EP0522217B1 - Fiduciary document or security document bearing an anti-forgery device and process for the manufacture of such a document - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to fiduciary or security documents, and more particularly documents comprising an anti-counterfeiting device. The documents concerned are all valuable or fiduciary documents which, by reason of their nature or the rights which they may confer, must be protected from counterfeits, falsifications or reproductions. This is the case, for example, for titles, checks and traveller's checks, stamps, credit cards, vouchers or even security documents such as identity cards, passports, etc., this list not being exhaustive.

It has already been proposed to use a metallized wire totally or alternatively integrated in the paper of a document, said wire being able to be coded by means of a discontinuous coating of a wire made of non-ferromagnetic material with a ferromagnetic material (see for example the English Patent Nos _. 1,095,286 and No. 1,127,043).

This technique has been used for a long time, but it invariably remains associated with authentication of the document by a detector specially adapted to the wire concerned, and does not effectively resist a photocopy of the document: the image of the wire remains extremely thin, and not only attracts little attention by an examination with the naked eye, but provides an extremely weak reflecting surface that does little to disturb the reprography of the document.

Various techniques have also been proposed using special inks, in particular so-called changing effect inks, making it possible for example to change from a blue color to a green color according to the inclination of the document, or even inks showing a color only under a certain irradiation (UV radiation for example). We can for example refer to the American patent N ° 4 175 776 and to the European patents N _° 0 327 788 and N 0 0 340 163. These techniques are generally expensive, so that their use is limited to areas of dimensions very small compared to the dimensions of the document.

It has also been proposed to combine these techniques, by applying a repetitive continuous strip pattern on part of the document, and by overprinting this part with the use of security ink (see for example European patent N _° 0 093 009 ). As a variant, it has been proposed, in order to better resist color photocopying, an overprinting of small areas with an ink containing a reflective substance which may be colored, for example aluminum powder (see for example US Pat. Nos. 4,066,280 and No. 4,352,706).

Mention should also be made of the techniques providing for coating the document with a very thin metallic film, then printing and embossing said document (see for example American patent N 4 4 420 515), as well as techniques using the application of holograms on a document (see for example French patent N 2 535 864, English patent N 1 1 517 840 and American patent N ⁴ 4 171 864) or even intaglio printing (see for example patent French N 2 2 192 496).

Finally, EP-A-0 070 172 discloses a fiduciary or security document having the features of the preamble of claim 1.

In this document, a metallic or metallized strip is incorporated into the layer of paper, which is however partially exposed on the surface to form individual aligned reflective elements.

However, all these techniques undoubtedly make it possible to attract the attention of an informed observer, but remain relatively expensive and do not always withstand the photocopying of the documents concerned.

The object of the invention is to produce a fiduciary or security document whose anti-counterfeiting device is more efficient than the aforementioned systems, both with regard to an examination with the naked eye and with regard to modern reprographic techniques.

The object of the invention is also to produce a document which, while being easily manufactured with constant quality, ensures a high degree of protection against its reprography.

The object of the invention is also to produce a document whose anti-counterfeiting device is capable of being put in place both continuously on a strip of paper continuously scrolling, and on documents in sheets already cut, the work on reel however, being generally preferred where possible.

The object of the invention is finally to produce a document whose anti-counterfeiting device adheres perfectly to said document, and is capable of withstanding wear and / or chemical attack by the solvents usually used in the printing industry. .

Thus the invention provides a fiduciary or security document as defined in claim 1.

Preferred aspects of this document are defined in subclaims 2 to 8.

The invention also provides methods of making such a document, as set out in claims 9, 10, 11 and 15.

Preferred aspects of these methods are defined in claims 12 to 14 and 16, 17

• - la figure 1 est une vue en plan d'un document comportant un dispositif anti-contrefaçon conforme à l'invention ;
• - la figure 2 illustre, à plus grande échelle, deux éléments individuels réfléchissants faisant partie du dispositif anti-contrefaçon précité ;
• - la figure 3 illustre une variante de la figure 2, dans laquelle le contour des éléments individuels réfléchissants est rectangulaire ;
• - les figures 4a et 4b sont deux coupes selon IV-IV de la figure 1, illustrant deux variantes respectivement sans et avec vernis de protection ;
• - les figures 5a et 5b sont deux coupes illustrant la structure multicouche de deux variantes d'une bande de support de départ conforme à l'invention, ladite bande de support étant utilisée pour obtenir le transfert du dispositif anti-contrefaçon, respectivement sans et avec vernis de protection (ces figures étant ainsi à rapprocher des figures 4a et 4b précédentes montrant le document après transfert dudit dispositif anti-contrefaçon) ;
• - la figure 6 illustre schématiquement le transfert continu du dispositif anti-contrefaçon par passage entre deux cylindres, dont un cylindre de pression et un cylindre chauffant de contre-pression ;
• - la figure 7 est une vue de profil illustrant les cylindres précités entre lesquels passent en continu la bande de papier, et la bande de support de départ portant le dispositif anti- contrefaçon à transférer ;
• - les figures 8 et 9 illustrent deux variantes de la figure 7, avec un cylindre de pression comportant une piste de pression qui est respectivement discontinue et continue ;
• - la figure 10 est une vue générale montrant une machine pouvant être avantageusement utilisée pour effectuer en continu le transfert du dispositif anti-contrefaçon sur une bande de papier en défilement continu.

Other features and advantages of in vention will appear more clearly in the light of the description which follows and of the appended drawings, concerning a particular embodiment, with reference to the figures where:

• - Figure 1 is a plan view of a document comprising an anti-counterfeiting device according to the invention;
• - Figure 2 illustrates, on a larger scale, two individual reflective elements forming part of the aforementioned anti-counterfeiting device;
• - Figure 3 illustrates a variant of Figure 2, in which the outline of the individual reflecting elements is rectangular;
• - Figures 4a and 4b are two sections on IV-IV of Figure 1, illustrating two variants respectively without and with protective varnish;
• - Figures 5a and 5b are two sections illustrating the multilayer structure of two variants of a starting support strip according to the invention, said support strip being used to obtain the transfer of the anti-counterfeiting device, respectively without and with protective varnish (these figures thus being compared to the preceding figures 4a and 4b showing the document after transfer of said anti-counterfeiting device);
• - Figure 6 schematically illustrates the continuous transfer of the anti-counterfeiting device by passage between two cylinders, including a pressure cylinder and a counter pressure heating cylinder;
• - Figure 7 is a side view illustrating the aforementioned cylinders between which pass continuously the paper strip, and the starting support strip carrying the anti-counterfeiting device to be transferred;
• - Figures 8 and 9 illustrate two variants of Figure 7, with a pressure cylinder having a pressure track which is respectively discontinuous and continuous;
• - Figure 10 is a general view showing a machine that can advantageously be used to continuously transfer the anti-counterfeiting device to a strip of paper in continuous travel.

FIG. 1 makes it possible to distinguish a document D, presented here in the form of a rectangular sheet 1, comprising an anti-counterfeiting device 100 according to the invention.

In accordance with an essential characteristic of the invention, the anti-counterfeiting device is in the form of a discontinuous reflecting surface 100, constituted by a succession of individual reflecting elements 101, organized in a general direction DG of orientation predetermined by compared to the edges 11, 12 of the document. As will be described in detail below, the individual reflective elements 101 are applied by transfer (preferably hot) on one side 10 of the document D. In addition, each individual reflective element 101 has both a dimension, appreciated transversely in the DG, several millimeters, and an optimal compactness for a given reflection area, evaluated by a coefficient corresponding to the reflection area / perimeter ratio, in such a way that the reflection phenomenon appears clearly to the eye naked and blind the known systems of reprography or optical analysis, in particular thanks to a high reflection efficiency and relatively large reflection surfaces. Any value at least equal to 0.5 mm for the aforementioned ratio is considered to be satisfactory.

The document D here includes a printed graphic G, and a discontinuous reflecting surface 100 whose general direction DG is parallel to the short side 11 of said document. Such an arrangement is of course only a possible example, but the orientation DG chosen parallel to one of the edges of the document, here the small edge, is advantageous when it is planned to pass the document through an automatic machine for processing, the document then scrolling parallel to one of its edges.

Each individual element 101 can thus form a mirror capable of reflecting all the visible wavelengths. Preferably then, individual reflecting elements 101 will be constituted by a thin metallic layer, and in particular by a thin layer of aluminum. As an indication, this layer may have a thickness of the order of 0.05 μm. The choice of aluminum is advantageous for its very high reflection coefficient, but it goes without saying that one could choose other metals, such as chromium for example. The mirror formed by at least some of the individual reflecting elements 101 is preferably solid or flat, without being disturbed by geometric elements at least partially covering said mirror.

The discontinuous surface 100, constituted by a plurality of individual reflecting elements 101, thus allows a significant glare of the reprography analysis system, thanks to the large dimension of each of the individual reflecting elements 101 in a direction transverse to the general direction DG . As such, it should be noted that the known technique of alternately embedding a metallic ribbon in the paper did not make it possible to obtain a ribbon whose width exceeds one millimeter. In this case, it is possible to use, thanks to a transfer technique, a discontinuous surface whose width exceeds 3 mm, even being able to go up to 10 mm.

In addition, still with the aim of obtaining maximum glare from the analysis or reprography system, each individual reflecting element 101 must have an optimal compactness for a given reflection area. This means that the surface of each individual reflecting element 101 is as large as possible for a given perimeter, or that the diameter of the largest circle writable in the outline of an individual reflecting element, for a given reflection area, is maximum. .

FIG. 2 illustrates on a larger scale two individual reflecting elements 101 forming part of the aforementioned anti-counterfeiting device 100, each individual reflecting element 101 having in this case a contour C in the form of a quadrilateral, and more precisely here in the form of a parallelogram. Each individual reflecting element 101 is thus distributed discontinuously between two lines 105, 106 which are parallel to the general direction DG of the discontinuous surface 100. It is possible, as a variant, as illustrated in FIG. 3, to provide a contour C in shape of a rectangle, one edge of which (here the edge 103) is parallel to the general direction DG. The embodiment of FIG. 2 is however preferable insofar as it makes it possible to have a small leading edge at an end point of each individual reflecting element, and thereby even better resist a risk of delamination. metal particles transferred to the document. In the case of FIG. 2, the edge 103 of each individual reflecting element 101 is parallel to the direction DG, with a dimension L which is preferably of the order of 2 to 10 mm, while the small edge 104 is inclined at an angle determined a relative to this general direction DG, said angle preferably being close to 450. The dimensions of the individual rectangular reflecting elements illustrated in FIG. 3 are preferably identical to the previous ones, with a width 1 of the order of 2 to 10 mm (this width corresponding to the distance separating the contour lines 105, 106), and a length L of the order of 2 to 10 mm. These dimensions will be chosen so that a minimum surface of 10 mm ² is obtained for each individual reflecting element.

Such individual reflecting elements make it possible to obtain an extremely satisfactory specular reflection coefficient, since the effective width of each of these elements is relatively large, said effective width being moreover considerably greater than that which could be obtained with a ribbon. alternately embedded in the document paper.

Figure 1 highlights the existence of a discontinuous surface 100 constituting the anti-counterfeiting device on one side 10 of document D, but it goes without saying that it is possible to provide such an anti-counterfeiting device on both sides of the document, each anti-counterfeiting device being in the form of a discontinuous reflecting surface, the two devices then preferably being made up of identical individual reflecting elements 101. This makes it possible to obtain a reflection phenomenon which appears evidently to the naked eye and blindly known systems of reprography or optical analysis, whatever the shaping of the document.

As has been said above, the succession of individual reflective elements 101 is applied by transfer, preferably hot, on one side of the document. The application by direct transfer to one side of the document can be continuous, so that the intermediate spaces 102 between adjacent individual reflective elements 101 have a non-reflective coating, but nevertheless visible, coming from a starting support strip having a pattern discontinuous to transfer. FIG. 6 schematically illustrates such a continuous transfer of the anti-counterfeiting device (the pattern of which is here discontinuous) by passage between two cylinders, including a pressure cylinder and a counter-pressure heating cylinder. There is in fact in FIG. 6 a reel 310 from which a strip of paper P is unwound passing over successive rollers 311, 312, 313, before arriving between a pressure cylinder 300 and a counter pressure heating cylinder 301 A starting support strip F carrying the pattern to be transferred is unwound from a reel 314 to also pass between the cylinders 300 and 301, the two strips P and F thus being pressed one against the other, with application of 'a determined temperature for the hot transfer of the discontinuous pattern, so as to obtain the discontinuous reflecting surface 100 sought, with its succession of individual reflecting elements 101. Downstream of the transfer, the support strip F, or more precisely the residual part thereof which served to convey the discontinuous pattern to be transferred, is wound on a reel 315. In this case, two smooth cylinders 300 and 301 are used, as can be seen on the figure 7. We obtain a transfer with clean edges, without embossing the paper. After the transfer, the paper is however highly satiny (its smoothness has become appreciably multiplied by 5), the thickness of the paper has decreased (appreciably by 10%), and the paper has lengthened very slightly in the direction of travel. (an elongation of the order of 2% o is usually encountered). When document D also has a watermark, which is particularly the case for banknotes bank, the watermark then lost its sharpness after the transfer of the discontinuous reflective pattern.

It is possible to improve the transfer of this discontinuous pattern by providing a slightly different pressure cylinder, as illustrated in FIG. 9: the pressure cylinder 302 in fact here comprises a continuous pressure track 303 which presses the strip of starting support F against the paper strip P, resting on the counterpressure heating cylinder 301. The advantage of a transfer with sharp edges and without embossing of the paper is then retained, but in addition, this is obtained of the pressure exerted locally, an absence of satin-finishing of the paper and a conservation of the sharpness of the watermark when the latter is provided.

It is however also possible to use a starting support strip F comprising a continuous reflective tape to be transferred to the document.

We can then choose either a continuous transfer of the continuous reflective tape on the paper, and then organize a particular operation on the continuous reflective tape transferred to make the intermediate spaces between adjacent individual elements, or alternatively provide a discontinuous transfer of portions of the reflective tape continuous to then directly obtain the intermediate spaces between adjacent individual elements.

When choosing a continuous application of a continuous reflective tape, provision may then be made to make the intermediate spaces 102 between adjacent individual elements 101 by printing with a white ink of a discontinuous pattern on the transferred continuous reflective tape, or by variant realize these intermediate spaces by partial dissolution of the continuous reflective tape transferred.

In the case of a discontinuous application, provision may be made, as illustrated in FIG. 8, for the discontinuous nature of the pattern to result from the passage of the starting support strip F with continuous reflecting tape and the paper strip P between a pressure cylinder 304 with a discontinuous pressure track 305 and a counter-pressure heating cylinder 301. The discontinuous nature of the pattern then comes from knurling by the discontinuous pressure track 305 of the continuous reflective tape. It is however difficult to avoid the random tearing of scales of reflective material at the limits of the contours of the individual reflective elements, such scales being able to disturb the subsequent offset printing of the document. It is easy to understand that the transfer of a discontinuous tape by continuous pressure cylinder (FIG. 7) or by cylinder with continuous pressure track (FIG. 9) makes it possible to avoid the creation of such scales of reflective material.

As a variant of the direct transfer of the rotary type which has just been described, it will naturally be possible to provide a direct transfer resulting from the striking of the starting support strip with an application matrix on a sheet of paper, in the context of a transfer on sheet. This technique, not shown here, is well known to printing specialists, and it may as well relate to the transfer of a continuous reflective tape onto the paper (the application matrix then being either continuous if provision is made for a subsequent operation of printing with white ink on the transferred continuous reflective tape, or of partial dissolution of the transferred continuous reflective tape, is discontinuous if one wishes to avoid such operations), than the transfer of a discontinuous reflective tape (the application matrix then preferably being continuous).

We will now describe the multilayer structure of a starting support strip according to the invention, said support strip being used to obtain the transfer of the aforementioned anti-counterfeiting device, this being valid for both a continuous and discontinuous pattern. to transfer.

The section of FIG. 5a thus illustrates a starting support strip F successively comprising an upper layer 200 serving as a vehicle, a layer 202 of wax or hot-melt glue, a very thin metallic layer for example of aluminum 201 constituting the ribbon reflecting to transfer, and finally a layer 203 of hot-melt adhesive. The layer 200 will preferably be made of plastic, for example being a polyester layer 10 to 15 μm thick, while the metallic layer 201 will be of the order of a few hundredths of a micron, for example 0.05 μm . The wax or glue corresponding to the thickness 202 serves to ensure the separation between the polyester layer 200 and the metal layer 201 during the hot transfer, and its thickness will be of the order of 2 to 5 μm. The adhesive constituting the layer 203 is used to ensure the adhesion of the metal layer 201 on the paper, and its thickness will also be of the order of 5 μm. It will be advantageous to provide that the material constituting the layer 202 melts at a temperature T1 lower than the temperature T2 at which the adhesion layer 203 melts, in order to obtain a separation of the metal layer 201 from the layer of polyester 200 just before the transfer of said metallic layer. As an indication, the transfer will be carried out with temperatures ranging from 110 to 150 _° C. After transfer, the document is presented in section in accordance with what is illustrated in FIG. 4a: a succession of individual reflective elements is thus distinguished 101 , separated by intermediate spaces 102, and there are also traces 203 ' from the glue 203, which have penetrated inside the paper 1 just below the upper face of the document. The intermediate spaces 102 between adjacent individual elements 101 may comprise a non-reflective coating, but nevertheless visible, coming from the starting support strip F having the discontinuous pattern to be transferred. The non-reflective coating will in this case include hot application adhesive 203 ′, but also possibly a protective varnish as will be described in the variant which follows.

FIG. 5b illustrates a support strip (S) having a more complex multilayer structure than the previous one, insofar as two layers of protective varnish are provided.

We find the upper layer of polyester 200 serving as a vehicle, and the layers 202 and 203 of hot-melt adhesive, with for the latter a choice of materials such that the adhesion to the paper is stronger than the adhesion to the support. polyester. However, the metallized zone corresponding to the layer 201 is here sandwiched between two layers of varnish 204 and 205, the thickness of which is of the order of 1 to 5 μm. The upper layer of varnish 204 ensures protection of the individual reflective elements transferred 101, by having a high resistance to abrasion and to solvents. The lower layer of varnish 205 also protects the metallized zone corresponding to the layer 201 by preventing the metallic particles from penetrating into the paper during the transfer. After transfer, the document is presented in section as illustrated in FIG. 4b: as before, we find the individual reflective elements 101 separated by intermediate spaces 102, as well as the traces of glue 203 ′ coming from layer 203. However, and Unlike the section in FIG. 4a, there is now a protective film coming from the layers of varnish 204 and 205, the upper layer corresponding to the protective layer of the whole of the discontinuous reflecting surface. In this case, the intermediate spaces 102 comprise a non-reflective coating which is perfectly visible to the naked eye, a coating which comprises protective varnish as well as traces of the hot application adhesive. However, it should be noted that the thicknesses of varnish decreased during transfer, due to the pressure and temperature applied.

In the case of a discontinuous application of the individual reflective elements by direct transfer to one face of the document, the intermediate spaces 102 between adjacent individual elements 101 are practically free of any coating.

Still with the aim of obtaining maximum glare from optical analysis or reprography systems, it will be advantageous to provide as high a number as possible of individual reflecting elements 101 for a given dimension of the document. Preferably then, the spacing 102 between adjacent individual elements will be of the order of a fraction of the length of the outline of these elements, considered in a direction parallel to the general direction of orientation DG. Thus, with a rectangular document such as a banknote having a width of the order of 80 mm, it will be possible to have at least five individual reflecting elements to constitute the discontinuous reflecting surface forming the anti-counterfeiting device.

We will now describe, with reference to FIG. 10, a machine which can advantageously be used to continuously transfer the anti-counterfeiting device according to the invention to a strip of paper in continuous travel.

The transfer machine 400 comprises a frame 406 supporting a reel 401 of paper, from which a strip of paper P is unwound. The strip of paper P first passes through a succession of rollers forming part of a regulating assembly 402 tensioning the strip, then at an assembly 403 providing lateral guidance for correctly positioning the strip of paper P before proceeding with the transfer of the anti-counterfeiting device. There is also provided at least one film reel 430 on which is wound the starting support strip F carrying the anti-counterfeiting device to be transferred. In this case, four reels 430 have been provided, in order to be able to simultaneously transfer four reflective strips for a given width of paper strip corresponding to the strip wound on the reel 401. The paper strip P and the starting support strip F meet at a guide roller 404, against the periphery of which they are applied correctly by means of a downstream roller 405.

The two bands P and F thus arrive at the transfer station proper, which is constituted by a hot transfer assembly with its cylinder 407 which is for example heated by a circulation of hot water, the associated circuit not being shown. here. The two bands are applied against a large part of the surface of the heating cylinder 407 by means of a system of pressure rollers 408 carried by movable brackets 409: FIG. 10 shows the two positions of the set of pressure rollers 408, the position of work corresponding to the application of these rollers against the surface of the cylinder 407, while the rest position corresponds to the initial insertion of the two bands F and P under said cylinder. The passage from one position to the other is effected by application cylinders 410 and 411, which make it possible to raise or lower, and to tilt the brackets 409 supporting the rollers 408.

Downstream of this transfer station, the paper strip (on which the reflecting surface has been transferred) and the residual part of the starting support strip (this residual part comprising only the polyester layer which served as a vehicle) pass around a first cooling cylinder 414 against which they are applied by an applicator roller 412 which is carried by an articulated lever 413, a lever whose position is controlled by an associated jack 427. The two bands also pass over a second cylinder 415 cooling, the passage on the two cooling cylinders being made according to an S to obtain, as is well known in the field of printing, a contact and a blocking of satisfactory web. The cooling cylinders 414 and 415 will for example be cooled by cold water, the associated circuit not being shown here. The strip of paper P carrying the anti-counterfeiting device 100 then passes over an assembly 418 serving as a tension regulator for rewinding, then against a guide cylinder 431 against which it is applied by a roller 419 carried by an articulated lever 425 of which the position is controlled by an associated jack 426. The paper strip P carrying the anti-counterfeiting device 100 then passes through a lateral guide assembly 420, to arrive here at a slitting station at the level of which it is possible to cut several longitudinally adjacent parallel strips, for example four strips, each comprising a reflective tape (continuous or discontinuous): this slitting station, which is of course in no way obligatory, consists of a support roller 422 and cutting wheels 421. The cut strips finally pass over guide rollers 423, before a final rewinding on a reel 424.

The remaining part of the support strip (polyester film 200 having served as a vehicle) passes, after the cooling cylinder 415, on a guide roller 416 before finally arriving at a station 417 for rewinding the film of polyester 200.

It goes without saying that other types of machine could be envisaged for carrying out the transfer of the continuous or discontinuous reflective tape, but the transfer station previously described makes it possible to obtain particularly satisfactory results. As such, reference may be made to European Patent _No. 0 089 494 in which a hot transfer device of this type is described.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments which have just been described, but on the contrary encompasses any variant incorporating, with equivalent means, the essential characteristics set out above.

Claims (17)

1. Fiduciary or security document (D) including an anti-forgery device in the form of a discontinuous reflecting surface (100) consisting of a succession of individual reflecting elements (101) organized along a predetermined general direction (DG), each individual reflecting element (101) having both a dimension, transverse to the said general direction, of at least three millimetres and optimal compactness for a given reflection area, that is to say a coefficient corresponding to the area/perimeter ratio of the said given reflection area at least equal to 0.5 mm, characterized in that each individual reflecting element (101) forms a mirror capable of reflecting all visible wavelengths, the mirrors formed by at least some of the individual reflecting elements (101) being full mirrors, in that the reflecting elements are transfer elements applied by transfer from a support strip (F) onto a face (10) of the document, and in that the reflecting elements (101) have a quadrilateral-shaped contour (C), the length of this contour, considered in a direction parallel to the said general direction (DG) of orientation of each of the reflecting elements (101) lying between four and ten millimetres.

2. Document according to Claim 1, characterized in that each individual reflecting element (101) is coated with a protective varnish (204) resisting abrasion and solvents.

3. Document according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the individual reflecting elements (101) consist of a metallic layer, and preferably of a layer of aluminium.

4. Document according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the contour (C) is in the shape of a rectangle, one edge (103) of which is parallel to the general direction (DC) of orientation of the individual reflecting elements (101).

5. Document according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the contour (C) is in the shape of a parallelogram, one edge (103) of which is parallel to the general direction (DG) of orientation of the individual reflecting elements (101).

6. Document according to Claim 5, characterized in that the other edge (104) of the parallelogram is inclined by a defined angle (a) with respect to the said general direction (DG) of orientation, this angle preferably being close to 45_°.

7. Document according to one of Claims 1 to 6, the shape of which is rectangular, characterized in that the general direction (DG) of orientation of the individual reflecting elements (101) is parallel to the small side (11) of the said document.

8. Document according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises an anti-forgery device on its two faces, exhibiting the form of a discontinuous reflecting surface (100), these two devices preferably consisting of identical individual reflecting elements (101).

9. Method of manufacturing a document according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the individual reflecting elements (101) are applied on to the face (10) of the document (D) by direct and continuous transfer from an initial support strip (F) having a discontinuous pattern of individual reflecting elements (101), so that the intermediate spaces (102) between adjacent individual elements (101) include a non- reflecting, but nevertheless visible, coating applied to the document (D).

10. Method of manufacturing a document according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the individual reflecting elements (101) are applied to the face (10) of the document (D) by direct and continuous transfer from an initial support strip (F) having a continuous reflecting ribbon, the intermediate spaces between adjacent individual elements (101) being produced after the transfer, by printing a discontinuous pattern, with white ink on to the continuous reflecting ribbon.

11. Method of manufacturing a document according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the individual reflecting elements (101) are applied to the face (10) of the document (D) by direct and continuous transfer from an initial support strip (F) having a continuous reflecting ribbon, the intermediate spaces between adjacent individual elements (101) being produced by partial dissolution of the reflecting layer after transfer of the continuous reflecting ribbon on to the face (10) of the document.

12. Method according to one of Claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the reflecting elements (101) are transferred directly from the support strip (F) on to a paper document (D) by making the initial support strip (F) and a paper strip (P) pass between a pressure cylinder (300) and a heating, counter-pressure cylinder (301).

13. Method according to one of Claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the reflecting elements (101) are transferred directly from the support strip (F) on to a paper document (D) by passing the initial support strip (F) and a paper strip (P) between a pressure cylinder (302) with a continuous pressure track (303) and a heating, counter-pressure cylinder (301).

14. Method according to one of Claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the reflecting elements (101) are transferred directly from the support strip (F) on to a paper document (D) by striking the initial support strip (F) with a die for continuous application on to a sheet of paper.

15. Method of manufacturing a document according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the individual reflecting elements (101) are applied discontinuously by direct transfer on to a face (10) of the document (D), so that the intermediate spaces (102) between adjacent individual elements (101) are free from any coating.

16. Method according to Claim 15, characterized in that, in order to produce a discontinuous pattern, a initial support strip (F), complete with a continuous reflecting ribbon and a paper strip forming the document (D) are passed between a pressure cylinder (304) with a discontinuous pressure track (305) and a heating, counter-pressure cylinder (301).

17. Method according to Claim 15, characterized in that, in order to produce a discontinuous pattern, an initial support strip (F), complete with a reflecting ribbon, is struck with a die for discontinuous application on to a sheet of paper.

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