EP1015253B1 - Value on paper, and production - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a document of value consisting of a substrate of predetermined surface area with a printed image visible to the naked eye and a marking in the form of characters, patterns or the like at least partly superimposed on the printed image. The marking is represented by a feature substance having at least one mechanically detectable physical property and extends over the predominant part of the surface of the document. The marking additionally has a given measurable regularity which makes it possible, by mechanical scanning of the marking, to detect the correctness of the distribution and recognize gaps or added partial elements of other authentic documents as disturbances.

Description

The invention relates to a document of value consisting of a substrate predetermined area with a visually visible print image and a Printed image at least partially overlaid in the form of characters, Patterns or the like, which has a predetermined law, which allows manipulations of the word document to be recognized. The term "value document" is used in the following text as a generic term for All kinds of value documents, i.e. for banknotes, tickets, ID cards, banknotes, Securities, stocks and the like.

Values or tickets that can be used for several events, e.g. For Multiple journeys of public transport tickets can be used usually from a strip-shaped paper carrier, which in a variety is also divided by strip-shaped fields. One field corresponds a certain amount of money. The fare for using public Means of transport is often a multiple of this amount of money, so that the monetary value of several fields is required for a journey. To not to validate each field individually, it is sufficient in known systems, of the fields to be devalued, the last one in the given order Devalue field. The fields in front of it, not directly canceled are considered as devalued. This procedure leads to the fact that Even with tickets that have been completely canceled, some of the individual fields are always included is not canceled. If you cut these fields from different devalued Tickets out, you can turn them into an apparently new, unused one Assemble the ticket.

In order to prevent such counterfeiting, DE 3216 485 C1 has already proposed the tickets in the manufacture of an additional Submit printing process in which a continuous wavy line pattern is applied to the tickets. This happens on the paper web, before it is cut into the individual tickets. For the additional printing process, a printing cylinder is used, the scope of which is a non-integer multiple of the ticket length, so that Constantly running wavy image within a ticket to the wavy image the next ticket is a bit off. Random strings This prevents fields that have not been canceled because the Wavy line usually discontinuities at the transitions between fields shows that come from different tickets. To be a real one A potential counterfeiter would have to be able to fake a ticket make sure that the wavy lines of the individual fields fit together seamlessly connect. The likelihood that a counterfeiter will find the right fields are available, however, is low.

The advantages of the method known from DE 32 16 485 C1 come however, this only applies to the visual inspection. Should such Machine security checks would be a metrological one Effort necessary, which in many cases is not justified because elaborate computing processes are necessary for this, which the method for make many applications uneconomical.

The invention is therefore based on the object of proposing a document of value, its authenticity and integrity are relatively easy to check by machine can be.

The solution to this problem results from the machine-readable features of independent claims. Further training is the subject of the subclaims.

The invention is based on the basic idea that counterfeits and specific falsifications of documents can be detected if the presence and defined distribution of machine-verifiable, preferably without identifiable feature materials without technical aids is checked. Composing new real documents from fragments different real documents is made more difficult if the Distribution on the document is done in coded form and the coded Information from document to document in a document series and / or from section to section of a document with a sufficiently small Repetition rate is varied. Checking the control information the documents are either based on defined mathematical relationships or based on records stored in specific databases.

According to the invention, the document of value has a marking that is represented by means of a feature substance and is predominant Part of the document extends to the authenticity of the document as well to be able to automatically check the completeness of the document material. Because the distribution of the characteristic substance over the surface of the document leaves Gaps or inserted partial elements of other real documents as a malfunction become recognizable.

It is already known from the prior art to include value documents To provide characteristic substances so that their authenticity can be checked mechanically (US-A-4,255,652). However, the feature substance is not applied here that it extends over all or most of the area, so that it is possible to manipulate unmarked areas or to be replaced by counterfeits. In addition, all documents in a series the same mark so that tampering by combining Sub-elements of real value documents of a series are not recognizable, as long as the visual print image is retained.

In a preferred embodiment, the value document consists of a strip-shaped paper carrier, which is also in strip-shaped monetary values Sub-areas is subdivided, which is preferably transverse to the longitudinal extent of the value document. These sections are marked by a visually visible print image defined. In addition, the document of value a line-shaped marking made of machine-detectable preferably when viewed without any auxiliary material that at least partially overlaps the visual print image and itself extends over most of the document. These marker lines preferably run obliquely to the devaluable, through the normal Print image given monetary stripes and provide a coding represents.

When checking the value document, the existence of the Proof of authenticity of the document material with the correct trait become. The coding contents also allow conclusions to be drawn about the Completeness of the documentary material. Because the information read is correct on a document to be checked not with the given one encoded information, this is an indication that parts of the Original document either completely missing or through counterfeiting or parts of other real documents have been replaced.

The coding also offers the advantage that a large number can be checked Information can be saved. For example, the coding Information about the type or purpose of the Document included for rapid mechanical processing documents can be useful.

In the embodiment already described, this is in the coding contained information for all sub-areas the same. According to another Embodiment, however, it is also possible to groups of sub-areas or each individual sub-area with a different coding Mistake. However, at least the codings are preferably more adjacent Subareas in a mathematical relationship to each other. In this In this case, the marking is made up of several different pieces of information together, which further increases counterfeit protection, because the effort that a potential counterfeiter has to put in to parts of others real documents with the document to be manipulated successfully to combine increases.

Additional protection against counterfeiting arises when the document is marked varied to document at least with a certain repetition rate. This can occur when producing value documents in endless format done very easily by the marking or the machine legible feature material applied with the help of a special pressure roller whose scope is a non-integer multiple of the document size corresponds, with the repetition rate varying over the scope the roller can be determined. In this way it is possible that the content or the form of the marking is identical for all documents by which However, offset at least for a number of consecutive documents an individualization about the location of the feature substance is generated.

To achieve the same goal in sheetfed printing, depending on the desired Repetition rate multiple printing plates are made in the area each benefit with a offset in relation to the previous benefit Marking patterns are provided. Alternatively, it goes without saying also possible to specify a variety of different marking patterns, so that depending on the number of the specified marking patterns more or less low repetition rate occurs.

The documents of the invention are automatically checked preferably in two stages. In a first step can be checked whether the visually visible print image is that of a real value document equivalent. This can be done using known pattern recognition techniques by comparing the scanned print image with one in the machine stored reference pattern. There is no match between Print image and reference sample available, so the document rejected. If the comparison is positive, the document of value will be in one second step with one for the respective physical property of the Characteristic substance sensed sensor and the distribution of the characteristic substance recorded on the document. The document can cover the entire area or just scanned along a predetermined characteristic measurement track become. The detected signal now allows conclusions to be drawn about the authenticity and completeness of the value document. Couldn't get anywhere at the A signal corresponding to the specified feature substance are detected, it is a total forgery, for example the Color copy of an original document. Otherwise there is a document which at least partially consists of real document material.

The measurement signal also reflects the specified arrangement of the feature substance is a document made from real documentary material, which was also not manipulated. In this case there is a Original document. If the measurement signal contains jumps or discontinuities, that do not match the original marking is a manipulated one Document before. For example, entire areas of the original are missing Marking pattern completely, so part of the value document was through a fake section, for example made by color copy replaced. In contrast, some areas of the line pattern are missing in the scanning signal and if additional signals appear in unexpected places, this is the case Sign that several real documents have been tampered with were combined, when viewed purely visually as an original document would have been classified.

Checking the visual print pattern and the machine-readable However, the feature substance can also be used simultaneously or depending on one another respectively. For example, it can be checked whether a given one Correlation between certain print patterns of the visually visible Print image and the distribution of the characteristic substance exists.

Luminescent, electrically conductive, magnetic Substances or substances with other mechanically testable properties are used become. However, the machine-readable feature substance is preferred chosen so that it does not appear visually. That it will Substances used that are either transparent in the visual spectral range are or have a body color corresponding to the surface. In in this case, the marking is advantageously below the visually visible one Printed image arranged. However, it is also conceivable to use a machine to use legible trait fabric with special body color and this to integrate into the visual print image.

The machine-readable feature substance can be applied, for example with the help of conventional printing processes, the feature substance either alone or together with other color pigments as a dye serves. Of course, the machine-readable feature material does not have to are necessarily applied linearly. The distribution of the machine Readable feature substance can also be based on a predetermined mathematical Algorithm. Alternatively, it is also possible to use the machine readable feature substance as binary code or in the form of a special Pattern. Optionally, the coding or the pattern can also be arranged several times on the document.

Further embodiments and advantages of the invention are based on the Figures explained.

Fig. 1

Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen originalen Wertdokuments,

Fig. 2

weitere Ausführungsformen eines erfindungsgemäßen originalen Wertdokuments

Fig. 3

aus den Wertdokumenten der Fig. 1 und 2 zusammengesetzte Fälschung,

Fig. 4

Fälschung mit mehreren Meßspuren,

Fig. 5

Ausführungsvariante einer Codierung,

Fig. 6

Ausführungsvariante einer Codierung,

Fig. 7

Ausführungsvariante einer Codierung,

Fig. 8

erfindungsgemäßes Wertdokumentenmaterial im Bogenformat,

Fig. 9

erfindungsgemäßes Wertdokumentenmaterial im Endlosformat.

Show it:

Fig. 1

Embodiment of an original value document according to the invention,

Fig. 2

further embodiments of an original value document according to the invention

Fig. 3

forgery composed of the value documents of FIGS. 1 and 2,

Fig. 4

Falsification with several measurement tracks,

Fig. 5

Variant of a coding,

Fig. 6

Variant of a coding,

Fig. 7

Variant of a coding,

Fig. 8

inventive value document material in sheet format,

Fig. 9

Document of value material according to the invention in endless format.

1 shows a document of value according to the invention. This is it a reusable ticket a, which consists of a paper or Plastic substrate in the form of a strip. Located on the substrate there is a visually visible imprint 11. This can include, among other things a background sample or details about the issuing institution act. At the same time, the imprint 11 serves the ticket strip a extending in the longitudinal direction over the entire width of the card a Subdivide fields 1 to 8. Fields 1 to 8 correspond to a specific one Amount of money and will be accordingly when using ticket a canceled the fare. There is a certain order for the cancellation to adhere to the strip. The ticket a shown was, for example used twice. On the first trip, the fare was the same Amount of money in a field, so that only field 1 was canceled. The The fare for the second trip was five times that represented by a field Monetary amount. The next five fields 2 to 6 were closed devalue. In order not to have to validate each field individually, it is sufficient usually, of the fields to be devalued, the last field in order, here field 6, to devalue. Those between fields 1 and 6 Fields 2 to 5 are also considered invalid. Fields 7, 8 can still be used for further trips can be used.

In addition to the visually visible printed image 11, the value document a has a Mark 12 on that by means of a feature substance with a certain mechanically measurable, physical property is shown. in this connection it can be substances with special optical, electrical or magnetic Act properties. Preferably in the visual spectral range transparent and luminescent outside the visible spectral range and / or absorbent materials used. 1 exists the mark 12 from equidistant strips, which extend over the entire Extend document surface and in relation to the direction of travel of the value document a are arranged obliquely.

2 shows a document of value b which is visually visible Appearance does not differ from document a. Only that Marking 13 is offset compared to marking 12. That the distance between the lines of the marker 13 is the same, the starting point of the lines is offset. In addition, in this case the monetary stripes 1 to 4 canceled.

Fig. 3 shows a forgery h, which is a combination of the not devalued Strips of documents a and b could result. Here were the Strips 2 to 5, 7, 8 of document a not devalued with stripes 1, 6 of document b combined into a complete ticket h, its visual Indistinguishable from an original document. However, the markings 12, 13 of documents a and b do not complement each other to continuous, equidistant lines, so that with a machine Review of the document h along the measurement track 15 discontinuities in the Measurement signal occur. Each crossing point between measuring track 15 and Markings 12, 13 result in a measurement signal. The measurement starts at the top End of document h, the device detects up to the strip 7 in regular Intervals a signal of the feature substance, which in Fig. 3 with a full point is marked. The same applies to strips 2 to 5. These Signals come from the document material of document a. In field 6, which was taken from the document of value b occurs at the point at which a signal can be expected according to the previous fields 8 and 7 would be no signal on what is indicated by a circle. Instead a signal appears at another point, which is represented by a full square is pictured. The same applies to field 1.

This measurement result can be achieved in different ways. So the signal clock can be known. In this case there could be a lead area 14 of, for example, two cycles can be defined, in which the measuring cycle is set. In the subsequent area, the measured values must be in a certain range Time windows appear. If measured values are missing, the document is considered "wrong" classified.

However, the cancellation, which also applies to original documents, must be taken into account can be present. It can be designed so that it Measured values of the markings are not affected by the cancellation an ink is used that represents the physical property to be measured the feature substance does not have and does not interfere. Should in the Tester also determine which fields have been canceled or can still be canceled, this can be done with a separate sensor, of a certain property used for the cancellation Ink responds. This property can also be arbitrary.

Alternatively, however, it is possible to void strips and validity of the To determine the value document in one measurement process. This is e.g. possible, if the devaluation dampens the feature signal and the distinction by means of different sound values of the test device becomes.

The distance between the individual measuring cycles does not have to be constant, however can be varied as desired, for example it can be sinusoidal or run according to a different mathematical law.

In the event that there is no visual inspection of the document, and the test device must also ensure that the visual print image 11 is correct, two measuring tracks 16, 17 can also be provided, as in Fig. 4 shown. Because it would be conceivable that counterfeits would occur not based on the visual appearance of the value document, but at the additional mark. That a forger knows the course the marker and joins the different parts of the document together that the marking corresponds to an original document. In this case the sensor could not detect any deviation in the measurement signal of the feature substance and the document would be classified as "real". In the visually visible Print image, however, would discrepancies and falsifications in the Print patterns result.

According to the example shown in FIG. 4, the test device detects along the measuring track 17 the course of the printed horizontal stripes, which the fields Define 1 to 8. If the strips are at the same predetermined distance the visual print image of the document is OK. Otherwise it will Document also classified as "wrong". This measurement result can now logically linked to the measurement result of the measurement track 16 in order to determine whether it is actually a real or a false document.

The marking can of course also have any other shape and can be carried out in any complicated manner. 5 to 7 show examples for such markings.

FIG. 5 shows a marking 18 in the form of a bar code, which is composed of bars 30 different widths composed by the machine-readable Characteristic substance represented and by feature-free intermediate areas 31 are separated from each other. Usually every space bears 31 and each machine-readable feature strip 30 for displaying information at. A certain number of elements, for example 8 or 11 elements, each representing a number between 0 and 9. Of course it is also possible to use any other code of this type.

6 shows a further example of a marking. The one with the mark 19 area of the document to be provided for this is divided into individual sub-areas 32, 33 of equal size are subdivided, corresponding to a predetermined one Patterns can be provided with the machine-readable feature material or not and thus define the logical states "0" and "1". In Fig. 6 represent the subareas 32, which contain the machine-readable feature substance provided areas, while the partial areas 33 uncoated stay.

Fig. 7 shows schematically the case where the marker 26 consists of several pieces of information 20, 21 is composed. Again, the document is in Subdivisions. 7 shows two adjacent subregions 27, 28 shown, which in the simplest form already result in the entire document d, but can also be part of a more extensive document.

The partial information 20, 21 can be applied in unencrypted form be and complement each other in terms of content, i.e. a part 20 of the total information is in a first partial area 27 of the document arranged while the second part 21 of the total information in the neighboring Sub-area 28 is provided. According to a more complex and tamper-proof Embodiment there is a predetermined law between the partial information 20, 21. This connection between The partial information 20, 21 can be specified arbitrarily and for the test stored in a database or of a mathematical nature. In the latter case, the partial information can be determined by means of a predetermined Algorithm can be calculated from the other partial information. Of course can also create several sub-areas or sub-information complete general information of the type mentioned.

Alternatively, it is also possible to use the coding as a code word or to form a simple pattern that is provided several times on the document is. This code word or pattern is preferably in a continuous sequence placed on most of the document.

The marking can also be used to increase counterfeit protection Vary from document to document. Maximum protection is a matter of course achieved when every document in a series, for example all Tickets from a specific transport association, from document to document have a different marking. Given the frequent very high numbers of a series and the associated high costs for individualizing every single document in this series however, it is usually sufficient for a reasonable repetition rate of Worry mark.

For an implementation in sheet printing, for example, several can be used for this Printing plates are made that are different in each area Show mark.

8 shows a section of a substrate sheet 40. There are four Use d, e, f, g of a document, each with a different Marking are provided. The markings sit down composed of two pieces of information (20, 21), (22, 23), (24, 25) and (34, 35), as already explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 7.

A section of an endless substrate material 50 is shown in FIG. 9. The benefits a, b, c shown here have the mark 12 in addition to the visually recognizable print image 11. The marker 12 is here how already explained in Fig. 1, from equidistant strips, which can be read by means of the machine Characteristic substance are shown. The machine-readable feature material was transferred here with the help of a pressure roller, the extent of which one non-integer multiples of the printed image 11. For this The reason is the marking 12 with respect to the printed image 11 or later edges of the individual documents a, b, c from document to document added. In Fig. 9 this is shown by the different lengths l, l 'and l' ' indicated. The marking of a document, which consists of individual Parts of these documents a, b, c would be put together automatically have detectable jumps and discontinuities, as already shown of Fig. 3 explained.

According to a special embodiment, the marking can also be visual be visible, i.e. the machine-readable feature substance used itself can have a body color or a visually visible ink be added. In this case the marking is preferred provided only in the area of the visually visible print pattern 10 to protect them from discovery. Alternatively or in addition to this can those that are not provided with the machine-readable feature substance Areas have an additional coating that has the same optical Impression of how the characteristic substance conveys or the same chemical Has properties, but without the physical to be measured To have properties.

In the production of the document of value according to the invention, in one first step a substrate material in either continuous form or sheet form provided. The marking and the visible print image applied in successive work steps, the marking preferably in front of the visible printed image on the Substrate material is applied. In this case the substrate material in a second step partially with the machine-readable feature material provided so that a marking is formed which is over the predominant Part of the substrate material extends. At least overlapping to this marking the visually visible printed image is finally printed on, and the substrate material is broken down into separate individual documents.

The substrate material can also be paper or cardboard Trade plastic or a mixture of natural and synthetic fibers. The document of value a to be secured can be next to tickets also act on any other document that is machine-based Authenticity and integrity should be checked. Because also in other areas there is a risk that counterfeits are in circulation, for example composed of real document parts and copied parts. Here, e.g. Checks, tickets, banknotes or the like into consideration.

Claims (32)

1. A document of value (a, b, c, d, e, f, g) consisting of a substrate of predetermined surface area with a printed image (11) visible to the naked eye and a marking (12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 34, 35) in the form of characters, patterns or the like having a given regularity which allows manipulations of the document of value to be recognized, the printed image (11) and the marking (12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 34, 35) at least partly overlapping each other, wherein the marking (12, 23, 26) is composed of at least two information parts (12, 13, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 34, 35), the marking (12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 34, 35) is represented by a feature substance having at least one mechanically detectable physical property and not appearing visually on the document, and the marking (12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 34, 35) extends over the predominant part of the surface of the document (a, b, c, d, e, f, g) in order to permit the completeness of the document of value to be checked by machine.
2. A document of value (a, b, c, d, e, f, g) according to claim 1, characterized in that the document of value (a, b, c, d, e, f, g) is subdivided into partial areas (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 27, 28) and an information part (12, 13, 20, 21) of the marking is disposed in each partial area (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 27, 28).
3. A document of value (a, b, c, d, e, f, g) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the information parts (12, 13) are identical.
4. A document of value (a, b, c, d, e, f, g) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the information parts (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 34, 35) vary from partial area (27, 28) to partial area (27, 28).
5. A document of value (a, b, c, d, e, f, g) according to claim 4, characterized in that the information parts (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 34, 35) of two contiguous partial areas (27, 28) have a mathematical relationship to each other.
6. A document of value (a, b, c, d, e, f, g) according to at least one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the partial areas (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 27, 28) are of rectangular or bar shape.
7. A document of value (a, b, c, d, e, f, g) according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the information parts (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 34, 35) are coded information.
8. A document of value (a, b, c, d, e, f) according to at least one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the feature substance is transparent in the visible spectral region or has the color of the background.
9. A document of value (a, b, c, d, e, f, g) according to at least one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the marking (12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 34, 35) is disposed at least partly under the printed image.
10. A document of value (a, b, c, d, e, f, g) according to at least one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the marking (12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 34, 35) is disposed only in the area of the printed image.
11. A document of value (a, b, c, d, e, f, g) according to at least one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the areas of the document of value (a, b, c, d, e, f, g) in which no feature substance is provided are given a coating which has the same body color as the feature substance but not the mechanically testable physical property.
12. A document of value (a, b, c, d, e, f, g) according to at least one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the marking (12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 34, 36) has blurred contours.
13. A document of value according to at least one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the feature substance is a substance which is luminescent and/or absorbent outside the visible spectral region.
14. A series of documents of value (a, b, c, d, e, f, g) each having a substrate of predetermined surface area with a printed image (11) visible to the naked eye and a marking (12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 34, 35) in the form of characters, patterns or the like, the printed image (11) and the marking (12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 34, 35) at least partly overlapping each other, wherein the marking (12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 34, 35) is represented by a feature substance having at least one mechanically detectable physical property and not appearing visually on the substrate, the marking (12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 34, 35) extends over the predominant part of the surface of the substrate (a, b, c, d, e, f, g) in order to permit the completeness of the document of value to be checked by machine, and the marking (12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 34, 35) optionally varies at a certain repetition rate from document of value (a, b, c, d, e, f, g) to document of value (a, b, c, d, e, f, g).
15. A document-of-value material (40, 50) for producing documents of value (a, b, c, d, e, f, g) consisting of a substrate of predetermined surface area with a marking (12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 34, 35) in the form of characters, patterns or the like having a given regularity which allows manipulations of the document of value (a, b, c, d, e, f, g) to be recognized, wherein the marking (12, 23, 26) is composed of at least two information parts (12, 13, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 34, 35), the marking (12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 34, 35) is represented by a feature substance having at least one mechanically detectable physical property and not appearing visually on the substrate, and the marking (12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 34, 35) extends over the predominant part of the surface of the substrate (a, b, c, d, e, f, g) in order to permit the completeness of the document of value to be checked by machine.
16. A document-of-value material (40, 50) according to claim 15, characterized in that it is executed in the form of a web or sheet.
17. A document-of-value material (40, 50) according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that it consists of paper.
18. A method for producing a document of value consisting of a substrate of predetermined surface area with a printed image visible to the naked eye and a marking in the form of characters, patterns or the like having a given regularity which allows manipulations of the document of value to be recognized, the printed image (11) and the marking (12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 34, 35) at least partly overlapping each other, wherein the marking is composed of a plurality of information parts and provided in the predominant part of the surface of the substrate in order to permit the completeness of the document of value to be checked by machine, and the marking is represented by means of a feature substance having at least one mechanically detectable physical property and not appearing visually on the substrate.
19. A method for producing a document-of-value material consisting of a substrate of predetermined surface area with a marking in the form of characters, patterns or the like having a given regularity which allows manipulations of the document of value to be recognized, wherein the marking is composed of a plurality of information parts and provided in the predominant part of the surface of the substrate in order to permit the completeness of the document of value to be checked by machine, and the marking is represented by means of a feature substance having at least one mechanically detectable physical property and not appearing visually on the substrate.
20. A method according to claim 18 or 19, characterized by the following steps:

    providing a substrate material,

    providing said substrate material partly with a feature substance having a certain mechanically testable property, resulting in a marking extending over the predominant part of the substrate material,

    printing the printed image visible to the naked eye at least overlapping this marking.
21. A method according to claim 20, characterized in that the feature substance is printed in the form of a defined structure or coding.
22. A method according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that the defined structure or coding is provided on the substrate material several times.
23. A method according to at least one of claims 20 to 22, characterized in that paper is used as the substrate material.
24. A method according to one or more of claims 18 to 23, characterized in that the circumference of the printing cylinder for applying the defined structure to the substrate deviates from the circumference of the printing cylinder for printing the visible printed image of the document, resulting in an offset between printed image and security structure, which extends over a plurality of documents.

Images