Method and device for marking value labels

Abstract

A method is provided for detecting value labels that have been re-used, that have a surface containing a luminescent substance, and that have been applied to mailpieces that are to be transported. These mailpieces pass through a sorting system in which the presence of value labels that have a surface containing luminescent particles which are distributed essentially evenly is checked. The mailpiece having such a surface is conveyed to a marking device. Here, the substrate in the form of the surface of the value label containing luminescent particles which are distributed essentially evenly is irradiated with high-energy radiation. In this process, wherever the radiation strikes the substrate, the luminescence of the particles is destroyed to such an extent that they are no longer detected as being luminescent when they pass through the sorting system once again.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.