DE202012104474U1 - Information carrier and security feature for coffee capsules - Google Patents

Abstract

A system comprising a coffee capsule and an information carrier mounted thereon, wherein the information carrier has an electrically non-conductive substrate, an electrically conductive layer and preferably a cover layer and the information carrier is in the form of a band and / or sheath.

Description

The invention relates to a coffee capsule and an information carrier mounted thereon, wherein the information carrier has an electrically non-conductive substrate, an electrically conductive layer and preferably a cover layer and the information carrier is in the form of a band and / or sheath. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of the system as a security feature on a coffee capsule and a method for producing a security film cover.

To secure data or electrical equipment from unauthorized access, numerous techniques and techniques have been described in the art. For example, access to a personal computer may be restricted with a password to protect important data or prevent the computer from being used by unauthorized persons. These passwords are used in conjunction with encryption and authentication keys, which are used to establish secure messaging between computers. It is possible today to install a program on the computer that encrypts sensitive data so that this data can not be read by anyone who does not have the unlock key. However, it is necessary to keep the key somewhere, and if this key is not complex, it will be found.

Despite the constant evolution of new techniques, passwords are still the most commonly used security tools; they are also the most abused and often the easiest to break for an unauthorized person. Passwords are a kind of security paradox. The best passwords are the hardest to guess: long and random. Unfortunately, these are the hardest to remember. Additionally, most experts strongly recommend that you use different passwords for each email, e-commerce, or other account, and that they should be changed on a regular basis. As a result, most people either choose easy-to-guess passwords or write from where they can be copied or stolen.

The prior art shows several possibilities to produce information carriers by means of printing techniques or other coating methods which can be read out by means of a suitable reading method or reading device. Probably the most widely used information carriers produced in this way are barcodes in the embodiment as a one-dimensional bar code or for example as a two-dimensional variant. These are recorded with suitable optical scanners and optionally further processed via corresponding data processing systems.

The printing techniques and coating techniques for making such features continue to evolve. That's how it describes EP 1 803 562 a method for transfer of imaging layers from a carrier sheet or transfer sheet to sheet in a sheet processing machine. In this case, an adhesive is applied in a first application unit and moved together in a further coating unit with a transfer film and applied material from the transfer sheet by adhering to the sheet. In this case, a transfer nip is formed in the coating unit and the transfer film is placed on the surface of a press roller along with the transfer-coated side on a printed sheet and passed under pressure together with this through the transfer nip, so that the imaging layers provided in adhesive areas of the carrier film be transferred adhering to the sheet. This can be easily applied barcodes and alphanumeric information.

In the prior art will continue in US 5,818,019 . US 3,719,804 . US 4,587,410 and US 2006/0118612 disclosed flat printed materials that allow secure verification or validation of data. This can be useful, for example, for medicines and their packaging, but also for lottery tickets. The printed information serve z. For authentication or validation. Capacitive readable information carriers are also known, inter alia, from the applications US Pat. No. 3,719,804 (permanent information memory) and US Pat. No. 4,587,410 (parking system). In the latter example, the processing and variability of capacitive structures for a parking meter is shown. By means of a mechanical unit, the capacitive structure in the reader is successively changed, thus changing its "intrinsic value". An individualization of the structures is not provided. The complete system is a self-sufficient system without interaction with other systems or data processing or data storage. In US 3,719,804 are the manufacturing possibilities by means of printing techniques such as screen printing, flexographic printing and gravure listed. The description refers to liquid processable materials which are suitable for printing processes. This has all the problems that such liquid processable inks entail. The inks that are sufficient are very expensive, contain solvents, have a limited shelf life and cause process engineering problems. The individualization of the applied conductor tracks by means of separation techniques. The readout method is strongly position dependent and is fixed Readout position of the information carrier connected in the reader.

Furthermore, in the prior art coffee machines are described by a so-called capsule system. These are characterized mainly by the fact that these coffee machines instead of a portafilter use special closed capsules with the content of coffee powder to brew coffee. In addition, capacitive information carriers are known. These information carriers are produced, for example, in a very economical transfer foil method.

A disadvantage of the prior art is that no security systems for coffee capsules are described.

The object of the invention was therefore to provide a security system for coffee capsules.

The problem is solved by the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments can be found in the subclaims.

It was quite surprising that a system comprising a coffee capsule and an information carrier attached thereto can be provided which is inexpensive to produce and does not have the disadvantages or deficiencies of the prior art, wherein the information carrier is an electrically non-conductive substrate, an electrically conductive layer and preferably has a cover layer and the information carrier is in the form of a banderole and / or sheath. By means of the information carrier, the known capsule systems can be expanded by previously impossible functions and, moreover, a practically relevant security feature can be made available.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to the use of a capacitive information carrier as a banderole-shaped or conical security feature on a coffee capsule, wherein the information carrier has at least one, on an electrically non-conductive substrate present electrically conductive layer. Such an information carrier is the expert, for example from the WO 2010/043422 or the WO 2010/051802 known. Surprising, however, was the use of the information carrier as a security feature on a coffee capsule.

Furthermore, in a further aspect, the invention relates to the use of a capacitive information carrier as a banderole-shaped or cone-shaped security feature on a coffee capsule, wherein the information carrier has at least one electrically conductive layer present on an electrically nonconductive substrate and is applied on the outer surface of the coffee capsule.

It was completely surprising that the system can preferably be used as a security feature, wherein the electrically conductive layer consists of applied, preferably impressed, conductive features.

For the purposes of the invention, the lateral surface denotes the outer surface, that is, the surface of the coffee capsule. The lateral surface or the conical surface can be formed by the union of the generatrices, which represent the connecting path from the tip to the base of the capsule as guide curves.

The information carrier can advantageously be used as a security feature, wherein the electrically conductive layer consists of applied, preferably impressed, conductive features. When embossing causes a forming tool (eg., An embossing machine) in particular with pressure on a flat workpiece surface deformation to a relief.

Advantageously, the substrate and / or the cover layer in a preferred embodiment of a plastic, a paper, a cardboard, a wood material, a composite material, glass, ceramics, textiles, leather or a combination thereof. In particular, the substrate is an electrically nonconductive material which is preferably flexible and light in weight. Translucent or opaque substrates may be used. Preferred plastics include in particular PVC, PETG, PV, PETX, PE and synthetic papers.

It is preferred that the electrically conductive layer is a metal layer, a metal particle-containing layer, a layer containing electrically conductive particles, an electrically conductive polymer layer or a layer of at least one combination of these layers. Electrically conductive particles are in particular carbon black or graphite particles. In the context of the invention, polymers designate, in particular, a substance which is composed of a group of chemically uniformly structured but generally differing macromolecules in terms of degree of polymerization, molecular weight and chain length (polymer molecules). The polymers are preferably electrically conductive. In such polymer-unitary substances, all macromolecules are preferably of identical construction and differ only in their chain length (degree of polymerization). Such polymers can be referred to as polymer homologs. Polymers may be selected from the group consisting of inorganic polymers, organometallic polymers fully or partly aromatic Polymers, homopolymers, copolymers, biopolymers, chemically modified polymers and / or synthetic polymers can be selected. Particularly preferred are polymers selected from paraphenylene, polyacetylene, polypyrrole, polythiophene, polyaniline (PANI) and PE-DOT. Thus, the information carrier is inexpensive to produce by means of a mass production process.

According to the invention, the electrically conductive layer is in particular a structured layer of conductive material applied in a structured manner. The inventive combination of these two properties, electrical conductivity and structure, it has surprisingly been possible to realize a cost-producible layer that can be read by a capacitive reader.

In a further preferred embodiment, the electrically conductive material is a printed layer on the substrate. The layer is thus easily and economically feasible with an additive process. It is also preferable that the electrically conductive layer is transferred to the substrate by a transfer method. According to the invention, the application of the layer on the substrate can take place by transfer methods known per se; This is preferably the transfer film method and particularly preferably a cold film transfer method. The person skilled in the art knows such methods. Of course, all other methods for the structured application of an electrically conductive layer can be used.

The electrically conductive layer is realized according to a further preferred embodiment by applying a subtractive method, wherein layer regions are removed. In this case, known etching or laser ablation methods are used. In the latter, the material to be removed is vaporized by the action of the laser beams. Of course, other methods can be used.

Advantageously, according to a further preferred embodiment, at least one covering layer, which completely or partially covers the substrate of the information carrier, is located on the information carrier. The cover layer can advantageously be used as protection or blurring of the information carrier.

It is preferred that the system comprises a reading device for reading the information carrier, comprising an information processing system, a pressure-resistant housing and one or more capacitive transmitting and receiving electrodes. The transmitting and receiving electrodes are in the form of rows and columns concave rotationally symmetrical and / or arranged around a truncated cone.

Furthermore, it is preferred that the transmitting and receiving electrodes are arranged in the form of circular ring sections in a circular ring. The reader advantageously reads the information from the information carrier and makes it available to an information processing system.

It is further preferred that the system has a security feature comprising a substrate and a layer of applied, preferably impressed, conductive features. In a further preferred embodiment, the system comprises a security film cover.

The preferred reader can surprisingly be used in a preferred system with the security film cover, the reader determining the position of security features of the security film cover over its electrodes and providing it to an information processing system.

The security feature preferably comprises a substrate and a layer of applied, preferably embossed, conductive features.

• a. Bereitstellen einer Folie, bevorzugt einer metallisierten Folie,
• b. Aufprägen eines Sicherheitsmerkmales nach Anspruch 8 in einem wiederkehrenden Muster,
• c. Ausstanzen von Teilflächen in wiederkehrenden Abständen, welche ungleich den Abständen des Musters sind,
• d. Bereitstellen und Verdrehen eines Lebensmittelbehälters und
• e. Ankleben und/oder Verpressen der Teilflächen auf den Lebensmittelbehälter als Sicherheitsfolienabdeckung

In particular, the invention relates to a system in which the security film cover is produced by the following steps:

• a. Providing a film, preferably a metallized film,
• b. Imprinting a security feature according to claim 8 in a recurring pattern,
• c. Punching out partial areas at recurring intervals that are not equal to the distances of the pattern,
• d. Providing and twisting a food container and
• e. Sticking and / or pressing the partial surfaces on the food container as a security film cover

The invention will be explained below by means of examples, but without being limited to these.

Show it:

1 Preferred information carrier

2 Preferred reader

3 Preferred coding

4 capsule

5A. -B. Bottom of a capsule

6 Preferred method

7 Features of a preferred reader

1 : Capacitive information storage is provided. These have, for example, the shape of the partial surface of a cone portion and therefore fit capsules, which resemble a cone portion. The information carriers are attached to the capsules, for example, with an adhesive or other attachment method.

2 and 7 The capacitive information carriers can be read out, for example, with a capacitive reader. The reading electrodes of the reading device are preferably arranged in the form of a concave conic section. Furthermore, it is preferred that the transmitting and receiving electrodes are arranged in the form of circular ring sections in a circular ring. Surprisingly, the preferred reader can be used in a system with a security film cover, the reader determining the position of the security features of the security film cover over its electrodes and providing it to an information handling system.

3 A preferred coding of the information carriers takes place, for example, in several columns and rows and includes, for example and without limitation, the following information: capsule type (ristretto, espresso, lungo, ...), amount of water (25 ml, 45 ml, 80 ml, ...), temperature (90 ° C, 95 ° C, 100 ° C, 110 ° C, ...), brewing pressure (10 bar, 15 bar, ...) and a signature.

4 : In addition, systematics are used in the production process of the capsules to form a so-called seed, so a cryptographic random value. For example, studies have shown that the cover sheet is attached at the lower end of an exemplary capsule at different angles to the actual capsule body. In addition, the offset, so the offset of the cover sheet to the edge of the capsule, differs in the exemplary capsules. It was completely surprising that a seed could be derived from these properties.

5 Further, it is preferable to use the patterning of an exemplary capsule for a seed. For example, of the cover sheet of the exemplary capsule, certain features of the structure contact the outer edge of the capsule. At the appropriate location mounted reading electrodes of a capacitive reader can be used so surprisingly enough to determine where the features of the structure touch the edge and derive a seed from it.

On the coded information (type of capsule, amount of water, ...), a secret key and a seed now a scatter value function is applied. For example, such a scattering function is SHA. The result of this scattering value function is now applied as a signature to the capacitive information carrier in an individualization process (for example structuring by laser cutting).

The coffee machine, equipped with a suitable reader for capacitive information carrier, can now read the information (eg capsule type, amount of water, ...) from the capsule and the signature, matching the random variable (rotation of the cover foil, offset of the cover foil , Features of structuring on the edge, ...), check. For example, if the signature is incorrect, the coffee maker may refuse to brew or brew in a non-optimal configuration.

As an added benefit, complete backward compatibility with the existing system of the exemplary capsule results. The capsules equipped with the new feature can be easily inserted and used in a suitable coffee machine without a capacitive reader. Likewise, if desired, capsules without a new feature could be used in a coffee machine with capacitive reader. The additional gain (setting to the perfect brewing temperature, amount of water, ...) can only be achieved with a coffee maker with capacitive reading device which is suitable for the feature of the capsule.

6 In the method for producing a security film cover, a film, preferably a metallized film, is first provided. This may be, for example, an aluminum foil. The security feature is preferably embossed by a stamping machine in a recurring pattern on the film, in which case partial surfaces are punched out at recurring intervals, which do not correspond to the distances of the embossed pattern. Subsequently, the food container, in particular the coffee capsule is provided and twisted. The faces can then be glued or stamped on these as a security film cover. This is a process which produces the required natural entropy by repeating the pattern on the film and randomly rotating the coffee capsule bottoms in the production machine. It was surprising that production problems (twisting of the capsule) arising during the production of capsules can be advantageously used for the production of the security feature.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• EP 1803562 [0005]
• US 5818019 [0006]
• US 3719804 [0006, 0006]
• US 4587410 [0006]
• US 2006/0118612 [0006]
• WO 2010/043422 [0012]
• WO 2010/051802 [0012]

Claims (13)

A system comprising a coffee capsule and an information carrier mounted thereon, wherein the information carrier has an electrically non-conductive substrate, an electrically conductive layer and preferably a cover layer and the information carrier is in the form of a band and / or sheath. The system of claim 1, wherein the substrate and / or the cover layer of the information carrier are selected from the group comprising plastic, ceramic, glass, paper, cardboard and / or natural materials. The system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the electrically conductive layer of the information carrier is a metal layer, a metal particle-containing layer, an electrically conductive particle-containing layer, electrically conductive polymer layer or a layer of at least one combination of these layers. System according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the system comprises a reading device for reading the information carrier, comprising an information processing system, a pressure-resistant housing and one or more capacitive transmitting and receiving electrodes. System according to claim 4, wherein the transmitting and receiving electrodes are arranged in the form of rows and columns concave rotationally symmetrical and / or about a truncated cone. System according to claim 4, wherein the transmitting and receiving electrodes are arranged in the form of circular ring sections in a circular ring. System according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the reading device reads the information from the information carrier and an information processing system provides. A system according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the system comprises a security feature comprising a substrate and a layer of deposited, preferably imprinted, conductive features. A system according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the system comprises a security sheet cover. A system according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the reader determines the position of security features of the security sheet covering over its electrodes and provides it to an information handling system. System according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the security film cover is produced by the following steps: a. Providing a film, preferably a metallized film, Imprinting a security feature according to claim 8 in a recurring pattern, c. Punching out partial areas at recurring intervals that are not equal to the distances of the pattern, d. Providing and twisting a food container and e. Sticking and / or pressing the partial surfaces on the food container as a security film cover. Use of the system according to one of claims 1 to 11 as a security feature, wherein the electrically conductive layer consists of applied, preferably impressed, conductive features.

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