Tamper-evident package

<u>Field of the Invention</u>

p0001The present invention relates to the packaging elements, such as envelopes, boxes or packages whose integrity can be controlled electronically.

<u>prior art</u>

p0002The radio identification (RFID) technology is now widespread in many areas. This technology is usually implemented in labels called "radio tags" which include an electronic chip that contains digital information searchable remotely by radio frequency by a reading device.

p0003While their main function is to store information that is easily accessible at a distance, these labels are sometimes used as tamper evident to control unauthorized opening of a packaging element such as an envelope or package. In this case, the label is provided with a link that, when cut, prevents any possibility of reading the information contained in the chip of the label. The label provided with a link then acts sealed and stands at the parts of the object being manipulated when opened. In the case of a jacket for example, the link label is attached between the opening flap and the rest of the body of the envelope so that it can be opened normally without cutting the link.

p0004However, this type of label is used to control unauthorized opening for cases where the packaging component was opened conventionally, ie 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 opening means provided for this purpose by cutting an edge of the envelope or the package surface. In this case, the link is not broken and electronic remote control of the packaging integrity is ineffective. Only a thorough visual inspection could determine that the package was violated. In an industrial environment such as a forwarding company, for example, such a solution seems unrealistic given the quantities of envelopes or parcels to be treated every day.

p0005US-A-6259369, which is considered the state of the closest prior art discloses a package integrity with controllable conductive ink placed on the lower part of a package.

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

p0006The present invention aims to remedy the above drawbacks and to provide a package that electronically control its integrity and that, whatever the part of the packaging has been opened.

p0007These goals are achieved through a controllable packaging integrity of claim 1.

p0008Thus, the packaging according to the invention comprises storage means searchable remotely which are useful for the identification and tracking of an object transported in the package while acting as indicator of the integrity of packaging. Indeed, the antenna circuit being disposed on the whole periphery of the sheet of material, any opening of the package from any edge thereof is detected as it creates breaking the circuit 'antenna. Controlling the integrity of the packaging is done by remote interrogation of it: if it is not possible to read the information stored in the component is that the antenna was broken following to fraudulent opening.

p0009The antenna circuit can extend further on the inner main faces of the sheet of material. The level of opening detection is thus increased because even opening of the package through an incision on one side thereof can be detected.

p0010To cover more detection areas on the packaging, the antenna circuit disposed on the sheet of material can describe a series of undulations or zigzags.

p0011According to one characteristic of the invention, the data storage means 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 last assembled.

p0012According to another characteristic of the invention, a first portion of the antenna circuit is disposed on an inner face of the sheet of material, the complementary second part of the antenna circuit being disposed on the other inner face of the sheet a specified location so as to complete the first part of the circuit once the assembled package.

p0013The 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 of material. The use of a conductive ink makes it possible to easily form various patterns in the antenna circuit, such as undulations or zigzags for example.

p0014The invention applies to various types of packaging such as envelopes or cartons used as packages. When the latter comprise weak portions, a part of the antenna circuit can pass through these portions so as to facilitate its breaking in case of fraudulent opening.

<u>Brief Description of Drawings</u>

p0015Other characteristics and advantages of the invention appear from the following description of particular embodiments of the invention, given as nonlimiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, 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 when assembled,</li><li>Figure 3 is a view of an unfolded box in the form corresponding to a second embodiment of the package of the invention,</li><li>Figure 4 is a view of the box of Figure 3 after assembly, and</li><li>Figure 5 is an alternative embodiment of the casing of Figure 1.</li></ul>

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

p0016In order not to unnecessarily complicate the description, the present invention will be mainly described with envelopes and parcel boxes that are packing materials commonly used to carry documents or objects. However, it will be clear that the invention is applicable to any other type of packaging which, when assembled, form a sealed enclosure around the packed object.

p0017Figures 1 and 2 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the subject package of the present invention applied to a traditional mail envelope. Figure 1 shows a casing 100 in its unfolded form. The casing 100 is formed from a sheet 101 of paper or other that is cut in a pattern which defines the various elements to fold and assemble to form the body of the envelope in which the object (eg. documents) to transport may be accommodated.

p0018In the example, the sheet 101 includes a first portion 110 comprises three sections 111, 112 and 113 and a second portion 120. As is well known, the envelope is assembled by folding the portions 110 and 120 along the line of 120a folding, 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 120. the sheet 101 thus 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. once filled, the envelope is finally closed in well known manner by means of the portion 112, the opposite face of the portion 120 is provided with an adhesive strip 114.

p0019In the present invention, one seeks to achieve packaging whose integrity can be controlled remotely safely and quickly. an electronic component is used for this type of transponder 130 as a witness of that integrity. Indeed, since the electronic component is interrogated remotely as described in detail below, 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 performed by the mechanical integrity and therefore the electronic component.

p0020More specifically, as shown in Figure 1, the electronic component 130 is formed of an electronic chip 131 connected to an antenna 132 both disposed on an inner surface of the sheet 101. The antenna 132 enables the remote reading of information contained in the chip. The antenna 132 is formed by a circuit or winding 133 comprises two conductors 1331 and 1332 being joined to the end of the antenna circuit 133. The conductors 1331 and 1332 are also connected to the chip 131. The conductors 1331 and 1332 therefore form a closed circuit (loop) corresponding to the antenna circuit 133. Thus, any break of one or two 1331 drivers, 1332 at any location of the antenna circuit 133 leads to open this circuit and makes it impossible to transmission with the electronic chip. According to the invention, the control of the integrity of the package (ie opening detection) is effected according to the state of the antenna circuit is to be closed and operational indicating that the packaging is intact, be interrupted at one or more locations while indicating an opening of the package. In addition, the presence of the electronic chip 131 and the antenna circuit 132 of the single internal surface of the casing ensures a perfect privacy this integrity check.

p0021The chip 131 mainly includes an electronic circuit data storage that can be accessed in reading and in writing as appropriate. Reading, and possibly writing, data in the memory circuit is performed by radio frequency transmission through the antenna 132 in particular. If it interrupts the circuit which is the antenna 132, it becomes inactive and no transmission with the chip 131 can no longer be achieved, thus showing a fraudulent opening of the envelope.

p0022To detect unauthorized opening of the envelope and this, whatever the edge of the envelope cut or torn, it has the antenna circuit 133 at least on the whole periphery of the envelope (133c coil in Figure 1) so as to cover all the edges of the envelope. In this way, the antenna 132 pass 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 is assembled and closed as illustrated in FIG 2, the antenna 132 is present on all sides of the envelope and any attempt to open by one of these edges may be detected contrary to the device of prior art that allows not detect that opening the flap 112.

p0023The antenna circuit 133 may also extend on the inner parts of portions 110 and 120 (133a and 133b coils) for detecting an opening of the envelope by the main faces to the front or the back.

p0024Moreover, to further increase the level of safety, the antenna 132 may have portions shaped undulations or zigzags as shown in parts 111 and 112 of Figure 1. This forms more areas detecting on the envelope so that even a small incision of the envelope can be detected. More generally, the angle of corrugation or zigzag is selected so as to prevent the extraction of a document or object from the package. Therefore, the spacing between two undulations or zigzags is determined according to the size of the object enclosed within the packaging.

p0025Always in order to increase the level of detecting an opening of the casing, the latter may be provided with weak portions which correspond to cutouts discontinuous or micro-perforations at the bonding zones of the flaps to cause the tearing of a portion of the flap and / or the corresponding portion of the envelope. In the example of Figure 1, weak portions 141 and 142 are respectively present on the flap 112 at the passage of the antenna circuit 133 and the portion 120 at the bonding area of ​​the flap 112. Thus any attempt to open the flap 112 will lead to snatch one or more parts of it and / or the portion 120. the parties ripped the flap 112 leading to the final break points in the antenna circuit. embrittlement of portions may of course be present on other parts and portions of the corresponding envelope.

p00265 shows an alternative embodiment of a controllable integrity allocation in accordance with the invention. The envelope illustrated in Figure 5 differs from that of Figure 1 in that complementary portions of the antenna circuit 333 are disposed both on the flaps and on the main portions of the envelope. In the example of Figure 5, a part of the antenna circuit 333 is disposed on the flap 312 while the other complementary part, corresponding to the missing parts of the conductor 3331 on the shutter 312, is arranged on the portion 320 of the opposite side of the sheet of material. Thus, it is only once the envelope flap closed by gluing and the flap portion 312 of the 320 (previously folded over the portion 310 as in Figure 2) that the 3331 and 3332 drivers form a continuous path on inner surface of the material sheet which seals the antenna circuit 333. When the envelope is closed, it is found in the configuration illustrated in Figure 2. This enables possible to detect any opening of the envelope by peeling the flap 312. even if the flap 312 is lifted off gently, it will then stick it back perfectly, ie reliably and correctly adjusted otherwise the antenna circuit remain open and therefore ineffective.

p0027Moreover, as for the embodiment of Figure 1, the weak portions (pre-cut) 341 and / or 342 may be present including the passage of the circuit 333 making it impossible to open the envelope without cutaway portions of embrittlement which lead to definitive breakpoint in the antenna circuit.

p0028The use of weak portions is here described in connection with envelopes but they can be implemented in any other type of packaging.

p0029Therefore, in accordance with the invention, it is possible to achieve envelopes whose integrity can be controlled remotely with a great level of safety. Moreover, since the electronic component 130 and especially the antenna 132 are arranged only inside the envelope, it is very difficult to determine the crossing points of the antenna when observing the envelope of 'outside. The component 130 is also protected inside the envelope, which prevents the latter from being damaged by handling of the bag during the separation or transportation.

p0030Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a second embodiment of the package according to the invention which is this time applied to a folding box 200 such as those commonly used for postal parcels. The principle used is the same as previously described in relation to the casing 100 illustrated in FIGS 1 and 2.

p0031As shown in Figure 3, an electronic component 230, formed of an electronic chip 231 connected to an antenna 232, is disposed on the inner surface of a sheet 201 of cardboard or other. The antenna 232 extends at least adjacent the entire periphery of the casing (coil 233c in Figure 1) so as to cover all the edges of the box 200. In this way, the circuit 233 of 'antenna 232 pass at least once over the fold lines that form the edge of the box 200 after assembly (Figure 4).

p0032As for the envelope described above, the antenna circuit 233 can also extend over the major faces to the interior of the box 200 (233a and 233b turns) so as to cover both sides of the latter ( ie cover, bottom and sides of faces). Therefore, an opening on one surface of the box may also be detected. The antenna can be disposed in a conventional winding or in a wavy form or zigzag in order to further increase the detection zones in the box.

p0033As well as for envelopes described above, the folding box-like packaging may comprise weak portions serving as control opening. These portions are weakened by precut irreparably torn during opening of the package thereby enabling visually indicates an opening of the box even if the opening portions are glued together. Such controls are shown in box 200 in Figures 3 and 4. They are formed by a series of circles precut 241 and 242 respectively arranged at the flaps 212 and 221 by which the box is opened. In the case of a box or any other type of package having such witnesses, it may be advantageous to have a portion of the antenna circuit of the witnesses in order to increase the detection of any attempt to open the box .

p0034The antenna circuits 133 or 233 described above may be formed with a very thin wire flat conductor which is bonded to the inner surface of the assembly before or sheet of material by means of a conductive ink deposited by printing the inner surface of the sheet of material. The formation of the deposit by antenna (printing) of a conductive ink allows for various forms of an easy way particularly facilitating the formation of undulations or zigzags in the antenna circuit.

p0035antenna circuits of the forms described above are just some examples of possible configurations of an antenna circuit. The man of art will have no difficulties other antenna circuit shape adapted to the shape or dimensions of the packaging or security needs of individual packaging.

p0036The invention provides a package which comprises electronic means that not only allow identification and remote monitoring as well as a fast and safe control of the integrity of the packaging. This control does not require the implementation of means other than those normally used, since control is performed when reading the information stored in the chip. Indeed, if the reader can not read the stored information is that the antenna circuit was broken during a fraudulent opening of the package.

p0037The means used to read the information remotely are well known. For example, reading the stored data, such as an identification code, can be performed for example using a portable reader (not shown) which mainly comprises a display screen, a keypad and means for activating the chip (transponder) by radiofrequency (RF). These activation means emit a radiofrequency wave to the chip via the antenna secured in the package. The received wave charges a capacitor present in the circuit chip which, when the capacitor discharges, refers the reader a code or information, written in the memory of the chip.

p0038The code and / or information of each respondent chip are thus sent to the player and displayed on its screen and / or stored in a memory, or transferred via a serial link, to a processing computer for sorting or tracking packaging.

p0039Alternatively, when the identification and monitoring must be carried out large-scale automatically, it is possible to use various types of non-portable drives such as a gantry drive in which the packaging parading, presenting geometries antenna for a serial read at a greater distance.