EA033846B1 - Method for producing protective means with latent polarizing vario images or stereo images - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of producing protective means against forgery of securities and documents. The protection is based on latent images visible only in polarized light and based on oriented polymerized liquid crystals, and particularly vario images or stereo images. The method comprises development of design of vario images or stereo images, division of image to regions, setting the required azimuth orientation to regions and obtaining the film material which thickness is 20-50 μm, wherein the film material includes functional layers which thicknesses doesn't exceed several micrometers. The main part of the film material is oriented anisotropic polymeric layer located above the reflecting layer. Latent vario images are visualized using a linear polaroid, latent stereo images are visualized with the help of stereo glasses. The following types of protective products are manufactured of the film material: cold and hot stamping foil, patches, stackers.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of development of means of protection against counterfeiting of securities, documents, valuable items, goods, products and for their identification, as well as brand protection. The mentioned means of protection are based on the use of latent, invisible in natural white light, polarized variographic images or stereo images. Specific carriers of such protective equipment are cold or hot stamping foil, patches, stickers.

A known method of obtaining variographic images and stereo images using lenticular printing [1, 2]. In this method, the basis for creating vario or stereo images is a plastic sheet with a thickness of 0.4 mm. Its front side is a lens-cast structure, consisting of cylindrical lenses extending across the entire width of the sheet. Lenses provide special optical properties of plastic by refracting the image. The reverse side of such plastic is flat and it imprints images consisting of narrow stripes parallel to the raster. Each such print contains two or more images, divided into narrow stripes, alternating in groups in a strict order. Lenses located above such groups of bands increase them in the transverse direction and at the same time limit the angle of view of each strip. Due to the transverse optical magnification of the raster, elementary bands merge into solid images. As a result, each of the images can be seen only from a certain direction, in the absence of visibility of another image (flip type flip images) or the same image located with a shift relative to the other, respectively, falls into the right and left eye (stereo images).

A disadvantage of the known method for producing vario and stereo images using lenticular printing is that it is impossible to obtain hidden polarized vario stereo images in this way. When forming images by lenticular printing, the scalar properties of visible radiation are used, and to obtain hidden polarized vario and stereo images, it is necessary to use vector properties.

The closest analogue is the method by which the optical devices described in the application US 2018/0120491 A1 [3].

This application provides optical devices that correspond to figures 12.1-12.5. There are two images, specifically, symbol A and symbol B, which are divided into image elements. Image elements can be of any shape, provided that they fill the entire area of the images. The image elements 101 (see Fig. 12.1 or 12.2) form the symbol A, and the image elements 102 form the symbol B. For the symbol A, two orientation directions are specified - 106 and 105. For the symbol B, two orientation directions 109 and 108 are also set. In FIG. . 12.5 shows two superimposed symbols A and B. Image elements in this application are not finally elements, i.e. than that which is indivisible, but they are divided, at least into two parts with different orientations, by the symbols themselves, which complicates the construction of variographic images. As a local orientation, photo orientation is used, as a result of which an orientation layer is obtained. Liquid crystal material is applied and then polymerized on top of the orientation layer.

The disadvantages of the known solutions include the following:

the complexity of building variographic images at the design development stage, since both the symbols themselves and the background are taken as the basis for the construction;

photoorientation, which is used to form the orientation layer, is a slow process, which will negatively affect the productivity of the process of mass production of protective equipment with hidden polarizing vario or stereo images.

The objective of the invention is the development of a method of manufacturing protective equipment with hidden polarizing variographic images or stereo images with a simplified process of preparing and obtaining an orientation layer having a unique orientation of the image elements, and providing serial production of protective equipment.

The problem is solved by the claimed method of manufacturing protective equipment with hidden polarizing vario or stereo images in the form of a foil of cold or hot stamping, patches, stickers, including the following steps:

a) create designs of two variographic images or a stereo image design in black and white;

based on the design of a positive image, i.e. characters or any image is black and the background is white;

b) superimpose the designs of variographic images on one another or superimpose one and the same stereo image design, having previously shifted horizontally the superimposed stereo image designs, and receive the first and second variographic images or the first and second stereo images offset from each other and thus form a single black-and-white white image for vario-images or for stereo-image;

c) a single black-and-white image for vario-images or for stereo image is divided into four areas: the black overlap area of the first and second vario-images or first and second stereo-images, the black region of the first vario-image or first stereo-image

- 1,033,846 times, the black region of the second vario image or second stereo image and the white region;

d) the black overlap region of the first and second vario-images or the first and second stereo images, the black region of the first vario-image or first stereo-image, the black region of the second vario-image or second stereo-image are divided into image elements whose overall dimensions do not exceed 100 microns;

the overall dimensions of image elements, the magnitude of which do not exceed 100 microns, are at the limit of resolution of human vision. This allows you to perceive images made in black as a single structure;

e) for these elements, three directions of azimuthal orientation are determined: the first direction is for white, the second direction is for black of the first vario image or first stereo image, the third direction is for black is the second vario image or second stereo image;

when determining the three directions of azimuthal orientation, the contrast of the images, i.e. visual perception of the dark on a light background. In this case, contrasting images are obtained without using two extreme values of the gray scale in one image;

f) establish in a checkerboard pattern in the black overlap region of the first and second variographic images or the first and second stereo images for the first image element, the second direction of the azimuthal orientation, for the adjacent image element, the third direction of the azimuthal orientation and so on until the said area is completely filled;

g) set in a checkerboard pattern in the black region of the first image or first stereo image for the first image element, the second direction of the azimuthal orientation, for the adjacent image element, the first direction of the azimuthal orientation and so on until the said area is completely filled;

h) set in a checkerboard pattern in the black region of the second image or second stereo image for the first image element, the third direction of the azimuthal orientation, for the adjacent image element - the first direction of the azimuthal orientation and so on until the said area is completely filled;

i) set the first direction of azimuthal orientation in the white region;

j) take the polymer technological film base and set it with the possibility of longitudinal movement;

k) carry out the transfer of the polymer technological film-base and put on one of its sides the polymer composition of the separation layer, dry it and obtain a separation layer;

m) a polymer composition of the protective layer is applied to the separation layer, it is dried and a protective layer is obtained on the separation layer;

m) the polymer composition of the orienting layer is applied to the protective layer, it is dried and an orienting layer is obtained on the protective layer;

n) carry out a rotational embossing of the orientation layer, taking into account the image elements obtained at the e-and azimuthal orientations, as well as the azimuthal orientation of the white region, and obtain a diffraction structure with a given azimuthal orientation on it;

o) anisotropic polymer composition is applied to the orientation layer, it is dried and anisotropic polymer layer is obtained, then the anisotropic polymer layer is heated to the temperature necessary for its orientation, and an oriented anisotropic polymer layer is obtained on the orientation layer;

p) a reflective layer is applied to the oriented anisotropic polymer layer and protective means are obtained in the form of a cold stamping foil; the reflective layer is applied by vacuum deposition or transfer of the reflective layer of cold stamping foil, hot stamping foil or holographic foil;

or

c) a reflective layer is applied to the oriented anisotropic polymer layer, then a thermally activated adhesive is applied to the reflective layer and protective means in the form of a hot stamping foil are obtained;

or

r) a reflective layer is applied to the oriented anisotropic polymer layer, then heat-activated adhesive is applied to the reflective layer, layers are cut or cut down to the polymer technological base film, the flash is removed and protective equipment is obtained in the form of patches;

or

s) a reflective layer is applied to the oriented anisotropic polymer layer, then adhesive with residual stickiness is applied to the reflective layer with siliconized paper or a polymer film, the polymer technological film-base and layers are cut or cut to siliconized paper or a polymer film, the flash is removed and funds are obtained protection in the form

- 2,033,846 stickers.

Advantages have a method in which a zone free from azimuthal orientation is left in any of the four regions of a single black-and-white image. During the deposition of the anisotropic polymer composition, subsequent drying of the anisotropic polymer composition and heating of the anisotropic polymer layer, an oriented anisotropic polymer layer is formed in this zone, the orientation of which is determined by the kinematics of the process of applying the anisotropic polymer composition, i.e. the direction of movement of the polymer technological base film. This orientation is subsequently maintained and fixed during drying and heating. Thus, in place of a zone free of azimuthal orientation, an orientation zone is formed, the direction of which coincides with the direction of movement of the polymer technological film-base.

The inventive method is illustrated by the following examples of the manufacture of protective equipment with hidden polarized variographic images (example 1) and hidden polarized stereo images (example 2). The inventive method is also illustrated by drawings, while in FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram of the formation of two vario-images — a square and a circle, according to Example 1 of the embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 2 shows a stereo image formation diagram - a square, according to Example 2 of the embodiment of the invention, assuming that in a positive image it is black on a white background.

In the presented figures, the following notation:

- image elements of the azimuthal orientation of the white color of the first and second zoomed images (square and circle, respectively) or the first and second stereo images (left and right squares, respectively) and the direction of the azimuthal orientation of the white region;

- image elements of the azimuthal orientation of the black color of the first image (square) or the first stereo image (left square);

- image elements of the azimuthal orientation of the black color of the second image (circle) or the second stereo image (right square);

- black overlap area of two vario-images;

- black region of the first varioimage (square);

- the black region of the second image (circle);

- area of white color;

- zone free from azimuthal orientation;

- orientation direction in a zone free of azimuthal orientation;

- the direction of movement of the polymer technological film base;

- black overlap area of two stereo images;

- black region of the first stereo image (left square);

- black region of the second stereo image (right square);

Example 1. The manufacture of latent polarization vario-images in the form of a foil of cold stamping, foil of hot stamping and patches.

For each of the two selected vario-images (the first is a square and the second is a circle, both black on a white background), in the form of which in this example of manufacturing anti-counterfeiting means hidden polarized vario-images should be created, one design in black and white is created.

We superimposed two designs of variographic images on top of one another and as a result received a single black-and-white image (Fig. 1).

The single black-and-white image was divided into four areas: the black overlap region 4 of the first and second vario images, the black region 5 of the first vario image, the black region 6 of the second vario image and the white region 7.

Areas 4, 5, 6 were divided into image elements, the shape of which are squares with side sizes of 100 μm.

A second azimuthal orientation was established in a checkerboard pattern for the black overlap region 4 of two vario-images for one image element, a third azimuth orientation direction for a neighboring image element, and so on, until the black overlap region 4 is completely filled. In this example, the second direction of the azimuthal orientation was 23 angular degrees when counted from the horizontal counterclockwise, the third direction of the azimuthal orientation was 60 angular degrees when counted from the horizontal counterclockwise.

The second azimuthal orientation was established in a checkerboard pattern for the black region 5 of the first variographic image (square) for one image element, the first azimuthal orientation for the adjacent image element, and so on, until the black variabilty area 5 of the first variographic image is completely filled. In this example, the first direction of azimuthal orientation was 0 angular degrees, i.e. coincided with the horizontal.

We established in a checkerboard pattern for region 6 of the black color of the second image (circle) for one image element the third direction of the azimuthal orientation, for nearby

- 3 033846 image elements — the first direction of the azimuthal orientation, and so on, until the black area 6 of the second vario image is completely filled.

Set the first direction of azimuthal orientation for region 7 of white color.

Left in region 6 of the black color of the second image, zone 8 in the form of a triangle, free from azimuthal orientation.

They took a roll of polymer technological base film and installed it on a coating plant. As the polymer process film-base used PET film with a thickness of 19 μm. The polymer technological base film was moved and a polymer composition of a wax-based separation layer was applied to one of its sides, it was dried, and a separation layer of wax with a thickness of 120 nm was obtained on a polymer technological film-based.

The polymer composition of the protective layer based on polycarbonate was applied to the separation layer, it was dried and a protective layer of polycarbonate with a thickness of 1500 nm was obtained on the separation layer. The polymer composition of the orientation layer was applied to the protective layer, then it was dried and an orientation layer of 200 nm thick was obtained on the protective layer.

At the installation for holographic embossing, the orientation layer was rotationally embossed and a diffraction structure was obtained on it with given directions of azimuthal orientation of image elements in regions 4, 5, 6, a diffraction structure with a given direction of azimuthal orientation in region 7. Zone 8 remained free from the preferred orientation.

An anisotropic polymer composition based on acrylate monomers was applied to the orientation layer on a flexographic printing press, it was dried and anisotropic polymer layer was obtained, then the anisotropic polymer layer was heated to the temperature necessary for its orientation, and an azimuthally oriented anisotropic polymer layer was obtained on the orientation layer in regions 4, 5, 6, 7 and oriented in the direction of movement of the polymer process film base anisotropic polymer layer in zone 8.

The thickness of the oriented anisotropic polymer layer in both regions 4–7 and zone 8 was 760 nm.

A reflective layer was applied to the oriented anisotropic polymer layer by transferring the reflective layer of a topographic foil and protection means in the form of a cold stamping foil were obtained.

A reflective layer was applied to a oriented anisotropic polymer layer by transferring a reflective layer of a holographic foil, a thermally activated adhesive was applied to the reflective layer and protective equipment in the form of a hot stamping foil was obtained.

A reflective layer was applied to the oriented anisotropic polymer layer by transferring the reflective layer of a holographic foil, then a thermally activated adhesive was applied to the reflective layer. On a cutting plotter, layers were cut to a polymer technological base film, the flash was removed, and protective equipment in the form of patches was obtained.

The visualization of latent polarization variographic images was performed as follows. A linear polarizer was applied to the protective equipment and turned until the first variographic image was visualized in a positive embodiment. A further twist visualized the second positive vario image. Continuing the rotation of the polarizer in the same direction, successively visualized negative vario images were observed.

Example 2. The manufacture of latent polarizing steroid images in the form of a sticker.

They created an image design in black and white, for example, a black square on a white background. Displaced, i.e. duplicated, the same design of the square 3 mm to the side horizontally and received a single black and white image of two squares (see Fig. 2).

The rectangle in the center is the black overlap region 11 of the two stereo images, the left rectangle is the black region of the first stereo image 12, the rectangle to the right is the black region of the second stereo image 13. The rest of the method according to example 2 did not differ from the method described in example 1, with the exception of zone 8, free from azimuthal orientation, in the form of a rectangle located in the region 7 of white color;

as a polymer technological film-base, a PET film 36 μm thick was taken;

The final stage of sticker production was characterized in that a reflective layer was applied to the oriented anisotropic polymer layer by transferring a holographic foil reflective layer, and then adhesive with residual tack with siliconized paper was applied to the reflective layer, the polymer technological base film and the applied layers were cut to siliconized paper and removed the flake.

Hidden polarized stereo images were visualized with the use of stereo glasses, in the frame of which there were linear polarizers tuned so as to see one of the stereo images with one eye and the other with the other eye.

Thus, in the method of manufacturing protective equipment with hidden polarizing variographic images or stereo images according to this invention:

- 4 033846 firstly, the construction of variographic images at the design development stage is simplified. To build a design, it is enough to take only symbols (in the prototype - both symbols and the background), taking as a basis a positive drawing, i.e. assuming that the symbols are made in black, then the background of one and the other symbols can be combined into a single background, considering it white;

secondly, there is no photo-orientation process used in the closest analogue to obtain an orientation layer, which is a slow process and adversely affects the performance of the method in the process of mass production of protective equipment;

thirdly, the overall dimensions of image elements are limited, which eliminates the need for their further division and ensures the perception of images as a single structure;

fourthly, the ability to build stereo images.

Sources of information.

1. Wikipedia, articles Lenticular printing and Optical illusion: lenticular printing.

2. Format Magazine, Italic Publishing House, No. 4, 2008.

3. Patent RU 2452806, publication date 10.06.2012.

4. Patent BY 11326, priority date 08.25.2016.

Claims (5)

CLAIM 1. A method of manufacturing a means of protection with hidden polarizing vario-or stereo images, comprising stages in which: a) create designs of two variographic images or a stereo image design in black and white; b) superimpose the designs of variographic images on one another or superimpose one and the same stereo image design, having previously shifted horizontally the superimposed stereo image designs, and receive the first and second variographic images or the first and second stereo images offset from each other and thus form a single black-and-white white image for vario-images or for stereo-image; c) a single black-and-white image for vario-images or for stereo image is divided into four areas: the black overlap area of the first and second vario-images or first and second stereo-images, the black region of the first vario-or first stereo-image, the black region of the second vario-image or second stereo-image and a white area; d) the black overlap region of the first and second vario-images or the first and second stereo images, the black region of the first vario-image or first stereo-image, the black region of the second vario-image or second stereo-image are divided into image elements whose overall dimensions do not exceed 100 microns; e) three directions of azimuthal orientation are determined for the said elements: the first direction is for white, the second direction is for black the first vario or first stereo image, the third direction is black for the second vario or second stereo image; f) set in a checkerboard pattern in the black overlap area of the first and second variographic images or the first and second stereo images for the first image element, the second direction of the azimuthal orientation, for the adjacent image element, the third direction of the azimuthal orientation and so on until the said area is completely filled; g) set in a checkerboard pattern in the black location of the first vario or first stereo image for the first image element, the second direction of the azimuthal orientation, for the adjacent image element, the first direction of the azimuthal orientation and so on until the said area is completely filled; h) set in a checkerboard pattern in the black location of the second vario or second stereo image for the first image element, the third direction of the azimuthal orientation, for the adjacent image element, the first direction of the azimuthal orientation and so on until the said area is completely filled; i) set the first direction of azimuthal orientation in the white region; j) take the polymer technological film base and set it with the possibility of longitudinal movement; k) carry out the transfer of the polymer technological film-base and put on one of its sides the polymer composition of the separation layer, dry it and obtain a separation layer; m) a polymer composition of the protective layer is applied to the separation layer, it is dried and a protective layer is obtained on the separation layer; m) the polymer composition of the orienting layer is applied to the protective layer, it is dried and an orienting layer is obtained on the protective layer; n) carry out rotational embossing of the orienting layer taking into account the azimuthal orientations obtained at the stages of e and obtain a diffraction structure with a given azimuthal orientation - 5 033846 by entation; o) anisotropic polymer composition is applied to the orientation layer, it is dried and anisotropic polymer layer is obtained, then the anisotropic polymer layer is heated to the temperature necessary for its orientation, and an oriented anisotropic polymer layer is obtained on the orientation layer; p) a reflective layer is applied to the oriented anisotropic polymer layer and protective means are obtained in the form of a cold stamping foil. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that thermally activated adhesive is applied to the reflective layer and protective means in the form of a hot stamping foil are obtained. 3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the heat-activated adhesive is applied to the reflective layer, the layers are cut or cut to the polymer technological base film, the burr is removed and protective equipment is obtained in the form of patches. 4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the adhesive layer with residual tack is applied to the reflective layer with siliconized paper or a polymer film, the polymer technological base film and layers to siliconized paper or polymer film are cut or cut, the flash is removed and funds are obtained protection in the form of stickers. 5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that they leave in any of the four regions of a single black-and-white image an area free of azimuthal orientation.