DE102010063015A1 - Apparatus for applying colored fibers on substrate used in production of e.g. banknote, has spreading material holder that includes diffusing opening in slot shape, where portion of inner surface of holder is uneven - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus (100) has a spreading material holder (110) that includes a diffusing opening formed in slot shape, where a portion of inner surface of the holder is uneven. The width of diffusion opening is three times larger than the average diameter of the colored fibers. The material holder is partially formed with metal fabric. A magnetic vibrator (120) is provided for vibrating the holder. An independent claim is included for method for applying colored fibers on substrate.

Description

The present invention relates both to a device for applying mottled fibers to a substrate, for example a security and / or security document, as well as to a method for applying the mottling fibers to the substrate. Furthermore, the invention also relates to a use of a sound absorption sheet in a grit holder for mottled fibers.

To secure value and / or security documents a variety of security elements is known. In particular, mottling fibers are used in addition to other security features, especially in banknotes, d. H. elongated fiber pieces made of plastic, which contain in particular dyes, especially fluorescent dyes. These are introduced into the document material during production and can be recognized in the finished document due to their shape. For example, luminescent mottled fibers are introduced into banknotes. For this purpose, they are already integrated into the paper during papermaking. The luminescent mottled fibers are not or only very difficult to perceive under illumination with daylight. Under illumination with UV light, they become clearly recognizable due to the luminescence of the luminescent substances contained therein.

For introducing Melierfasern into individualizing, for example, personalizing, documents such as the identity card, driver's license, a bank or credit card and the like, typically a partial layer of the document is first equipped with the mottling fibers before this partial layer and further partial layers are combined and joined together. To equip a partial layer with the mottled fibers, these are scattered onto the partial layer and fixed on the partial surface of the part. The scattering process is generally carried out manually, for example via sieve devices.

However, it has been found that the previous method for applying the mottled fibers to the partial layers of the document is disadvantageous because it is time-consuming and expensive, furthermore can not be automated, the mottling fibers not sufficiently uniform and in particular not with the required repeatability on the partial position can be applied and the manual application also requires a very long cycle time. Other major drawbacks of the manual coating method are that the mottled fibers tend to aggregate into larger units, further complicating application, and that the mottled fibers easily diffuse into the ambient air due to their small size and low mass. Therefore, the application process is not clean room suitable.

The object of the present invention is therefore to remedy the problems of the manual application method and in particular to provide a uniform and automatable application method for the mottling fibers.

These objects are achieved by the device according to the invention for applying mottled fibers to a substrate according to claim 1, the method according to the invention for applying mottled fibers to a substrate according to claim 8 and the use according to claim 11. Preferred embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

Insofar as the term "pointwise adjacent" is used in the description of the invention and in the claims, it is to be understood that the object in question (a mottled fiber) has a surface (the grit holder surface) only partially, in particular over a very small contact surface, for example less than 10%, preferably less than 2%, of the mantle line of a mottled fiber, touched and therefore not flat, in the case of a mica fiber not over the entire surface line, rests against the surface.

Insofar as the term "uneven surface" is used in the description of the invention and in the claims, it is to be understood as a surface which extends in three dimensions, i. H. Bumps and thus has a three-dimensional microstructure. The unevennesses have dimensions parallel to the main direction of extension of the surface, i. H. mean distances between adjacent elevations or mean distances between adjacent valleys, which are located between the elevations, which are in the order of the length, half length, quarter length, fifth or even tenth length of the mottled fibers.

A "substrate" in the description of the invention and in the claims, for example, a value and / or security document, a precursor in the production of such a document, for example, an isolated document layer, such as a foil or a paper in tape form, the Application of the mottled fibers is cut or punched into the desired size of the document layer, or even a laminate of several document layers understood, which is connected after application together with other document layers to the finished document. Under a substrate is accordingly either a plastic film, a composite of several plastic films, paper or a composite of one or more plastic films with paper or with a Plastic filled paper understood. The substrate may be in the form of a card, a sheet or a ribbon-shaped material. The film may have a thickness of 25 microns to 300 microns and polycarbonate (PC, especially bisphenol A-PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), its derivatives, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene ( PE), polyimide (PI), thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), such as thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers (TPU), as well as copolymers or blends of these materials.

A "value and / or security document" in the description of the invention and in the claims, for example, a passport, an identity card, a driver's license, an ID card, credit card, bank card, cash card, customer card, access authorization card or banknote understood. The value and / or security document may be in ID-1, ID-2, ID-3, or any other format. A security and / or security document is generally a laminate of a plurality of document layers which have been bonded to one another in register under the influence of heat and under elevated pressure. A document layer or even a partial laminate (laminate of several, but not all document layers of the document) is applied according to the invention with the mottled fibers, so that a semifinished product having the mottled fibers is produced. This is then further processed to the finished value and / or security document. Due to the lamination, the mottled fibers can be arranged between two document layers.

In the description of the invention and in the claims, a "mottled fiber" is understood to mean a thread-shaped fiber section, which generally consists of plastic and is advantageously provided with an adhesive outer layer, for example with a hot-melt layer. The plastic material and / or the adhesive may contain at least one dye, preferably at least one fluorescent dye, in order to be able to verify the authenticity of a document via its detection. A mottled fiber may have multiple sections and / or strands in which different dyes are located.

The device according to the invention and the method according to the invention serve for applying mottled fibers to a substrate, wherein the mottling fibers can be of the same or different type. Unlike the previous manual application of the mottled fibers to the substrate, the mottled fibers according to the present invention are applied to the substrate by means of a device provided for this purpose. This device comprises a grit holder, in which there is at least one scattering opening. In accordance with the invention, at least part of at least one inner surface of the grit holder is uneven. As a result, mica fibers contained in the grit holder are only punctiform at the grit holder inner surface. In any case, a connection between the fiber length and / or the fiber thickness on the one hand and the microstructure of the inner wall of the grit holder seems to exist. For application, the mottled fibers are first filled into the grit holder of the device. The device is arranged above the substrate. The mottled fibers are scattered by the at least one scattering opening of the grit holder on the substrate by trickling out through the scattering opening.

The grit holder is preferably trough-shaped. For this purpose, it has at least one side wall, which may be designed to converge, for example, in the lower region. In particular, in the lower region, preferably at the lowest point of the grit holder, the scattering opening may be located. For example, the grit holder may have a prismatic shape with a prism edge facing down. Preferably, at least one prism surface in the ready state is inclined against the vertical at an angle <90 °. The grit holder can be open at the top.

The mottled fibers are typically surrounded by an adhesive layer, such as a layer of hot-melt adhesive, for fixing to the substrate, which ensures that the fibers reaching the substrate are retained there immediately and in place. It has been found that the mottled fibers adhere to each other via this adhesive layer, because the fibers are moved against each other during the scattering and the adhesive thereby has locally and temporarily adhesive properties. During the spreading process, the mulch fiber felt bundles (lumps, wads), apparently due to the at least one uneven inner surface of the grit holder, are wiped, so that the fibers are separated. As a result, a reproducible scattering result can be achieved.

There may also be an additional screen over the spill opening to provide another way of fiber separation.

The breaking up of the aggregates is particularly favored by a rapid movement of the grit holder, which leads to a relative movement. between the Melierfaser aggregates and the grit holder leads. Probably the mottled fibers are removed from the aggregates by the friction of the aggregates on the at least one uneven, preferably rough, inner wall of the grit holder. This friction is caused by the unevenness, preferably roughness conveying at least one inner wall.

In addition, it is achieved by the device according to the invention unlike the manual application of the mottled fibers to the substrate that this process can be carried out quickly and at low cost, because the process can be automated and thus a high. Degree of automation of the manufacturing process allowed, because the mottled fibers can be sprinkled continuously onto the substrate. Due to the automation, the repeat accuracy can be significantly improved because the process is performed mechanically and thus identically repeatable. This also achieves a speed of loading the substrate with the fibers, which is not manually possible. Another significant advantage is that the fibers can be applied to the substrate in a very even distribution with the device. This also applies if mottled fibers of different types, for example of different length and / or thickness, are to be applied to the substrate. Furthermore, according to the invention, the mottled fibers can also be applied more specifically to the substrate so that the method according to the invention is more suitable for cleanrooms.

The unevenness according to the invention, preferably roughness, of the at least one inner wall of the grit holder is achieved in a preferred embodiment of the invention in that a metal fabric is used for the at least one wall of the grit holder, d. H. the at least one wall consists of the metal fabric, or the at least one wall is lined with the metal fabric at least on the inside. Advantageously, the entire grit holder can be formed from the metal fabric or clad with the metal fabric, or the grit holder is formed only on some, for example, two end walls of the metal fabric or clad with the metal fabric. At least the walls of the grit holder should be formed uneven on the inner sides, for example, formed on the inner surface of the metal fabric or be covered with this, with which the Melierfaserbündel are in frictional contact. It may also be sufficient that only parts of the walls are uneven inside, d. H. for example, formed from the metal fabric or clad with this.

Such metal fabrics are used, for example, as so-called sound absorption sheets (such as Poroblech F from. Poroson, DE) and are for example in DE 10 2008 056 031 A1 , whose disclosure content with respect to the tissue structure and its function is included in the present application as essential to the invention described. Such a metal fabric naturally has a surface roughness which acts in the sense according to the invention. For example, such a fabric may be formed of weft and warp yarns, preferably weft and warp wires, in the case of the metal fabric preferably used herein, ie, a fine wire knit fabric made by weaving which has wire protrusions protruding due to the weaving operation and which have the Create bumps on the inner wall surface of the grit holder. Of course, other materials are advantageously used, which have a bump in the inventive sense, in particular bumps whose minimums or maxima are at a mean distance from each other, the total length or half or a third or a quarter or a sixth or a tenth of a Melierfaserlänge corresponds, so that individual Melierfasern abut only pointwise over their lateral surfaces on the inner wall of the grit holder and are subjected by the relative movement relative to the at least one inner wall frictional forces. For example, at least one inner wall of the grit holder may have a relief. For example, at least one wall of the grit holder may be formed by lamellae.

So that a relative movement between the mottled fibers in the grit holder and the grit holder can be generated, the grit holder itself can be set in motion, in particular in a periodic movement, d. H. swinging the holder back and forth so that the mottled fibers move by their own inertia relative to the at least one uneven inner wall of the holder and thereby rub against it.

For this purpose, the application device may further comprise a movement device, preferably a vibration device or vibrator device, which sets the grit holder in vibratory vibrations or shaking movements. The vibration device may in particular be a magnetic vibrator. Alternatively, an unbalance vibrator could be used. In order for the grit holder to carry out the desired movement, the vibrations of the vibrator are transferred to the grit holder so that the grit holder is set in vibration. For this purpose, the grit holder with the vibrator is in a mechanical operative connection. In particular, the vibrator is mechanically rigid or elastically connected to the grit holder. The vibration or Rüttelfrequenz the vibrating device or vibrator is preferably adjustable. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the frequency is in a range of 10 to 100 Hz, preferably 20 to 60 Hz.

Over the at least one scattering opening, the thus separated mottled fibers are discharged downwards, so that they can trickle onto the substrate arranged thereunder. The spreading of the mottled fibers from the grit holder serving at least one scattering opening is preferably slit-shaped, because a targeted dosing of the fibers is achieved during spreading, so that the fibers trickle not in batches but evenly out of the holder. For example, a scattering opening may be provided. Alternatively, a plurality of slit-shaped openings may be provided, which are for example in a row or in several rows, for example offset from one another.

The at least one slot-shaped scattering opening preferably has a slot width which is at most three times, preferably at most twice, as large as the average diameter of the mottling fibers. In order to achieve a perfect passage of the mottled fibers through the at least one opening, the slot width is in particular at least 1.1 times, more preferably at least 1.5 times and very particularly preferably at least twice as large as the average diameter of the mottled fibers.

In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention a strip-shaped substrate is used, which is acted upon for production as semifinished with the mottled fibers. For this purpose, the substrate is conveyed continuously relative to the at least one scattering opening. For example, the strip-shaped material can be wound up on a roll and unwound for processing. Typically, the band-shaped material is cut or punched into individual pieces after processing. For processing, the mottled fibers are continuously conveyed through the at least one scattering opening, so that they are scattered on one side onto the substrate strip. If the at least one scattering opening is slit-shaped, it may extend in a direction transverse to the conveying direction for the band, preferably substantially the entire width of the band. Depending on the vibration or vibration frequency and the conveying speed of the band-shaped substrate relative to the grit holder is an optimization of the uniformity of the distribution of the mottled fibers on the. Substrate possible, so that a very homogeneous distribution on the substrate surface can be achieved. Of course, this does not only apply when using strip-shaped substrate but also from other types of substrate, for example a sheet-shaped substrate.

The grit holder is typically in the form of a side walls and optionally an additional bottom having housing, which is preferably open at the top formed. For example, it can have four sidewalls and a floor. One. Lid is not essential. In a preferred embodiment, the grit holder has two opposing side walls, which are arranged tapering downwards at an angle of <180 ° and form a lower groove in which preferably at least one slot-shaped scattering opening, preferably in the longitudinal direction to the channel, is located , This creates a prismatic interior for receiving the mottled fibers.

The invention will now be described with reference to figures, wherein the described embodiments show only by way of example the construction and function of possible inventive objects, without thereby limiting the protection granted on the basis of the appended claims. They show in detail:

1 two examples of value and / or security documents with mottled fibers in a schematic representation;

2 a device for producing a value and / or security document from strip-shaped substrate in a schematic representation;

3 a device according to the invention for applying mottled fibers to a substrate;

4 a grit holder in a perspective view from the front;

5 a grit holder in a perspective view from above;

6 an arrangement with UV excitation source and substrate guided underneath, on which mottled fibers are sprinkled evenly.

In the following explanation of the figures, like reference numerals designate elements having the same function.

1a and 1b show views of value and / or security documents 10 , the mottled fibers 11 . 12 contain. In case of 1a are only short Melierfasern 11 in two strip-shaped areas 15 . 16 in the document. In case of 1b are both short mottled fibers 11 as well as long mottling fibers 12 available. The long mottled fibers are distributed over the entire surface of the document, while the short mottled fibers are only in a circular area 17 located in the middle of the document.

In 2 is a device for producing the value and / or security document 10 shown from band-shaped materials. The document in this case consists of six band-shaped foil materials 21 . 22 . 23 . 24 . 25 . 26 made, each on rollers 31 . 32 . 33 . 34 . 35 . 36 are wound up. On the band-shaped substrates 22 . 23 . 25 Melierfasern are additionally applied, shown schematically by the reference numerals 42 . 44 . 46 , The slides are made by roller lamination between the rollers 50 . 51 by means of pressure and heat to a laminate 60 laminated and then over a separator 70 under formation of the documents 10 sporadically.

In 3 is a device according to the invention 100 for applying mottled fibers to a substrate. This device essentially comprises a vibration device, for example a magnetic vibrator 120 , a vibrator holder 130 for the vibration device, a grit holder 110 and a holder 140 for the grit holder on. The vibrator holder is mechanically rigidly connected to the holder for the grit holder. The grit holder is prismatic. The mottled fibers are introduced into the trough of the grit holder for the use of the device.

In 4 is the grit holder 110 shown in detail in a perspective view from the front. The grit holder is made of two side panels 111 of which only one side panel is visible, and two front panels 112 formed, of which also only one is visible. Both end plates are clad on the entire inner wall surface with a sound absorption plate, of which the attached on the visible face plate sound absorption plate 113 in 4 is folded over the upper edge of the visible front plate. This sound absorption panel is under the name. Porosheet F from company poroson, DE available. It is a wire mesh with weft and warp threads. The two end plates form at the lower edge connecting them a downwardly open channel, ie a channel with a longitudinal slot, which has a slot-shaped scattering opening 114 represents. Through this scattering opening the mottled fibers can fall out of the grit holder. The width of this slot opening is about 2 mm. This size can be varied depending on the fiber dimension.

In 5 is the grit holder 110 shown in a perspective view from above. The grit holder is on its holder 140 attached. The side panels 111 and the end wall panels 112 on the inside of clad sound absorption panels 113 can be seen in the illustration. The sound absorption plates thus form the inner surfaces of the grit holder in the region of the end wall panels. Between the lower edges of the end plates or sound absorption plates 113 there is a gap left, which the scattering opening 114 forms.

In 5 Furthermore, balls K of mottled fibers are to be recognized, which by the action of the uneven surface of the inner wall of the grit holder 110 passing through the sound absorption panels 113 is formed, are broken, so that the mottled out of the balls and thus isolated. The mottled fibers thus pass through the scattering opening 114 down from the grit holder out.

In 6 is an arrangement of a UV excitation light source and a band-shaped substrate guided at a uniform speed below the light source in the lateral direction (arrow R) 10 shown. Above this arrangement is not visible a device according to the invention for applying the mottled fibers on the substrate, which comprises a grit holder. Excited by the UV light source, mottling fibers trickling down both from the application device and already on the substrate are visible.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102008056031 A1 [0019]

Claims (11)

Device for applying ( 100 ) of mottled fibers ( 11 ) on a substrate ( 10 ), characterized in that the device for applying ( 100 ) a grit holder ( 110 ), in which at least one scattering opening ( 114 ), and that at least a part of at least one inner surface of the grit holder is formed uneven. Device for applying ( 100 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one scattering opening ( 114 ) is slot-shaped. Device for applying ( 100 ) according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one slot-shaped scattering opening ( 114 ) has a slot width that is at most three times as large as the mean diameter of the mottled fibers ( 11 ). Device for applying ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the grit holder ( 110 ) at least partially made of a metal fabric ( 113 ) or lined with this. Device for applying ( 100 ) according to claim 4, characterized in that the metal fabric ( 113 ) is formed of warp and weft threads. Device for applying ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device for applying ( 100 ) further comprises a vibration device ( 120 ), which the grit holder ( 110 ) are vibrated. Device for applying ( 100 ) according to claim 6, characterized in that the vibration device ( 120 ) is a magnetic vibrator. Method for applying mottled fibers ( 11 ) on a substrate ( 10 ), characterized in that the mottled fibers ( 11 ) in at least one scattering opening ( 114 ) grit holder ( 110 ) one above the substrate ( 10 ) is arranged for applying ( 100 ) of the mottled fibers ( 11 ), wherein at least one inner surface of the grit holder ( 110 ) is uneven, and on the substrate ( 10 ) are scattered. Method for applying according to claim 8, characterized in that the grit holder ( 110 ) is vibrated. Method for applying according to one of Claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the substrate ( 10 ) relative to the scattering opening ( 114 ) and that the mottled fibers ( 11 ) through the at least one scattering opening ( 114 ) are transported continuously through. Use of a sound absorbing sheet ( 113 ) in a grit holder ( 110 ) for the application of mottled fibers ( 11 ) on a substrate ( 10 ).

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