1-11. (canceled)
12: An apparatus for sterilization of an inner wall of containers using accelerated charge carriers comprising a charge carrier source for producing charge carriers, an acceleration device by which the charge carriers are accelerated in a direction of a charge carrier emission window, wherein the charge carrier emission window is arranged on a treatment device for introduction through an opening into the container along an insertion direction, to act upon an inner wall of the container with the charge carriers issuing from the charge carrier emission window, wherein the treatment device has a medium line with a medium emission opening, the medium emission opening of which is arranged for introduction through the opening into the container, wherein the treatment device has at least one projection which protrudes with respect to the charge carrier emission window in the insertion direction and which is suitable for absorbing interfering radiation, and wherein the medium line is arranged to have a medium flow for discharge through a medium emission opening at least into the region of the charge carriers issuing out of the charge carrier emission window, wherein the medium is suitable for changing a dimension of a charge carrier cloud formed by the issuing charge carriers.
13: The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the medium is suitable for reducing a dimension of a charge carrier cloud formed by the issuing charge carriers, in such a way that interfering radiation is capable of being conveyed up to at least 25%, preferably at least 50%, preferably at least 60%, preferably at least 70%, preferably at least 80%, and in a particularly preferred manner at least 90%, to the projection protruding with respect to the charge carrier emission window and is capable of being absorbed by the aforesaid projection.
14: The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the medium is suitable for changing at least one physical property, preferably the density, of a further medium arranged in the region of the charge carrier cloud formed by the issuing charge carriers.
15: The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the medium line has a curved shape at least locally, wherein the medium line preferably is curved such that the medium being conveyed in it is discharged through the medium emission opening in the direction of the charge carrier cloud, preferably with a component in a direction opposed, and in a particularly preferred manner in a direction substantially opposed to an acceleration direction (R) of the charge carriers.
16: The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the projection protruding with respect to the charge carrier emission window extends at least locally along a periphery of the treatment device, preferably around the entire periphery, in a particularly preferred manner in the form of a straight circular cylinder.
17: The apparatus for the sterilization of containers according to claim 12, wherein the medium line is connected at least locally to the treatment device, is preferably integrated in the latter and is movable jointly with the treatment device.
18: A plant for the treatment of containers wherein the plant has at least one apparatus for the sterilization of containers, preferably a plurality of apparatus for the sterilization of containers, as claimed in claim 12.
19: A plant for the treatment of containers as claimed in claim 18, wherein the plant has an insertion device for introducing a treatment device into the interior of a container, wherein the container and the treatment device are movable relative with respect to each other, preferably in a longitudinal direction of the container.
20: A method of sterilizing an inner wall of containers using accelerated charge carriers, wherein the charge carriers are produced in a charge carrier source and are accelerated with an acceleration device in a direction of a charge carrier emission window, wherein the charge carrier emission window is arranged on a treatment device which is introduced through an opening into the container along an insertion direction to act upon an inner wall of the container with the charge carriers issuing from the charge carrier emission window, wherein the treatment device has a medium line with a medium emission opening, the medium emission opening of which is arranged for introduction through the opening into the container, wherein the treatment device has at least one projection which protrudes with respect to the charge carrier emission window in the insertion direction and which can absorb radiation, and wherein the medium line is capable of having a medium flow through it for discharge through the medium emission opening at least into the region of the charge carriers issuing out of the charge carrier emission window, wherein the medium changes the dimension of a charge carrier cloud formed by the issuing charge carriers.
21: The method according to claim 20, wherein the medium discharged into the region of the charge carriers issuing out of the charge carrier emission window reduces a dimension of a charge carrier cloud formed by the issuing charge carriers, in such a way that interfering radiation is conveyed up to at least 25%, preferably at least 50%, preferably at least 60%, preferably at least 70%, preferably at least 80%, and in a particularly preferred manner at least 90%, to the projection protruding with respect to the charge carrier emission window and is capable of being absorbed by the aforesaid projection.
22: The method according to claim 20, wherein in the case of a reduction in the dimension of the charge carrier cloud formed by the issuing charge carriers by the medium, the intensity of the interfering radiation is reduced by the projection protruding with respect to the charge carrier emission window to a degree at which when changing the container to be sterilized it becomes superfluous to interrupt the acceleration of the charge carriers from the charge carrier source with the acceleration device in the direction of the charge carrier emission window.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A photoduplication-resistant certificate useable for redemption comprising:
a substrate having a first side and a second side;
said first side including redemption information and a feature directing attention to a barcode located on said second side in order to redeem said certificate;
said second side including said barcode.
2. The photoduplication-resistant certificate of claim 1 further comprising a hidden indicator on at least one of said first and second sides; said hidden indicator providing a visual indication of inauthenticity on photocopies of said certificate.
3. The photoduplication-resistant certificate of claim 2 wherein said hidden indicator comprises a word having a meaning equivalent to the English word \u201cvoid\u201d.
4. The photoduplication-resistant certificate of claim 1 wherein said substrate comprises paper.
5. The photoduplication-resistant certificate of claim 1 wherein said substrate comprises a postcard.
6. The photoduplication-resistant certificate of claim 1 wherein said redemption information and instruction comprise a plurality of colors and include a warning that a monochromatic copy is inauthentic.
7. The photoduplication-resistant certificate of claim 1 wherein said feature directing attention to a barcode located on said second side in order to redeem said certificate comprises an inoperable barcode.
8. The photoduplication-resistant certificate of claim 1 wherein said feature directing attention to a barcode located on said second side in order to redeem said certificate comprises written instructions to use said barcode located on said second side.
10. The photoduplication-resistant certificate of claim 1 further comprising a warning on said second side indicating certificate is not to be scanned if a first side of said certificate is blank.
11. A method of preventing unauthorized duplication of a certificate using a monochromatic, single-sided photocopying device, comprising:
placing a barcode on a second side of said certificate necessary for redemption of said certificate;
directing attention of a clerk scanning said barcode to said second side via a feature on a first side of said certificate.
12. The method of claim 10 further comprising placing a hidden indicator on at least one of said first and second sides; said hidden indicator providing a visual indication of inauthenticity on photocopies of said certificate.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein placing a hidden indicator on at least one of said first and second sides; said hidden indicator providing a visual indication of inauthenticity on photocopies of said certificate comprises placing a hidden indicator comprises placing a warning that becomes visible when duplicated on a monochromatic photocopy device.
14. The method of claim 11 further comprising placing a warning on said second side of said certificate indicating said certificate is not to be scanned if said first side of said certificate is blank.