There are many situations in which it is desirable to transmit, via documents, highly confidential information, such as a PIN through the mail. When such information is printed, it is of course necessary that the information not be visible except when exposed by the user, and there must be some mechanism for identifying to the user if the information has been tampered with so that the PIN can be cancelled and a new PIN issued.
According to the present invention, a tamperproof label assembly for camouflaging or clearly evidently displaying confidential indicia is provided, as well as a method of producing label assemblies obscuring confidential information that is part of each label assembly, while allowing ready exposure of the confidential information in a tamperproof manner. The invention achieves its objectives by using conventional pseudo adhesion layers as part of the label so that once the label components have been separated, to expose the PIN, it is virtually impossible to lay the elements back together in the manner that they were originally provided. The desirable objectives are also facilitated, however, by forming slits and/or perforations in the face layer of the label assembly which cause the label assembly to come apart when the PIN is exposed, making it even more difficult to properly lay the various elements back together again without exposing the tampering, and this is even more particularly facilitated when readable indicia is printed on the top surface of the face ply and at least one slit or perforation extends through the readable indicia.
The invention also ensures confidentiality by providing security pantographs on the label face plies so that the underlying PIN cannot be read, the security pantographs typically provided by first printing in black or blue ink, and then printing with the other of those colors. Also, the slits form a triangularly shaped element in the face ply of a distinctly different color (e.g. red) from the security pantographs which allows ready access to the components for separating various plies and layers at the pseudo adhesion layers.
To facilitate easy production of the label assemblies according to the invention, each label assembly typically includes an image ply on which the PIN is generated. The image is formed on the impact ply by applying an uninked impact printing element (stylus) to the top surface of the face ply, while the security pantographs are applied to the face ply by non-impact printing (e.g. printing plates), so as not to form images on the underlying impact ply.
According to one aspect of the present invention a method of producing label assemblies is provided comprising the following steps: (a) Producing a web of label components having a face ply with a top surface, underlying pseudo adhesion layers, an underlying image ply, an underlying adhesive layer, and a bottom release paper carrier ply. (b) Acting on the web face ply to non-impact print a security pantograph thereon. (c) Acting on the web face ply with an impact element to generate a confidential information image on the image ply, which image is not visible from the face ply. And, (d) die cutting labels out of the web, and removing matrix material formed by die cutting so that the web then comprises the bottom release paper carrier ply with a plurality of spaced labels thereon, each having a confidential information image therein.
The method also preferably comprises the further steps of imaging readable indicia on the face ply (not overlying the confidential information image), and forming a plurality of slits and/or perforations in the face ply and one pseudo adhesion layer, including through the readable indicia, to facilitate the tamperproof functionality of the labels. The first security pantograph is typically printed in black or blue ink, and then the security pantograph is printed in the other of blue or black ink. A diagonal slit forms a generally triangularly shaped element in the face ply which preferably is printed with a distinctly different color, such as red, and which is readily (and easily discernible) removed to allow access to the face ply to separate the pseudo adhesion layers.
According to another aspect of the present invention a tamperproof label assembly is provided comprising the following elements: An image ply having top and bottom surfaces, the top surface for generating an image in the form of confidential indicia when impacted with an impact printer stylus. Permanent adhesive operatively associated with the bottom surface of the image ply. A face ply having top and bottom surfaces, and having a security pantograph imaged on the top surface thereof. And, pseudo adhesion layers disposed between the face ply bottom surface and the image ply top surface for releasably holding the face and image plies together, but when separated exposing the image ply top surface without damage thereto, and once separated not capable of re-adhesion in as effective a manner as prior to separation.
Confidential indicia is imaged on the top surface of the image ply. The assembly also typically comprises security slits and/or perforations formed on the face ply and one of the pseudo adhesion layers for effecting separation of the portions of the second face ply when pseudo adhesion layers are separated, precluding effective reattachment of the pseudo adhesion layers when separated due to that separation. The security slits may include a diagonal slit cooperating with a longitudinal slit and defining a triangularly shaped portion of the face ply, with the top surface of the triangularly shaped portion having printing thereon of distinctly different color (e.g. red) than the security pantograph. Readable indicia is typically imaged on the top surface of the face ply and at least one of the slits or perforations passes through the readable indicia causing the face ply to separate into different portions each containing only part of the readable indicia, when the pseudo adhesion layers are separated. The security slits and perforations may include a plurality of generally L-shaped slits, at least one longitudinal slit, and at least one longitudinal perforation.
Typically the label assembly also includes a liner ply between the bottom surface of the image and the permanent adhesive; a release sheet engaging the permanent adhesive; a permanent adhesive between the top surface of the image ply and one of the pseudo adhesion layers; and a permanent adhesive between the bottom surface of the face ply and one of the pseudo adhesion layers.
The invention also comprises a tamperproof label assembly comprising the following elements: An image ply having top and bottom surfaces, the top surface for generating an image in the form of confidential indicia when impacted with an impact printer stylus. A face ply having top and bottom surfaces, and having a security pantograph imaged on the top surface thereof. Pseudo adhesion layers disposed between the face ply bottom surface and the image ply top surface for releasably holding the face and image plies together, but when separated exposing the image ply top surface without damage thereto, and once separated not capable of re-adhesion in as effective a manner as prior to separation. And, security lines of weakness or parting formed in the face ply and one of the pseudo adhesion layers for effecting separation of portions of the face ply when the pseudo adhesion layers are separated, precluding effective reattachment of the pseudo adhesion layers once separated due to the separation.
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide for the effective transmission of confidential information, yet allowing ready exposure of the confidential information but in a tamperproof manner, i.e. so that if the confidential information is once exposed that is thereafter ever apparent. This and other objects of the invention will become clear from an inspection of the detailed description of the invention, and from the appended claims.