for parcels. The principle used is the same as previously described in relation with the envelope 100 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

As shown in Figure 3, an electronic component 230, formed of an electronic chip 231 connected to an antenna 232, is arranged on the inner surface of a sheet 201 of cardboard or other. The antenna 232 extends at least in the vicinity of the entire periphery of the envelope (Coil 233c in Figure 1) to cover all edges of the box 200. In this way, the circuit 233 of the antenna 232 passes at least a Once on the fold lines which form the edge of the box after 200 assembly (Figure 4).

Similarly to the casing described above, the circuit antenna 233 may also extend to the main faces interior of the box 200 (233a and 233b turns) to cover also the faces of the latter (ie, lid, bottom and side faces). Therefore, an opening on one of the surfaces of the box may also be detected. The antenna may be disposed at an conventional winding or in a wavy or zigzag to even multiply the detection areas in the box.

As well as for envelopes described above, the folding box-type packaging may include portions weakening as controls opening. These portions weakened by a precut are irreparably torn during opening packaging allowing visually indicates an opening of the box even if the parties are stuck back openings. Such witnesses are shown in box 200 in Figures 3 and 4. They are formed by a series of pre-cut circles 241 and 242 respectively arranged level of the flaps 212 and 221 through which the box is opened. In the case a box or other packaging containing such witnesses, can be advantageous to have a part of the antenna circuit on these witnesses in order to increase the detection of any attempt to open of the box.

The antenna circuits 133 or 233 described above can be formed with a very thin wire flat conductor which is adhered to the surface internal assembly of the front sheet of material or by means a conductive ink deposited by printing on the inner surface of the sheet of material. The formation of the antenna by depositing (printing) a conductive ink allows for various forms of easy manner including facilitating the formation of ripples or zigzags in the antenna circuit.

Forms of antenna circuits described above are a few examples of possible configurations of an antenna circuit. The man of the art will have no difficulties other form circuit antenna adapted to the shape or dimensions of the packaging or security needs of the individual packaging.

The invention provides a package which comprises means electronics that not only allow identification and monitoring Remote but also fast and safe control of the integrity of packaging. This control does not require implement ways other than those normally used, since control is performed during reading information stored in the electronic chip. In Indeed, if the reader can not read the stored information is that the antenna circuit was broken during a fraudulent opening packaging.

The means used to read the information remotely are well known. For example, reading the stored data, such as identification code, can be performed for example using a reader laptop (not shown) which mainly comprises a screen display, a keypad and means for activating the chip (Transponder) by radiofrequency (RF). These activation means send a radiofrequency wave to the chip via the antenna secured in the package. The received wave charges a capacitor present in the circuit of the chip, when the capacitor discharges, refers the reader a code or information written in the memory of the chip.

The code and / or information of each respondent are so smart sent to the player and displayed on its screen and / or stored in a memory, or transferred via a serial link to a computer processing for sorting or followed by packing.

Alternatively, when the identification and monitoring must be performed on a large scale automatically, it is possible to use various types of non-portable drives such as a gantry drive in wherein the packaging scrolls which have geometries antennas allowing a serial reading to a greater distance.