EP1428198B1 - Anti-counterfeiting label on which to apply variable entries - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns an anti-counterfeiting marker for providing variable entries ( 19 ) and for fixing them on a support ( 18 ) to be marked comprising: a sheet-like core ( 1 ) having at least a first colored effect ( 21 ), visible when illuminated by a predetermined light, and on the reverse side of the core ( 1 ), a brittle thickness ( 3 ) having a printing surface ( 4 ) designed to be damaged and peeled off the core ( 1 ) when scratched or erased in an attempt to counterfeit the variable entries ( 19 ), and including at least a second coloured effect ( 22 ) visible on the side of the printing surface ( 4 ) at least when illuminated by said predetermined light, and designed, by combination with the first colored effect ( 21 ), to produce a third colored effect ( 23 ). The invention also concerns the method for using such a marker and to the resulting marked medium.

Description

The invention relates to an anti-forgery vignette for the production of variable inscriptions and their affixation on a support to mark by preventing their falsification.

It extends to a method of affixing variable inscriptions with the aid of such a sticker and a marked support thus obtained.

In many applications, it is necessary to be able to mark supports such as documents (official documents such as passports, identity cards, other identification documents, driving license, vehicle registration cards, diplomas, administrative certificates and / or authentication, bank cards ...) or objects (luxury items, vehicles ...) of inscriptions, called variables, (indication of names, first names, addresses, numbers, dates, photographs, .. and / or any other sign, text or image) specific to each medium and / or its use and / or to its owner or addressee, and which must remain authentic and thus be protected as much as possible from falsification attempts. One of the most typical applications concerns the production and affixing of visas on passports.

In order to protect the variable inscriptions from falsification attempts, the solution envisaged up to now consists in using a transparent protective protective film (for example EP-0271 941 or US-5 232 527) covering the variable inscriptions made directly on the support to be used. to mark. Such a solution requires several operations (making the inscriptions and then sticking the film) and is long and expensive.

To facilitate the realization of variable inscriptions (especially when the direct printing on the medium is difficult to achieve), films (US-4,968,063) or index cards (WO-98,54,001; WO-96,32,256, US) have been proposed. -4,006,050) facilitating these operations and still allowing, in the end, to protect the inscriptions by a protective film. The solutions of US-4,968,063, WO-9632256, US-4,006,050 require industrial means heavy for the realization of the inscriptions in vitrophanie (reversed image as seen in a mirror) and the hot gluing of the film. That of WO-98.54001 also requires several operations and several expensive products.

The invention therefore aims in general to overcome these disadvantages by proposing a solution for making and affixing variable entries easily regardless of the medium to mark (including including when the direct realization of variable inscriptions on the medium is difficult or impossible); protect variable registrations against attempts to falsify effectively; and this with simplicity, speed and a lower cost than the previous solutions mentioned above.

The invention aims in particular to allow the realization of variable entries in their normal sense of reading and not in the window.

The invention also aims to enable the realization of the inscriptions according to various embodiments at the option of the user, including manual writing, writing to the typewriter, printing with a matrix printer, printing with a laser printer (color or black and white), or with a dry ink transfer printer, or by gluing pre-printed image (s) or photograph (s) ...

It should be noted that, for the same type of media to mark, the embodiment of the variable entries is often variable and impossible to know in advance. It depends in particular on the equipment of the user (realizing the variable inscriptions). For example, not all local governments in the same state are equipped with the same equipment, and the acquisition of specific costly devices for issuing official documents (passports, visas, identity cards, driving licenses. ..) is not justified economically. It is therefore necessary to be able to make variable entries with the same level of protection (which must be uniform for all official documents of the same nature of the same state) but according to various modes of writing or printing.

• une âme en forme de feuille présentant au moins un effet coloré, dit premier effet coloré, visible d'au moins un côté, dit recto, au moins sous éclairage par une lumière prédéterminée, et étant adapté pour ne pas pouvoir être enlevé par grattage ou gommage du côté du recto de l'âme sans provoquer une détérioration visible et irréversible de l'âme,
• recouvrant au recto au moins une partie de l'âme, une épaisseur, dite épaisseur fragile :
  • présentant une face libre, dite face d'impression apte et destinée à recevoir des inscriptions variables, l'épaisseur fragile étant adaptée pour permettre la réalisation de telles inscriptions variables sur la face d'impression sans se détériorer ni se dissocier de l'âme,
  • adaptée pour se détériorer et s'enlever de l'âme sous l'effet d'un grattage ou d'un gommage destiné à falsifier les inscriptions variables,
  • comprenant, au moins en regard d'au moins un premier effet coloré sous-jacent, au moins un effet coloré, dit deuxième effet coloré, visible du côté de la face d'impression au moins sous éclairage par ladite lumière prédéterminée, et adapté pour, en se combinant au premier effet coloré, produire un troisième effet coloré distinct des premier et deuxième effets colorés,
  • au moins partiellement transparente, au moins sous éclairage par ladite lumière prédéterminée, au moins à chaque partie de ladite lumière prédéterminée permettant la production de chaque premier effet coloré et de chaque deuxième effet coloré produit sous la face d'impression, et aux rayonnements émis par ces effets colorés, pour permettre la visualisation de chaque troisième, effet coloré.

To do this, the invention relates to an anti-forgery vignette for the production of variable inscriptions and their affixation on a support to be marked by preventing their falsification, comprising:

• a sheet-like core having at least one colored effect, said first colored effect, visible from at least one side, said recto, at least under illumination by a predetermined light, and being adapted to not be removable by scratching or exfoliation on the side of the front of the soul without causing a visible and irreversible deterioration of the soul,
• covering on the front at least a portion of the core, a thickness, said fragile thickness:
  • having a free face, said printing face adapted and intended to receive variable inscriptions, the fragile thickness being adapted to allow the realization of such variable inscriptions on the print side without deteriorating or dissociating from the core,
  • adapted to deteriorate and remove from the soul under the effect of scratching or scrubbing intended to falsify variable inscriptions,
  • comprising, at least in front of at least one first underlying color effect, at least one colored effect, said second colored effect, visible on the printing side side at least under illumination by said predetermined light, and adapted for by combining with the first color effect, producing a third color effect distinct from the first and second color effects,
  • at least partially transparent, at least under illumination by said predetermined light, at least at each portion of said predetermined light permitting the production of each first color effect and each second color effect produced under the printing face, and to the radiation emitted by these colored effects, to allow the visualization of each third, colored effect.

Thus, the visualization of the third color effect ensures that the fragile thickness has not been scraped or gummed in order to falsify the variable inscriptions that it carries. In case of scraping or scrubbing, the second and third colored effects disappear or are substantially modified due to the local disappearance of the fragile thickness. In addition, a forger who can not know precisely the nature and exact dosage of the pigments to obtain the second color effect, can reproduce reliably Locally with scraping without it appearing, the third initial color effect even if it manages to reproduce the portion of deteriorated fragile thickness and approximately the second color effect. Indeed, obtaining, even approximate, a third color effect by color combination requires the realization of the first and second color effects with extreme precision.

Advantageously, a vignette according to the invention comprises at least a first color effect formed by at least one printing of a composition incorporating at least one first photo-luminescent pigment, and at least one second color effect formed of at least one color printing. a composition incorporating at least one second photoluminescent pigment having an emission spectrum which is distinct from that of a first photoluminescent pigment forming a first color effect with respect to this second color effect, the third corresponding color effect being produced by additive synthesis .

In the case of an additive synthesis, it is indeed almost impossible to reproduce the second color effect with sufficient precision to obtain the third combined color effect. This would require to know on the one hand the exact nature of each pigment used, whose emission spectrum is very narrow (a few nanometers), and, on the other hand, their exact dosage.

Advantageously and according to the invention, the colored effects are invisible under light in visible light (that is to say with all the light sources that emit only in the visible range) and visible under illumination by at least one light. non-visible light source. In other words, said predetermined light enabling the production of the first (s) and second (s) colored effects - and therefore the third (or) effect (s) colored (s) - must include at least one non-light source. visible (a visible light source can also be combined with such a non-visible light source). By "visible light" is meant a light whose spectral composition is located in the visible spectrum, from 0.4 μ to 0.8 μ. "Non-visible light" denotes a light whose spectral composition is located outside the visible spectrum, especially in the ultraviolet and / or infrared spectrum.

In particular, the photoluminescent pigments used for the first and second color effects are chosen with an excitation spectrum in the non-visible domain. But their emission spectrum is in the visible range to allow detection of the third (s) effect (s) colored (s) by simple visualization by the human eye.

Moreover, the excitation spectra of the various pigments used may be identical or overlap, so that a single light source, visible or non-visible, is necessary to form said predetermined light and to visualize each third color effect. Alternatively, these excitation spectra may be on the contrary distinct, so that several distinct light sources are needed to form said predetermined light. For example, at least a portion of the pigments (of a first color effect and / or a second color effect) may be chosen from photoluminescent pigments with excitation spectrum in the infrared range, and another part may be chosen with excitation spectrum in the ultraviolet range (short ultraviolet and / or long ultraviolet rays). According to a possible embodiment, the excitation spectrum of the pigment (s) forming a first color effect is distinct from that of the pigment (s) forming a second color effect.

• à la partie de ladite lumière prédéterminée permettant la production de chaque premier effet coloré destiné à former un troisième effet coloré (source d'excitation du premier effet coloré) ;
• au rayonnement visible émis par ce premier effet coloré de façon que ce rayonnement puisse être émis à partir de la face d'impression et former un troisième effet coloré visible par combinaison avec un rayonnement émis par un deuxième effet coloré.

The fragile thickness must be at least partially transparent:

• at the portion of said predetermined light for producing each first color effect to form a third color effect (excitation source of the first color effect);
• to the visible radiation emitted by this first color effect so that this radiation can be emitted from the printing face and form a third visible color effect by combination with a radiation emitted by a second color effect.

If the second corresponding color effect is produced on the surface of the printing face, the fragile thickness does not necessarily have to be transparent to the part of said predetermined light allowing the production (excitation source) of the second colored effect, or the radiation emitted by this second colored effect. However; in the most common and advantageous case where at least one second colored effect is produced inside the fragile thickness (in particular in the case of a pigment incorporated in this fragile thickness), the fragile thickness must also be less partially transparent to the portion of the light for producing the second color effect and the corresponding emitted radiation.

Advantageously and according to the invention the fragile thickness is formed of at least one printing layer of a varnish composition made on the front of the core.

Throughout the text, "varnish" means any hardened solid composition resulting from a curable liquid composition; this term thus encompasses traditional air-hardening varnishes, inks, lacquers, paints, resins, etc., and also irreversibly hardened compositions (for example based on thermosetting resins) and hardened compositions. reversibly (for example based on thermoplastics).

Advantageously and according to the invention, the fragile thickness is formed of at least one printing layer produced by screen printing. Advantageously and according to the invention the fragile thickness has a thickness of between 5μ and 25μ - in particular of the order of 15μ.

Advantageously and according to the invention, at least one printing layer forming the brittle thickness is formed with an uncrosslinked monocomponent acrylic base lacquer-especially in aqueous evaporation-curing solution (drying) - adapted to be able to receive variable inscriptions made by printing or writing and adhering to this fragile thickness with a higher resistance to the mechanical cohesion of this fragile thickness.

More particularly, advantageously and according to the invention, the fragile thickness is formed of a single printing layer of a one-component transparent flexible varnish composition incorporating a proportion of solid filler of between 10% and 50% by weight when it is in the liquid state before hardening, when carrying out this printing. This a large proportion of solid filler makes it possible in particular to obtain a layer of varnish having intrinsic mechanical cohesion sufficiently weak to cause its deterioration during scraping or scrubbing; but which is otherwise strong enough to be able to receive variable written or printed inscriptions. In the case of scraping with a blade or a fingernail or a strong scrub, the fragile thickness is removed from the core. In case of light exfoliation, at best the ink of the variable inscriptions is spread by forming an indelible task in the fragile thickness. This solid charge also has the effect of rendering the thickness at least slightly opaque fragile in visible light, thus achieving a non-transparent printing background - especially globally clear - facilitating the achievement of variable entries and their subsequent reading. Thus, advantageously and according to the invention, the fragile thickness is sufficiently opaque under light in visible light to form a background facilitating the printing of variable inscriptions and / or their reading. Nevertheless, it must be at least partially transparent in order to enable colored effects to be obtained by additive synthesis.

Advantageously and according to the invention, the solid filler of the brittle thickness is mainly formed of at least one pigment chosen from photoluminescent pigments (under non-visible or visible light), iridescent pigments, and pigments with variable optical effects according to the invention. direction of observation, and acts as a second colored effect. This second colored effect is then a coloring effect of the fragile thickness by pigmentation.

In an advantageous embodiment, and according to the invention, the solid filler of the brittle thickness comprises a blue iridescent pigment and an invisible red pigment in visible light and red photoluminescent under illumination in non-visible light - especially under ultraviolet radiation. The fragile thickness then has a generally clear appearance in visible light, thus forming a clear background for the printing face receiving the variable inscriptions that can be made in traditional black ink.

The fragile thickness must be made in a form corresponding at least to the areas intended to receive variable inscriptions. Advantageously and according to the invention, the fragile thickness is formed of a continuous layer covering the core, at least substantially in the format of its front.

Advantageously, a sticker according to the invention is characterized in that at least one first color effect is formed by at least one impression made on the side, said back side, of the opposite core to the front, and in that the portion of the core between the front and back is at least partially transparent at least to the portion of said predetermined light permitting the production of this (these) first (s) colored effect (s), and to the radiation emitted by this (these) first (s) effect (s) colored (s). In this way, these (these) first (s) effect (s) color (s) is (are) protected (s) attempts to falsify by the soul itself. However, nothing prevents, alternatively or in combination, to provide at least a first colored effect formed by a print made on the front of the core, adapted to not be removed by scraping or scrubbing except to cause visible deterioration and irreversible of the soul. To do this, for example, it is sufficient to use a printing composition that adheres sufficiently to the core.

Advantageously and according to the invention, the core comprises a sheet of transparent synthetic material at least in visible light and at least one impression made on the back of this core sheet and forming the first colored effect.

Advantageously and according to the invention, the core sheet is made of transparent polyester. This material achieves an excellent compromise adapted to receive impressions - in particular by screen printing -, providing a good transparency, flexibility characteristics allowing its handling and its passage in the printers, and ensuring the functions of differential separability of the varnishes, in the manner of dry transfers (decals) providing protection against attempts to detach, as explained below. It has a thickness of between 20 μ and 100 μ, in particular of the order of 50 μ.

Advantageously and according to the invention, the sticker is formed of successive serigraphic prints on the core sheet -particularly on the polyester core sheet- on the front and back. The fragile thickness and the (the) first (s) effect (s) colored (s) are in particular layers of screen printing.

Advantageously, a sticker according to the invention comprises at least one continuous printing incorporating at least one pigment, and made at least substantially in the format of the core, on its back, as the first color effect. Alternatively or in combination, it comprises at least one impression of at least one pattern (printing on a surface portion and / or discontinuous) incorporating at least one pigment, and made on the back side of the core, as a first colored effect. In the case of a combination of these embodiments, different pigments are used for continuous printing and for printing pattern (s).

In addition, advantageously and according to the invention, it comprises at least one unprinted embrittlement zone adjoining the hollow -in particular on the back of the soul- at least one area where is performed a printing forming a first color effect. This non-printed embrittlement zone weakens the printing area of the first color effect, causing its separation (delamination) into several parts, at least a portion of which remains associated with the sticker while at least one other part remains associated with the support , in case of attempt to detach the sticker from the support after marking.

Furthermore, advantageously and according to the invention, the sticker comprises an adhesive layer, opposite the printing face, adapted and intended to allow its bonding on a support to be marked. Alternatively, the adhesive may be carried wholly or partly by the support itself. Advantageously and according to the invention, the adhesive is an adhesive that is sensitive to cold pressure, that is to say at room temperature (self-adhesive).

In addition, advantageously and according to the invention, the sticker comprises at least one pattern printed on the adhesive layer on the side of its face intended to be applied to a support to be marked, or on the back side of the core in a corresponding reserve free of adhesive, this pattern being formed of a colored composition sensitive to attack with solvents (aqueous or non-aqueous, polar or nonpolar), so as to reveal any attempt to detach the vignette by attacking the using a solvent after sticking on a support to mark. This pattern can be achieved for example with a printing composition as described in FR-2,675,742 and / or WO-0071361, preferably visible under visible light. Preferably, it is made in peripheral part or in the vicinity of the periphery of the sticker. This solvent-sensitive pattern also mechanically weakens the adhesive layer and may also lead to its partial delamination in the event of an attempt to peel off after bonding to a support.

Also, advantageously and according to the invention, the sticker has common inscriptions pre-printed on the print side, visible in visible light.

Advantageously, a sticker according to the invention has at least one photoluminescent pattern pre-printed on the printing face and intended to be covered with variable inscriptions. Advantageously and according to the invention, the pre-printed photoluminescent pattern is produced in an area intended to receive an image and / or a drawing and / or a photograph as variable inscriptions. Advantageously and according to the invention, the pre-printed photoluminescent pattern is produced using an ink sensitive to attack with solvents - particularly as described in FR-2,675,742 or WO-0071361-. Advantageously and according to the invention, the pre-printed photoluminescent pattern is produced using an invisible ink under visible light and photoluminescent lighting under non-visible light. This pre-printed photoluminescent pattern may be continuous (spot) or, preferably, discontinuous.

When it is discontinuous, it is indeed visible, even under illumination in visible light, by embossing effect variable inscriptions made above this pre-printed photoluminescent pattern. This embossing effect is particularly visible when the variable inscriptions cover the entire pre-printed pattern, especially when they are continuous in this area (image, photograph, ...).

Advantageously and according to the invention, the vignette thus formed is at least partially transparent to visible light (translucent or transparent) to allow visualization through its thickness of patterns carried by the support.

The invention extends to a method of using a sticker according to the invention. The invention therefore relates to a method of affixing variable inscriptions on a support to be marked in which the variable inscriptions are made on a sticker and then this sticker is glued to the support to be marked, characterized in that an anti-tampering vignette is used. according to the invention.

Although after sticking to the support to be marked it is possible to cover the sticker with a transparent protective security film, one of the advantages of the invention lies in the fact that on the contrary the use of such a film is not necessary with a vignette according to the invention. Thus, advantageously according to the invention, the variable inscriptions are left in the open air without covering them. In particular, they are not covered with a transparent protective film. Therefore, the slightest mechanical aggression aimed at falsifying variable inscriptions will leave a visible trace irreversibly. Nevertheless, the fragile thickness of a sticker according to the invention is sufficiently resistant to not deteriorate over time inadvertently due to simple normal handling.

Advantageously and according to the invention, the variable inscriptions are carried out according to at least one mode chosen from: a manual writing; writing with a typewriter; an impression using a dot matrix printer; printing using a color or black-and-white laser printer; an impression using a dry ink transfer printer; an image or photograph collage.

The invention also extends to a support marked with variable inscriptions - in particular document, passport, identity card, driving license, vehicle registration card, or other official identification and / or authentication document. - characterized in that it comprises at least one antifalsification sticker according to the invention bonded to this support, and on the print side of which are made variable entries. Advantageously and according the invention, the support is characterized in that the variable inscriptions are left in the open, uncovered.

Advantageously and according to the invention, the support is characterized in that the variable inscriptions are made according to at least one mode chosen from: a manual writing; writing with a typewriter; an impression using a dot matrix printer; printing using a color or black-and-white laser printer; an impression using a dry ink transfer printer; an image or photograph collage.

The invention also relates to a label, a method, and a marked support characterized in combination by all or some of the characteristics mentioned above or below.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique en coupe d'un mode de réalisation d'une vignette selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue schématique d'un exemple de vignette selon l'invention vue du côté recto sous éclairage en lumière non visible,
• la figure 3 est une vue similaire à la figure 2, la vignette étant représentée après réalisation d'inscriptions variables, et sous éclairage en lumière visible,
• la figure 4 est une vue schématique en coupe représentant une vignette selon l'invention portant des inscriptions variables et associée à un support à marquer,
• la figure 5 est une vue schématique en coupe similaire à la figure 4 représentant une tentative de décollement de la vignette,
• la figure 6 est une vue schématique en coupe similaire à la figure 4 représentant le résultat d'une tentative de grattage des inscriptions variables.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention appear on reading the following description of one of its preferred embodiments given solely by way of nonlimiting example, and which refers to the appended figures in which:

• FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of a sticker according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an exemplary vignette according to the invention seen from the front side under illumination in non-visible light,
• FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, the sticker being represented after making variable inscriptions, and under visible light,
• FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic sectional view showing a sticker according to the invention bearing variable inscriptions and associated with a support to be marked,
• FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic sectional view similar to FIG. 4 showing an attempt to detach the sticker,
• Figure 6 is a schematic sectional view similar to Figure 4 showing the result of an attempt to scratch variable inscriptions.

The scale of the figures shown in section is exaggeratedly enlarged in the thickness direction for purposes of illustration.

The vignette according to the invention shown in FIG. 1 comprises a core 1 formed of a sheet of a film of transparent synthetic material. On the front 2 of the core 1, is printed a fragile thickness 3 which, in the example shown, is formed of a layer of continuous varnish composition made at least substantially the same format as the front 2 of the core 1 This fragile thickness 3 has a free face 4, called the printing face 4, allowing the realization of variable inscriptions 19 visible under visible light. This print face 4 nevertheless has common inscriptions 5 (for example of the type enabling identification of the variable inscriptions subsequently printed or facilitating their production: definition of the fields, guide line, frame, etc.) pre-printed with ordinary ink visible under visible light and / or solvent-sensitive ink (FR-2,675,742 and / or WO-0071361). The printing face 4 also has at least one preprinted pattern 6 in an area intended to be covered with variable inscriptions. This pre-printed pattern 6 is printed with an ink sensitive to a solvent attack (FR-2,675,742 and / or WO-0071361) and which, preferably, is invisible under visible light and photoluminescent under non-visible light-especially under ultraviolet light. This photoluminescent pattern pre-printed 6 may be a continuous pattern, for example forming a background for a photograph, or a discontinuous pattern as shown in Figure 2, in the form of a text "VISA" which is then covered with variable inscriptions 19 , including a printed photograph 19b. The printing of a photograph 19b or other variable inscription 19 above such a discontinuous preprinted photoluminescent pattern makes it possible on the one hand to create a certain visible embossment under visible light, demonstrating at first sight the character authentic variable entries 19b concerned, and, secondly, to verify this authenticity under lighting in non-visible light.

On the side of its back 7, the core 1 comprises a layer 8 of varnish, patterns 9, 10 printed on this layer 8 of varnish, a layer 11 of an adhesive composition -in particular a pressure-sensitive adhesive to cold-, at least one pattern 12 printed on the adhesive layer (if it is compatible with a subsequent printing, that is to say does not exhibit initial instantaneous adhesion, for example if it s' is a heat-reactive adhesive) or in a reserve formed throughout the thickness of the adhesive layer 11 (if it is a self-adhesive), this printed pattern being made with an ink susceptible to attack by solvents (FR-2,675,742 and / or WO-0071361), preferably visible light, and at least in the vicinity of the periphery of the sticker, to reveal any attempt to attack the adhesive 11 to solvents.

Moreover, at least one pattern, said pattern 13 in reserve, is made by a reserve formed in hollow through the layer 8 of varnish to the core 1. This pattern 13 in reserve can be arranged only in the thickness of the varnish layer 8, or, in the variant shown, through the layer 8 of varnish and through the layer 11 of adhesive. Preferably, this pattern 13 in reserve is closed type, that is to say, defines a central zone 14 separated from an area 15 outside this pattern 13 in reserve. In addition to the presence of at least one such pattern 13 in reserve, the layer 8 of varnish is otherwise continuous. The patterns 9, 10 printed on the layer 8 of varnish preferably comprise at least one pattern 9 printed on the central zone 14, and at least one pattern 10 printed on the outer zone 15 in the pattern 13 in reserve.

The adhesive layer 11 is covered with a non-stick silicone paper 16.

The synthetic material constituting the core 1 is preferably a transparent polyester film, the thickness of which may for example be of the order of 35 μ or 50 μ, which constitutes a material which can be easily printed by screen printing and which is suitable for receiving varnishes that can then separate in the manner of a decal. In addition, this material resists scratching and exfoliation and is a suitable background for the realization of the fragile thickness 3 which, it does not resist scratching or scrubbing. This soul 1. may itself incorporate a pigment (including a brightener) forming a first invisible color effect under illumination in visible light and visible under invisible light - especially under ultraviolet -. Nevertheless, preferably, the soul 1 does not contains little or no pigment, especially a sufficient amount of brightener to produce only a negligible effect.

The layer of fragile thickness 3 is made from a non-crosslinked one-component flexible varnish composition, and in particular a one-component acrylic base varnish composition in aqueous solution with evaporation curing (drying).

• vernis souple référencé 3X8898 (TIFLEX, FRANCE) : 100 parts (en poids),
• pigment iridescent bleu iriodin 225 Rutil Pear Blue (®) (MERCK, FRANCE) : 6 parts (en poids),
• pigment Lumilux Rot CD105 (®) (Honeywell, ALLEMAGNE) : 12 parts (en poids).

This layer 3 is printed by screen printing and incorporates, on the one hand, an iridescent pigment in visible light forming an iridescent effect 20 (represented by points in FIG. 3), on the other hand an invisible pigment under illumination in visible and visible light under illumination. light not visible - especially under ultraviolet light. For example, the printing composition used to make the fragile thickness 3 is as follows:

• flexible varnish referenced 3X8898 (TIFLEX, FRANCE): 100 parts (by weight),
• iridescent blue pigment iriodin 225 Rutil Pear Blue (®) (MERCK, FRANCE): 6 parts (by weight),
• Lumilux Rot CD105 (®) pigment (Honeywell, GERMANY): 12 parts (by weight).

The iridescent pigment and the red photoluminescent pigment under ultraviolet conditions constitute a solid charge for the printing composition which contributes to its fragility subsequent to scraping. In addition, the photoluminescent pigment incorporated in this fragile thickness 3 forms a colored effect, said second invisible color effect 22 in visible light and visible in non-visible light - especially under ultraviolet -. In the example shown, the excitation wavelength of the pigment is 365 nm and its emission peak wavelength is 620 nm.

The fragile thickness 3 is produced by screen printing using a screen of 51 threads / cm and photopolymer coating, so that it has a thickness which is less than that of the core 1 and is, in this case, example, of the order of 15 μ. Advantageously, this thickness can vary between 5 μ and 25 μ.

Such a fragile thickness 3 can easily receive all kinds of variable inscriptions 19 printed or written, which will adhere strongly to this fragile thickness 3, that is to say on its printing face 4. Nevertheless, at the slightest attempt to mechanical attack of these variable inscriptions by scraping or pressed scrubbing, the fragile thickness 3 dissociates immediately from the core 1, leaving a hollow 24 (Figure 6) in the fragile thickness 3. In this hollow 24, we immediately visualize the front face of the soul 1, and the absence of iridescent pigment and photoluminescent pigment of the brittle thickness 3. In case of light exfoliation, the variable inscriptions 19 are spread in the fragile thickness 3 leaving an indelible trace .

The separation force measured according to the FINAT Standard Test Method No. 1 (FTM1) of the brittle thickness 3 on the core-forming polyester 1 is of the order of 1500 mN ± 200 mN / 25 mm.

• vernis acrylique à séchage UV référence 3X4708 (TIFLEX, FRANCE) : 100 parts (en poids),
• promoteur d'adhérence référence 3X4970 (TIFLEX, FRANCE) : 2 parts (en poids).

For example, the following composition can be used to produce the layer 8 of varnish:

• UV curing acrylic lacquer reference 3X4708 (TIFLEX, FRANCE): 100 parts (by weight),
• adhesion promoter reference 3X4970 (TIFLEX, FRANCE): 2 parts (by weight).

The layer of varnish 8 is chosen to remain associated with the core 1 in case of normal handling, but to be easily separated in case of attempted fraudulent separation after gluing the sticker on a support to protect.

With the varnish composition 8, a separation force measured according to the FINAT Standard Test Method No. 1 (FTM1) is obtained on the transparent polyester forming the core 1 which is of the order of 100 mN ± 10 mN / 25 mm. .

The patterns 9, 10 printed are also made from varnish composition incorporating photoluminescent pigments, which are distinct from that of the fragile thickness 3, that is to say, have a different emission peak. For example, the printed pattern 9 is made with a pigment having a emission peak at 530 nm (green) and a pattern printed with a photoluminescent pigment having an emission peak at 440 nm (blue).

• motif 9 :
  • encre, invisible sous éclairage en lumière visible, et fluorescente sous ultraviolets, vert référence 3X7951 (TIFLEX, FRANCE) : 50 parts (en poids),
  • base de coupage référence 3X4708 (TIFLEX, FRANCE) : 50 parts (en poids),
• motif 10 :
  • encre, invisible sous éclairage en lumière visible, et fluorescente sous ultraviolets, bleue soluble référence 3X9116 (TIFLEX, FRANCE) : 70 parts (en poids),
  • base de coupage soluble référence LG010710/1 (TIFLEX, FRANCE): 30 parts (en poids),
  • retardateur référence LG010710/2 (TIFI,EX, FRANCE) : 15 parts (en poids).

For example, the following varnish compositions are used to make the printed patterns 9, 10:

• reason 9:
  • ink, invisible under visible light, and fluorescent under ultraviolet, green reference 3X7951 (TIFLEX, FRANCE): 50 parts (by weight),
  • reference base 3X4708 (TIFLEX, FRANCE): 50 parts (by weight),
• pattern 10:
  • ink, invisible under visible light, and fluorescent under ultraviolet, soluble blue reference 3X9116 (TIFLEX, FRANCE): 70 parts (by weight),
  • soluble blotting base reference LG010710 / 1 (TIFLEX, FRANCE): 30 parts (by weight),
  • retarder reference LG010710 / 2 (TIFI, EX, FRANCE): 15 parts (by weight).

• motif 9 vert et épaisseur fragile 3 rouge : troisième effet coloré jaune sous ultraviolets,
• motif 10 bleu et épaisseur fragile 3 rouge : troisième effet coloré violet sous ultraviolets,
• motif 13 en réserve : visible rouge sous ultraviolets (couleur de l'épaisseur fragile 3, l'effet de l'azurant de l'âme 1 étant négligeable).

The various pigments used, incorporated in the inks, have an excitation wavelength identical to 365 nm, so that a single source of non-visible light 17 is useful and necessary to visualize the colored effect called the first colored effect. 21, that they form. On the side of the front of the sticker, by illumination with a source 17 of ultraviolet radiation, is thus visualized (FIG. 6) a third color effect 23 produced by additive synthesis, by combining a second color effect 22 originating from the pigment of the fragile thickness 3 and the first color effect 21 from the patterns 9, 10 printed and, if appropriate, the layer 8 of varnish and / or the core 1. In the example shown, if the layer of varnish 8 is transparent, and that only the printed patterns 9, 10 are pigmented, the third color effect 23 will consist of a precise color for each of the printed patterns 9,10 visible on the front side of the sticker. With the pigments indicated above as examples, the colored effects are as follows:

• pattern 9 green and fragile thickness 3 red: third yellow colored effect under ultraviolet,
• pattern 10 blue and fragile thickness 3 red: third violet colored effect under ultraviolet,
• pattern 13 in reserve: visible red under ultraviolet (color of the fragile thickness 3, the effect of the brightener of the soul 1 being negligible).

If the fragile thickness 3 disappears over a certain area, this third colored effect 23 also disappears locally, only the first colored effect remaining visible as represented in FIG. 6.

It should be noted, however, that other more complex embodiments can be realized. In particular, it is possible to produce, within the fragile thickness 3, a predetermined pattern with one or two predetermined pigment (s) forming one or other of the monochromatic components of a sorting image. -chromatic, at least one other component is made on the back of the core 1, the side of the layer 8 of varnish. Thus, the third color effect produced may be a photoluminescent polychromatic image as described for example by WO-0024587.

The layer 8 of varnish printed on the back of the core 1 may also incorporate a photoluminescent pigment distinct from that used in the fragile thickness 3.

• motif 9 vert, vernis 8 bleu, épaisseur fragile 3 rouge : troisième effet coloré blanc sous ultraviolets,
• motif 10 bleu, vernis 8 bleu, épaisseur fragile 3 rouge : troisième effet coloré violet foncé sous ultraviolets,
• vernis 8 et épaisseur fragile 3 rouge : troisième effet coloré violet clair sous ultraviolets,
• motif 13 en réserve : visible rouge sous ultraviolets.

For example, if the lacquer layer 8 on the back of the core 1 incorporates a pigment 2205 (USR, USA) whose excitation wavelength is at 365 nm and the emission wavelength is in the blue, the colored effects are as follows:

• pattern 9 green, varnish 8 blue, fragile 3 red: third white colored effect under ultraviolet,
• pattern 10 blue, varnish 8 blue, fragile thickness 3 red: third dark violet colored effect under ultraviolet,
• varnish 8 and fragile thickness 3 red: third light violet colored effect under ultraviolet,
• pattern 13 in reserve: visible red under ultraviolet.

In another variant of the invention, the various pigments used may be excited not from the same source 17 of non-visible light, but from different sources. For example, we can selecting a short ultraviolet photoluminescent pigment for the brittle thickness 3, a long ultraviolet photoluminescent pigment for a printed pattern, and a photoluminescent infrared pigment for another printed pattern. Any other combination or variant is also possible.

It should also be noted that, with regard to the pattern 13 in reserve formed in the layers 8, 11 of varnish and adhesive, on the recto side, only the pigment of the fragile thickness 3 is shown which, in the example mentioned above above is the red photoluminescent pigment, that is to say the second color effect (and not a third color effect 23).

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the printed pattern 9 is an Eiffel Tower design and the printed pattern is formed of circles. The photoluminescent pattern 6 pre-printed on the printing side 4 consists of the text "VISA". The pattern 13 in reserve surrounds the pattern 9 printed along a broken line. The pattern 12 made in solvent-sensitive ink is a continuous line or formed of a text at the periphery of the sticker.

As seen in Figure 3, such a sticker can be used to make visas. The photograph 19b is printed on top of the pre-printed photoluminescent pattern. Variable inscriptions 19a are also printed in the corresponding fields, the name, the address ... on the printing side 4. The vignette is then separated from the non-stick paper 16 and then bonded to a support 18 as shown in FIG. 4. Preferably, the variable inscriptions 19 thus produced are left in the open air, that is to say not covered with a security film.

In case of mechanical attack of the variable inscriptions 19, the fragile thickness 3 dissociates from the core 1 and the third color effect 23 is locally no longer visible. In addition, the front face 2 of the core 1 is visible, and has a characteristic appearance (shiny and bluish by the brightener of the core 1 and / or colored by the pigment of the lacquer layer 8). In the event of an attempt to detach the sticker from the support 18 (FIG. 5), the layers 8, 11 delaminate. The printed pattern 9 surrounded by the reserve 13 remains associated with the support 18, while the outer zone 15 and the pattern 10 printed off with the sticker. In practice, the peripheral pattern sensitive to solvents causes also some delamination of the adhesive 11, not shown in Figure 5. The sticker is then destroyed and can not be reconstituted.

If a fraudster tries to reconstruct the fragile thickness 3 after destruction, it will not be able to reproduce exactly the third color effect 23. Such a reproduction would indeed require to know on the one hand the exact nature of the pigments, but also the dosage of the printing composition and the implementation methods for carrying out this printing to fill the hollow 24.

The sticker according to the invention thus makes it possible to confer a great deal of protection against forgery and this at a lower cost of manufacture and use.

To manufacture the vignette according to the invention, it is possible to start from a polyester film forming the core 1, on which the layers 8 of varnish, the impressions of patterns 9, 10, 12, the pattern are produced. 13 in reserve, then the assembly is associated with a non-stick silicone paper 16. The thumbnails are then cut in the complex thus produced according to the desired formats by a cut half-flesh (Figure 1). The fragile thickness 3 is then produced on each sticker then the pre-printed photoluminescent patterns 6 and the common inscriptions 5.

It is therefore possible to make these vignettes in series, by boards or even continuously, by successive serigraphic printing on one side and the other side of the polyester film forming the core 1.

The invention can be the subject of numerous variants with respect to the examples described and shown. For example, the fragile thickness 3 may be formed of several successive layers of identical or similar compositions. It should be noted that the charge incorporated in the fragile thickness 3 makes it at least partially opaque and forms a background, generally of a light color, visible in visible light, facilitating the writing, but especially the reading of the variable inscriptions 19. D other types of solid filler than iridescent or photoluminescent pigments may be incorporated in the brittle thickness 3. In particular, it is also possible to incorporate neutral charges from the point of view of the luminous effects, but which give to the fragile thickness 3 of the desired mechanical characteristics, in particular from the point of view of brittleness to scratching and / or scrubbing. For example, it is possible to incorporate a powder or a metal paste that makes it possible to obtain a layer that can be scraped off (such as those well-known under the name "SCRATCH-OFF" making it possible to mask information).

The invention can also be the subject of many different applications where it will confer the same advantages. It can thus make it possible to mark with variable inscriptions, definitively or temporarily, numerous objects or documents, without the possibility of later falsification of these variable inscriptions.

Claims (33)

1. Anti-counterfeiting marker for producing variable entries (19) and affixing same to a support (18) to be marked, while preventing their falsification, comprising:

   - a core (1) in the form of a sheet having at least one coloured effect, called the first coloured effect (21) which is visible on at least one side, called the front side (2), at least when illuminated by predetermined light, and is adapted to be non-removable by scratching or erasing on the front side of the core (1) without causing visible and irreversible damage to the core (1),

   - a thickness, called the brittle thickness (3), covering at least a part of the core (1) on the front side, said brittle thickness (3):

   - presenting a free surface, called the printing surface (4), suitable and designed to receive variable entries (19), said brittle thickness (3) being adapted to allow such variable entries (19) to be produced on the printing surface (4) without being damaged or becoming detached from the core (1);

   - being adapted to be damaged and to become detached from the core (1) under the effect of scratching or erasing intended to falsify the variable entries (19);

   - including, at least opposite at least one subjacent first coloured effect (21), at least one coloured effect, called the second coloured effect (22), which is visible on the printing surface (4) at least when illuminated by said predetermined light and is adapted to produce a third coloured effect (23) distinct from the first (21) and second (22) coloured effects by combining with the first coloured effect (21), and

   - being at least partially transparent, at least when illuminated by said predetermined light, to at least each component of said predetermined light which enables the production of each first coloured effect (21) and of each second coloured effect (22) produced below the printing surface (4), and to radiation emitted by said coloured effects (21, 22), in order to enable each third coloured effect (23) to be displayed.
2. Marker according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes at least one first coloured effect (21) formed by at least one printing of a composition incorporating at least one first photoluminescent pigment, and at least one second coloured effect (22) formed by at least one printing of a composition incorporating at least one second photoluminescent pigment having an emission spectrum which is distinct from that of a first photoluminescent pigment forming a first coloured effect (21) opposite said second coloured effect (22), the corresponding third coloured effect (23) being produced by additive synthesis.
3. Marker according to either of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the coloured effects (21, 22, 23) are invisible in visible light and visible when illuminated by at least one source (17) of invisible light.
4. Marker according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the brittle thickness (3) is formed by at least one printing layer of a varnish composition produced on the front side (2) of the core (1) .
5. Marker according to claim 4, characterized in that the brittle thickness (3) is formed by a single printing layer of a flexible transparent single-constituent varnish composition incorporating a proportion of solid filler of between 10 and 50 wt/% when in the liquid state before hardening.
6. Marker according to claim 5, characterized in that the solid filler of the brittle thickness (3) is formed principally by at least one pigment selected from pigments which are photoluminescent in invisible or visible light, iridescent pigments and pigments having variable optical effects according to the viewing direction, and performs the function of the second coloured effect (22).
7. Marker according to claim 6, characterized in that the solid filler of the brittle thickness (3) includes an iridescent blue pigment and a red pigment which is invisible in visible light and photoluminescent red when illuminated by invisible light.
8. Marker according to claim 7, characterized in that the brittle thickness (3) is formed using a single-constituent non-reticulated acrylic-based varnish adapted to receive variable entries (19) produced by printing or writing and adhering to said brittle thickness (3) with a strength greater than the mechanical cohesion of said brittle thickness (3).
9. Marker according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the brittle thickness (3) is formed by a continuous layer covering the core (1) and having at least substantially the format of the front side (2) of the core (1).
10. Marker according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the brittle thickness (3) is sufficiently opaque when illuminated by visible light to form a background facilitating the printing of variable entries (19) and/or the reading of same.
11. Marker according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the brittle thickness (3) has a thickness of between 15 µm and 25 µm, in particular of the order of 15 µm.
12. Marker according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that at least one first coloured effect (21) is formed by at least one printing (8, 9, 10) produced on the side, called the reverse side (7), of the core (1) opposite the front side (2), and in that the portion of the core (1) contained between the front side (2) and the reverse side (7) is at least partially transparent, at least to the component of said predetermined light which enables the production of said first coloured effect(s) (21), and to the radiation emitted by said first coloured effect(s) (21).
13. Marker according to claim 12, characterized in that the core (1) includes a sheet of transparent synthetic material and at least one printing (8, 9, 10) produced on the reverse side (7) of this core sheet (1) and forming the first coloured effect (21).
14. Marker according to claim 13, characterized in that the core sheet (1) is of polyester.
15. Marker according to either of claims 13 and 14, characterized in that the core sheet (1) has a thickness of between 20 µm and 100 µm, in particular of the order of 50 µm.
16. Marker according to any one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that it is formed by successive screen printing processes on the core sheet (1), on the front (2) and on the reverse (7) sides of same.
17. Marker according to any one of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that it includes at least one continuous printing (8) incorporating at least one pigment and produced to have at least substantially the format of the core (1), on the reverse side (7) of same, as the first coloured effect (21).
18. Marker according to any one of claims 12 to 17, characterized in that it includes at least one printing of at least one printed motif (9, 10) incorporating at least one pigment and produced on the reverse side (7) of the core (1), as the first coloured effect (21).
19. Marker according to any one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that it includes at least one unprinted embrittlement zone (13) formed as a cavity adjacent to at least one zone (14, 15) in which a printing (9, 10) forming a first coloured effect (21) is produced.
20. Marker according to any one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that it includes a layer (11) of adhesive opposite to the printing surface (4) and suitable and designed to allow said marker to be glued to a support (18) to be marked.
21. Marker according to claim 20, characterized in that the adhesive layer (11) is formed by an adhesive susceptible to cold pressing.
22. Marker according to either of claims 20 and 21, characterized in that it includes at least one motif (12) printed on the adhesive layer (11) on the side of its surface designed to be applied to a support (18) to be marked, or facing the reverse side (7) of the core (1) in a corresponding reserved zone free of adhesive, said motif (12) being formed by a coloured composition susceptible to attack by solvents, so as to be able to reveal any attempt to unglue the marker by an attack using a solvent after it has been glued to a support (18) to be marked.
23. Marker according to any one of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that it has common entries (5) preprinted on the printing face (4) which are visible in visible light.
24. Marker according to any one of claims 1 to 23, characterized in that it has at least one preprinted photoluminescent motif (6) located on the printing surface (4) and designed to be covered with variable entries (19).
25. Marker according to claim 24, characterized in that the preprinted photoluminescent motif (6) is produced in a zone designed to receive an image and/or a design and/or a photograph (19b) as variable entries (19).
26. Marker according to either of claims 24 and 25, characterized in that the preprinted photoluminescent motif (6) is produced using ink which is susceptible to attack by solvents.
27. Marker according to any one of claims 24 to 26, characterized in that the preprinted photoluminescent motif (6) is produced using an ink which is invisible in visible light and photoluminescent when illuminated with invisible light.
28. Method for affixing variable entries (19) on a support (18) to be marked whereby the variable entries (19) are produced on a marker and said marker is then glued to the support (18) to be marked, characterized in that an anti-counterfeiting marker according to any one of claims 1 to 27 is used.
29. Method according to claim 28, characterized in that the variable entries (19) are then left exposed to the air, without being covered.
30. Method according to either of claims 28 and 29, characterized in that the variable entries (19) are produced by at least one method selected from:

    - handwriting;

    - writing by means of a typewriter;

    - printing by means of a dot-matrix printer;

    - printing by means of a colour or monochrome laser printer;

    - printing by means of a dry ink transfer printer;

    - gluing on of an image or photograph.
31. Support marked with variable entries - in particular a document, passport, identity card, driving license, vehicle licensing document, or other official identification and/or authentication documents - characterized in that it includes at least one anti-counterfeiting marker according to any one of claims 1 to 27 which is glued to said support (18) and on the printing surface (4) of which the variable entries (19) are produced.
32. Support according to claim 31, characterized in that the variable entries (19) are left exposed to the air, not covered.
33. Support according to either of claims 31 and 32, characterized in that the variable entries (19) are produced by at least one method selected from:

    - handwriting;

    - writing by means of a typewriter;

    - printing by means of a dot-matrix printer;

    - printing by means of a colour or monochrome laser printer;

    - printing by means of a dry ink transfer printer;

    - gluing on of an image or photograph.

Images