Method and system for authenticating tobacco products

Abstract

A method and device is provided for processing an enveloping material for a tobacco product. An enveloping material is supplied to an operative range of at least one radiation source. A marking is created in at least one section of the enveloping material by subjecting the enveloping material to radiation emitted by the at least one radiation source. The marking has a geometric form with an outline having at least one of (a) a discontinuous slope in some sections and (b) convex or concave regions.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for processing an enveloping material for a tobacco product, comprising: 
 supplying the enveloping material to an operative range of at least one radiation source; and    creating a marking in at least one section of the enveloping material by subjecting the enveloping material to radiation emitted by the at least one radiation source, wherein the marking has a geometric form with an outline having at least one of (a) a discontinuous slope in some sections and (b) convex or concave regions.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the creating step includes removing the material in the at least one section.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the creating step creates a perforation in the enveloping material.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the creating step includes chemically changing the at least one section.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the creating step includes melting the at least one section.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the creating step transports the enveloping material over a predetermined distance during the time between two separate instances of creating at least one marking.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the creating step focuses the radiation.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the creating step creates the geometric form to reach dimensions of up to 50 μm.  
     
     
         9 . A device for processing enveloping material in the tobacco-processing industry, comprising: 
 at least one radiation device for directing radiation onto the enveloping material, the at least one radiation device including means for creating a marking, in at least one section of the enveloping material, which marking has a geometric form with an outline having at least one of (a) a discontinuous slope in some sections and (b) convex or concave regions.    
     
     
         10 . A device according to  claim 9 , further comprising a conveying device for transporting the enveloping material.  
     
     
         11 . A device according to  claim 9 , wherein the radiation device comprises at least one of a CO2 laser, a YAG laser and an excimer laser.  
     
     
         12 . A device according to  claim 9 , further including means for controlling at least one of the intensity, output density and energy density of the radiation.  
     
     
         13 . A device according to  claim 9 , wherein the creating means comprises an element that predetermines the form of the marking.  
     
     
         14 . A device according to  claim 13 , wherein the element comprises at least one of a diaphragm and a focusing element.  
     
     
         15 . A device according to  claim 13 , wherein the element comprises a diffractive optical element.  
     
     
         16 . A device according to  claim 9 , wherein the device is one of a cigarette rope-production machine, a filter-attachment machine, a cigarette-packaging machine and a foil-wrapping machine.  
     
     
         17 . An arrangement for authenticating a tobacco product, comprising: 
 an enveloping material for the tobacco product; and    a marking in least one section of the enveloping material, wherein the marking has a geometric form with an outline having at least one of (a) a discontinuous slope in some sections and (b) concave or convex regions.    
     
     
         18 . An arrangement according to  claim 17 , wherein said outline has several comers with a discontinuous slope.  
     
     
         19 . An arrangement according to  claim 17 , wherein the geometric form has dimensions of up to 50 μm.  
     
     
         20 . An arrangement according to  claim 17 , wherein the geometric form has edges with a structure or sharpness in the range of 150 nm to 350 nm.  
     
     
         21 . An arrangement according to  claim 17 , wherein the marking differs from the enveloping material by removal of the material.  
     
     
         22 . An arrangement according to  claim 17 , wherein the marking is a perforation in the enveloping material.  
     
     
         23 . An arrangement according to  claim 17 , wherein a color of the marking differs from a color of the enveloping material surrounding the marking.  
     
     
         24 . An arrangement according to  claim 17 , wherein the enveloping material comprises several markings.  
     
     
         25 . A method for producing a cigarette, utilizing an arrangement for authenticating a tobacco product according to  claim 17 .  
     
     
         26 . A method for generating a packaging material for tobacco products utilizing an arrangement for authenticating a tobacco product according to  claim 17 .  
     
     
         27 . A method for checking authenticity of tobacco products utilizing an arrangement for authenticating a tobacco product according to  claim 17 .  
     
     
         28 . A method for verifying the authenticity of a product in the tobacco-processing industry, comprising the steps of: 
 visually inspecting a marking affixed to an enveloping material for the product; and    comparing the marking to a marking predetermined for the product.    
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 28 , wherein the comparing step includes use of a magnifying device to create a visual image for the visual inspection.  
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 28 , wherein the step of visually inspecting includes using an image-recording device and storing an image of the marking for subsequent inspection.  
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 30 , wherein the step of visually inspecting includes stardardizing the stored image of the marking to a standard size during a subsequent image processing.  
     
     
         32 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein the comparison step compares at least one of the visual image, the stored image and the standardized image to a predetermined additional image.  
     
     
         33 . A method according to  claim 32 , further comprising a step of storing the additional image in a computer system that is removed from a location of the visual inspection.  
     
     
         34 . A method according to  claim 32 , wherein the comparison step comprises selecting the additional image with the aid of additional data.  
     
     
         35 . A method according to  claim 28 , wherein the comparison step includes outputting a signal as a result of the comparison, the signal indicating whether a product is authentic or a counterfeit product.  
     
     
         36 . A system for verifying the authenticity of products in the tobacco-processing industry, comprising: 
 an image-recording device;    a storage device in which images are stored in the form of predetermined storage data;    a data link for coupling the image-recording device to the storage device;    a comparator for comparing an image recorded by the image-recording device to the data in the storage device; and    an output device coupled to the comparator for displaying the comparison.    
     
     
         37 . A system according to  claim 36 , wherein the image-recording device comprises an enlarging element.  
     
     
         38 . A system according to  claim 36 , wherein the storage device comprises means for digitizing the recorded image.  
     
     
         39 . A system according to  claim 36 , wherein the storage device comprises a data bank.  
     
     
         40 . A system according to  claim 36 , wherein the comparator is a computer or a computer component.