DE60002054T2 - TOUCHABLE MARKINGS FOR MONEY BILLS AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION THEREOF - Google Patents

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention lies in the field of Printing and the production of documents, in particular the production of receipts such as banknotes with embossing are, for example, blind people as durable tactile markings can be used.

GENERAL STATE OF THE ART

The nominal amount or identity of banknotes and many other document types is from people who are not visually impaired are easily recognizable, but people who are blind have to other means, such as a portable reader, the especially for The relevant document was developed to serve such information to obtain. A printed one placed on such a receipt Braille section could be a Funds for represent such a recognition and would preferably be in the receipt integrated, so that an additional reader would be omitted. The widespread circulation and public However, handling receipts such as banknotes means that they are subject to severe wear and tear, and therefore a Braille usually printed on such documents by embossing not enough be durable because of the imprints soon squeezed would and would then no longer be palpable.

Known methods of improvement the durability of such imprints are disclosed in the following patents. The British patent GB 565,708 A (H.E. Kallmann) of November 23, 1944 the use of a laminate consisting of two plastic layers, that the marking impressions protect in a receipt should. U.S. Patent issued July 5, 1927 (Clark et al.) No. 1,635,032 discloses a paper with an embossed Braille matrix in which a mixture of glue and plaster in the braille dots depressed becomes. Such a depressed one filling material is not suitable for production use and doesn't offer enough durability, because it tends to pop out. The one published on November 21, 1933 U.S. Patent No. 1,936,089 (Jacquerod) discloses an embossed sheet material where the back of the sheet material and the recesses of the embossments covered with adhesive and the recesses of the embossing entirely with a meltable Material to be filled out which then fuses with the adhesive when solidified. A production use such a procedure is unsatisfactory and offers not the one you want Durability.

The industry is therefore careful the task for Security vouchers, banknotes, etc. durable (i.e., relatively durable), Provide tactile identification marks that are resistant to by the public Circulation and handling are heavy wear and tear for use by visually impaired people to decipher the nominal amount or the recognition of such a document.

SUMMARY THE INVENTION

According to the invention, a sheet material (for example a sheet or laminate containing paper) with tactile markings provided, the palpability of which is resistant to deterioration. The sheet material contains at least one embossing forming the marking. The sheet material points a first and a second surface, and one of the surfaces defined a deepening in the field of embossing. A layer of reinforcement material is provided at least in the area of the surface in which the recess is according to claim 1. The reinforcement material can be a group of paints, inks, adhesives and composite materials can be selected for sealing. The thickness of the sheet material is preferably between 75 and 150 microns, the outer width the embossing between 500 and 1200 microns and the thickness of the reinforcement material in the case of paints between 20 and 40 micrometers.

The markings can be made a variety of embossments consist of their arrangement according to a fixed pattern empower a visually impaired person one or more specified characteristics of the sheet material (i.e. the nominal amount) by palpation. Preferably exist the markings from one or more spaced symbols, and contains every symbol a plurality of rows and columns of embossments (preferably four rows and two columns), the outer width every imprint Is 1000 microns, the imprints in the symbols a distance of 2000 microns and the symbols are 14,500 microns apart.

Furthermore, a method for Production of a sheet material provided with tactile markings, their palpability is constant is against deterioration. The process steps include that Shape a sheet material consisting of a first and a second surface with at least one embossing forming the marking, one of the surfaces being a Deepening in the field of embossing Are defined. On this surface the sheet material becomes at least one layer of a reinforcing material applied in the area of the recess, and the reinforcing material is dried and / or hardened according to claim 10.

SUMMARY THE DRAWINGS

The invention is detailed below Described with reference to the following drawings, which is a preferred embodiment represent the invention.

1 shows a cross-sectional view of a banknote substrate with a single embossment formed therein, which is reinforced according to the invention;

2 shows a front view of a bank note, in which tactile markings embossed according to a pattern in the upper right corner as shown in FIG 1 are provided;

3 shows an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view according to section III-III in 2 ;

4 shows examples of three different patterns (a), (b) and (c) for tactile embossed marks as shown in FIG 1 ; and

5 shows a ten dollar banknote with a preferred configuration of embossments incorporated therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

1 the drawings show a cross-sectional view of a sheet material according to the invention 30 , In this example, the sheet material is 30 a banknote 10 (please refer 2 and 3 ), which was embossed in a conventional manner by pressing the sheet between the embossing stamp and embossing die or between an embossing stamp and a compressible cloth. For example, the sheet material may consist of paper or a laminate consisting of two paper layers with a thermoplastic layer embedded between them, but could also be any substrate made of a variety of other substrates such as plastic, which is readily apparent to a person skilled in the art. The leaf material 30 has first and second surfaces, one of which is the top surface 35 and the other the bottom surface 37 is. In the illustrated embodiment, the embossments are arranged in such a way that they provide raised areas on the upper surface of the banknote, but an embodiment can also be selected in which the embossments are instead provided on the lower surface of the banknote.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, each embossing forms 20 an elevated area in the top surface 35 of the sheet material and a recess 25 in the bottom surface 37 of the sheet material. How out 2 visible, contains the banknote 10 a plurality of embossments forming tactile markings 20 which are arranged in a fixed pattern and can be used by a visually impaired person to identify the relevant nominal amount of this banknote by sensing and deciphering the markings.

For every imprint 20 is the lower surface of the sheet material in (at least) the area of the depression 25 with a layer of liquid reinforcing material 40 provided which after drying and / or hardening the recess 25 strengthened. This layer is applied by coating the surface of the sheet material thereon, with some reinforcing material being absorbed by the sheet material. The thickness of the reinforcement layer (C) given here refers to the thickness of the layer when it is applied (ie before some of it is absorbed by the sheet material).

This strengthening of the embossing makes its tactility resistant to deterioration when the sheet material 30 subject to wear (ie, since the embossing walls have been reinforced, the embossing is less likely to flatten out when pressure is applied). The reinforcement material 40 can be any suitable material, the nature and durability of which is such that the embossing is strengthened, that is to say more durable, and is able to form a satisfactory bond with the selected sheet material and remain flexible (ie without becoming brittle) ), if it is dried and / or cured, for example, by means of radiation curing, oxidation, polymerization, solvent evaporation, solvent penetration or electron beam. The reinforcing material to be selected should preferably be compatible with the printing medium used for printing the banknote or the other document, the sheet material being used in such a way that the reinforcing material is applied by roller coating, knife coating or by screen, gravure, flexographic printing or spraying can be.

To choose as reinforcement material 40 Any number of varnishes, inks, adhesives and composite materials are suitable for sealing. For banknotes made from sheet materials that are made of paper or have a paper layer on the underside, varnish is suitable as a satisfactory reinforcing material, such as the printable UV varnish from Sun Chemical Brampton, Ontario, item number R2708-136, which shows good adhesion to paper , has good flexibility and does not change color significantly during aging.

Surprisingly, it was found that compared to a complete filling of the depression 25 the application of a relatively thin layer of such a reinforcing material, as in 1 is more effective and preferable because in the former case it was found that all of the material in the filled recess tends to separate from the walls of the recess and to spill out of the recess during handling (which is due to the degree of flexibility of the reinforcing material is determined).

1 illustrates in cross section the structure of the tactile marking (embossing 20 ) a preferred embodiment of the invention. For this embodiment, the thickness B of the sheet material is 30 in the range between 75 and 150 micrometers, the embossing 20 has a relief D of 70 to 150 micrometers and an outer width A of 500 to 1200 micrometers, and the thickness C of the reinforcing layer (lacquer) 40 the application is between 20 and 40 micrometers. However, since some varnish is absorbed by the sheet material before drying / curing, the final thickness is below this value. The size of the relief to be selected for the embossing depends on the application in question and the type of sheet material to be used, since some materials (without tearing) permit the formation of larger reliefs than others do, but too high and / or too thin Embossing is not desirable since the reliefs could break out or tear out of the sheet material. It has been found that some materials can produce a relief that is larger than the thickness of these materials.

At the in 2 The embossing is an example of a banknote 20 circular, which is preferred for use by the visually impaired due to its simplicity and uniformity. However, according to the invention, any shape can be used for the embossing, and different shapes may be preferable for different applications.

The banknote provided as an example 10 contains two spaced symbols 50 which can be used together as recognition for the nominal amount of the banknote. A smaller or larger number of these symbols can be used to recognize a different nominal amount of the banknote. Likewise, the number of embossments that make up a symbol, as in 4 shown can be varied, whereby in 4 (a) two symbols 50 are shown, each a column of four embossments 20 include, in 4 (b) two symbols 50 are shown, the two adjacent columns of four embossings 20 (or four adjacent rows of two embossings) included, and in 4 (c) two symbols 50 are shown, each containing three adjacent columns of four embossments (or four adjacent rows of three embossments). Preferably more than one column of embossments is used per symbol, since it is possible that if the banknote is damaged, a tactile impression is created in the area of the tactile marking and such an impression, especially if the symbol consisted of only one column, from a visually impaired person Person could be more easily misunderstood as a symbol.

The preferred arrangement of embossments on banknotes, which should enable visually impaired people to recognize the nominal amount, is in 5 shown in each symbol 50 from two columns of four embossings 20 , wherein each embossing has a relief D of 140 microns and an outer width A of 1000 microns, and wherein the thicknesses B and C of the sheet material 30 and the reinforcement layer 40 when applied, be 125 or 20 micrometers. Furthermore, in this preferred arrangement, the edge-to-edge distance E between each embossing 20 within each symbol 50 2000 microns and the distance F between each symbol 50 14.5 millimeters (14,500 microns). The imprints 20 are preferably about 3 millimeters (3000 microns) from the top and side edges of the banknote. It has been shown that this arrangement represents the optimal combination of tactile markings, from which the nominal amount of a banknote can be successfully recognized when it is exposed to wear in circulation.

If desired, the selected reinforcement material 40 Contain additives such as optically variable pigments, color pigments, phosphor- or fluorine-based phosphors or any markers that can be activated by a specific energy wavelength in order to output recognizable energy in response to a specific but different wavelength, whereby the banknote is hidden within the tactile marking Security feature received.

Another (not shown) Aspect of the invention makes a sheet material with thermoplastic, in particular a laminate consisting of outer paper sheets and an inner thermoplastic sheet as described above, to form tactile markings in the sheet material. According to this Aspect of the invention is a thermoplastic layer containing Sheet material provided with a plurality of embossments, which are palpable Markings are molded in such a way that on the sheet material in at least the area in which the embossments are to be molded, at the same time as or immediately before the embossments are formed be, heat is applied. Subsequently the sheet material is cooled. Accordingly, the thermoplastic layer of the sheet material in the area of the embossing causes it to soften and take on the shape of the embossments as it hardens, and a reinforcement layer lacquer or another suitable material is applied to the embossed laminate applied as described above to a durable tactile marking to obtain.

Claims (17)

A sheet of material ( 30 ) which has tactile markings, the tactility of which is resistant to deterioration, characterized in that the markings have at least one embossing ( 20 ) in the sheet material contains, each embossing a raised area on a surface ( 35 ) of the sheet material and a corresponding recess ( 25 ) in the opposite surface ( 37 ) of the sheet material, a layer of reinforcing material ( 40 ) the opposite surface covers in the areas (s) having the depressions) and the area (s) immediately surrounding them, the reinforcing material has been applied to the opposite surface after the embossments) have been molded into the sheet material and that Reinforcing material has a substantially uniform thickness (C) and this thickness is substantially less than the depth (D) of the recess. A sheet material according to claim 1, characterized in that the reinforcing material ( 40 ) is selected from the group consisting of paints, inks, adhesives and composite materials for sealing. A sheet material according to claim 2, characterized in that the sheet material ( 30 ) Contains paper and the reinforcement material is lacquer. A sheet material according to claim 3, characterized in that the thickness (B) of the sheet material ( 30 ) is between 75 microns and 150 microns, the outer width (A) of the embossing ( 20 ) is between 500 microns and 1200 microns and the thickness (C) of the varnish ( 40 ) is between 20 microns and 40 microns. A sheet material according to claim 1, characterized in that the marking comprises a plurality of embossments ( 20 ) which are arranged in a fixed pattern, the markings enabling a visually impaired person to recognize one or more fixed) features) of the sheet material by palpation. A banknote comprising a sheet of material according to claim 5 contains characterized in that the Characteristic represented by the marking is the nominal amount of the banknote is. A banknote according to claim 6, characterized in that the markings have one or more spaced symbols ( 50 ) and each symbol contains a plurality of embossments ( 20 ), the outer width (A) of the embossments being 1000 micrometers, the embossments in the symbols being at a distance (E) of 2000 micrometers and the symbols being at a distance (F) of 14,500 micrometers from one another. A banknote according to claim 7, characterized in that each symbol ( 50 ) contains a plurality of rows and columns of the embossments. A banknote according to claim 8, characterized in that the number of rows of symbols ( 50 ) is four, the number of columns of the symbols is two. A method for producing a sheet material which has tactile markings, the tactility of which is resistant to deterioration, characterized in that the markings have at least one embossing ( 20 ) in the leaf material ( 30 ), the method comprising the following steps: (a) forming at least one embossing ( 20 ) in the sheet material ( 30 ), each embossing a raised area in a surface ( 35 ) of the sheet material and a corresponding recess ( 25 ) in the opposite surface ( 37 ) of the sheet material contains; (b) after the molding step, a layer of a liquid reinforcing material ( 40 ) on the opposite surface ( 37 ) of the sheet material ( 30 ) in which the wells) ( 25 ) areas) and the area (s) immediately surrounding them; and (c) drying and / or curing the layer of reinforcing material; wherein the cured layer of reinforcing material has a substantially uniform thickness (C) and this thickness is substantially less than the depth (D) of the recess. A method of manufacturing a sheet material according to claim 10, characterized in that the reinforcing material ( 40 ) is selected from the group consisting of paints, inks, adhesives and composite materials for sealing. A method of manufacturing a sheet material according to claim 11, characterized in that the sheet material ( 30 ) Contains paper and the reinforcement material is lacquer. A method of manufacturing a sheet material according to claim 12, characterized in that the thickness (B) of the sheet material ( 30 ) is between 75 microns and 150 microns, the outer width (A) of the embossing ( 20 ) is between 500 microns and 1200 microns and the thickness (C) of the varnish ( 40 ) is between 20 microns and 40 microns. A method of manufacturing a sheet material according to claim 13, characterized in that the sheet material ( 30 ) with a majority of the embossings ( 20 ), which are arranged as markings in a defined pattern, the markings enabling a visually impaired person to recognize one or more defined) characteristics) of the sheet material by palpation. A method of making a sheet of paper terials according to claim 14, characterized in that the sheet material ( 30 ) is a banknote and the feature represented by the markings is the nominal amount of the banknote, the marking being one or more spaced symbols ( 50 ) and each symbol contains a number of embossments ( 20 ), the outer width (A) of the embossments is 1000 micrometers, the embossments in the symbols have a distance (E) of 2000 micrometers from one another and the symbols have a distance (F) of 14,500 micrometers from one another. A method of making sheet material according to claim 15, characterized in that each symbol ( 50 ) a plurality of rows and columns of the embossments ( 20 ) contains. A method of making sheet material according to claim 16, characterized in that the number of rows of symbols ( 50 ) is four, the number of columns of the symbols is two.