Anti-fraud pull tab system for printing products

摘要

An anti-fraud pull tab system for removable protective barriers in print cartridges and other modular components used in printers, copiers and other image forming devices. The pull tab includes a pull ring and a use indicator. The use indicator blocks a substantial portion of the finger hole in the pull ring so that the use indicator is broken out, damaged or disfigured when the pull tab is used to remove the protective barrier. The disfigured pull tab indicates the protective barrier has been used, thus making it difficult for a counterfeiter to successfully re-use or reform the protective barrier and resell the cartridge as a new cartridge. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a pull tab assembly includes a pull tab and an identifying tape. The tape secures the pull tab to the print cartridge. Affixed to the tape is a use indicator that will permanently adhere to the print cartridge when the identifying tape is removed from the cartridge. When a pull tab is unnecessary or undesirable, the identifying tape may be attached directly to the end of the protective barrier.