EP1910089B1 - Value document, production and verification of value documents - Google Patents

Abstract

A sheet-shaped document of value (BN) has luminescent feature substances (20, 21). Preferably, one luminescent feature substance is present over the entire sheet-shaped document and has a low concentration, whereas a second luminescent feature substance is present at certain partial areas and has a higher concentration.

Description

The invention relates to a sheet-shaped value document with at least one luminescent feature substance and the production of such a value document.

Leaf-shaped documents of value can be, for example, banknotes, checks, shares, tickets, coupons, certificates, vouchers, high-quality admission tickets, but also other papers that are subject to counterfeiting, such as passports or other identification documents or security papers that have not yet been printed or processed in any other way or which have not yet been processed Production eg be used by banknotes. Although not limited thereto, banknotes will be exemplified below as such value documents.

For the purposes of the present invention, a luminescent feature substance is understood as meaning a substance composed of a single component or of a mixture of a plurality of components which exhibit a luminescence behavior.

Such luminescent feature substances are usually introduced directly into the paper or the printing ink for printing the banknotes.

For criminal purposes, it is helpful to use feature substances that are still detectable even after the document has been burned to ensure that an unrecognizable incineration residue is actually from genuine documents. On the other hand, it must be prevented that the feature substances contained in the ashes of burnt documents of value be recovered and used to create counterfeits.

To solve this problem is after the WO 00/39397 A1 the applicant proposed to provide a value document with a first machine-testable physical or chemical property and a second machine-testable physical or chemical property, the first and second testable property can be checked separately from each other mechanically, the value document the first testable property in a loses first temperature, and the value document loses the second testable property at a second temperature, which is different from the first temperature.

However, there are only relatively few suitable feature substances for this purpose. Therefore, there is a need for alternatives to this, in order to use a larger group of feature substances to secure the authenticity of value documents.

In US 4 557 596 A method for halftoning of halftone motifs is described, in which the gray values of the halftone image motif are reproduced by changes in the structural strength of an arbitrary grid basic structure. The assignment of the gray value range of the halftone image motif to the raster structure strength reproducing this gray value range can be determined in a targeted manner.

In WO 2004/028825 A is a security paper for the production of documents of value, such as banknotes or the like, described, which consists of a creaseable, multi-layered substrate comprising at least one paper layer and at least one film. Furthermore, a method for producing such a security paper is disclosed.

In DE 101 48 122 A1 Value documents, such as banknotes, checks, passports, identity cards or the like, are described in which at least one edge region is at least partially provided with a reinforcement.

In WO 2005/036481 A1 An apparatus and a method for checking value documents with luminescent feature substances are described. By carrying out the evaluation of the detected luminescence radiation on the basis of an integrated luminescence measurement which is obtained by integrating the measured luminescence radiation of a track extending across the document of value, a particularly easy detection and differentiation of weakly luminous feature substances is made possible.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative sheet-shaped value document with luminescent feature substance which can not be used after incineration without disproportionately high expenditure for the production of counterfeits. In addition, the production of such a value document should be specified.

These objects are achieved by the independent claims. The further claims describe preferred embodiments.

The present invention thus starts from the approach of providing a sheet-shaped value document with a luminescent feature substance which both over the entire surface with low concentration, as well as on certain sub-areas with higher concentration is present.

The feature substance is present in the higher concentration partial areas in a different form than in the low concentration surrounding areas.

For example, the luminescent feature substance is uniformly introduced into the substrate mass. Upon optical excitation of the substrate, this first injection form will be associated with a low and uniform intensity of the luminescent radiation over the entire paper surface.

On the other hand, this feature substance is also present in another form, namely in the form of mottled fibers, planchettes, locally inflated, sprayed or in the form of an additional printing element, at discrete locations in the paper. With the same optical excitation of the paper, this second delivery form will be associated with a higher luminescence intensity at only certain local partial areas of the entire paper surface. Are the feature substances according to the invention in a fiber, planchette or similar. integrated, so in addition to the feature substances even more feature substances can be introduced into these fibers. A sensor which detects the feature which is also present in the paper will then detect the variation of the feature signal according to the invention, while a sensor for the second substance will detect only the second feature backgroundless.

When illuminated with a luminescence of the value document stimulating radiation over a track, the measured luminescence thus has a uniformly distributed basic intensity and one or more existing only at certain points of the track peaks with increased intensity.

The combination of these two forms of introduction and the resulting superimposition of a uniform luminescence radiation with low intensity with localized peaks of higher intensity in the measurable luminescence spectrum of the value document has the advantage that the expense for a counterfeiter is then disproportionately high, the right combination of the two Counterfeit forms of counterfeiting when it comes into possession of incinerated ash from banknotes.

For features whose intensities are reduced by printing inks, it can be provided that the printing inks with the same feature substance be provided so that the reduction is compensated by the ink. While the feature signal on the banknote breaks without additional feature in the ink in the areas of the ink, the feature signal can be approximately homogeneous in the banknote equipped according to the invention, the burglaries by eg absorptions of the ink can be reduced or even overcompensated.

The authenticity check of such sheet-shaped value documents with luminescent feature substance can be checked or carried out by taking and evaluating measured values from the tested value document in order to determine whether the feature substance is present both over the whole area with low concentration and on certain partial areas with higher concentration.

In addition to this simple detection of the existence of higher concentration sub-areas, the properties of the distributions can also be determined for more selective detection. For statistical distributions, the statistical measures of the distributions, e.g. Mean values and standard deviations, quantiles or other statistical parameters are suitable as additional criteria for review. In the case of deterministic distributions, it is possible to examine both the distributions according to the specifications and the statistical deviations from them.

The measured values or quantities derived therefrom can also be included in the production of the banknotes and stored in a database for later checks. Alternatively, the result of the check and / or derived therefrom, eg encrypted sizes be applied to the banknote and are thus available for later review. This can be done, for example, by numbering machines, ink-jet printing methods, digital printing methods, laser-based ablation or modification.

According to a preferred further development of the value document, the feature substance is distributed on or in the value document in such a way that when illuminating the value document with a radiation stimulating the luminescence of the feature substance, a luminescence radiation measured over a lane will have a uniformly distributed basic intensity and one or more only at certain points of the lane having existing peaks of increased intensity. In this case, a trace is also understood in particular to mean a substantially linear strip on the value document, in particular from one edge of the value document to another edge thereof, whose width is sufficient for detecting the luminescence radiation from the strip by means of a detector.

Furthermore, the value document can have different sub-areas of increased concentration, which differ in terms of the course of the intensity of the luminescence radiation when illuminated with excitation radiation of constant intensity and / or with respect to their geometric shape.

In addition, a variable derived from a course of the intensity of the luminescence radiation of the feature substance when illuminated with excitation radiation of constant intensity and / or a variable derived from a statistical distribution of the intensity of the luminescence radiation of the feature substance of the value document when illuminated with excitation radiation of constant intensity be applied as information on the document of value. In the production method, a variable derived from a course of the intensity of the luminescence radiation of the feature substance when illuminated with excitation radiation of constant intensity and / or a variable derived from a statistical distribution of the intensity of the luminescence radiation of the feature substance when illuminated with excitation radiation of constant intensity is preferably referred to as information on the value document applied and / or stored in an external database. In the test method, the course of the intensity of the luminescence radiation of the feature substance can then be determined with illumination with excitation radiation of constant intensity and / or data of a statistical distribution of the course of the intensity of the luminescence radiation of the feature substance of the value document when illuminated with excitation radiation of constant intensity and for the evaluation of authenticity or the state of the value document. The testing device is then preferably designed for this purpose.

Figur 1

in einer schematischen Darstellung von der Seite den Aufbau einer Banknotensortiermaschine mit Prüfvorrichtung;

Figur 2

eine schematische Ansicht von oben auf eine erfindungsgemäße echte Banknote BN gemäß eines Ausführungsbeispiels, welche mit der Prüfvorrichtung nach Figur 1 geprüft werden kann und

Figur 3

eine der Figur 2 entsprechende schematische Ansicht von oben auf eine Banknotenfälschung BNF, welche mit der Prüfvorrichtung nach Figur 1 geprüft werden kann.

The invention will be explained and described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It shows the

FIG. 1

in a schematic representation of the side of the construction of a banknote sorting machine with tester;

FIG. 2

a schematic top view of a genuine banknote according to the invention BN according to an embodiment, which with the test apparatus according to FIG. 1 can be tested and

FIG. 3

one of the FIG. 2 corresponding schematic top view of a bill counterfeit BNF, which with the test apparatus according to FIG. 1 can be tested.

Although the testing device can be used in all banknote processing machines, such as in money deposit, vending or hand testing, is in the following using the FIG. 1 the use in a bank note sorting machine 1 described by way of example, which is shown in a schematic representation from the side.

In this case, the banknote sorting machine 1 comprises, in a manner known per se, an input compartment 3, into which banknotes BN to be checked are input, stacked. These are individually withdrawn from the stack by means of a separator 4 and transported along a transport path 5 on a test device 2 in the direction T. In this case, the test device 2 has an EDP-supported evaluation direction 6, which is connected to a lighting device 7 for exciting the luminescent feature substances 15 in the banknote paper, a sensor device 8 for detecting the luminescence radiation emitted by the checked banknote BN and a light barrier 10, which the illumination device 7 and the sensor device 8 is connected immediately upstream. In addition to the light barrier 10, further light barriers, not shown, may also be contained in the transport path 5 in order to be able to unambiguously determine the position of the individual banknotes BN in the transport path 5 and in the test apparatus 2. Furthermore, the sensor device 2 can still be a condition sensor 9, which is used in particular for determining the degree of soiling of the banknotes BN. The checking device 2 is followed by a plurality of switches 11, in order to output the bank notes into one of a plurality of compartments 12, depending on the result of the test, which is obtained in the evaluation device 6.

The banknote sorting machine 1 is distinguished in particular by the structure and the mode of operation of the checking device 2, which serves for detecting luminescent feature substances in banknotes BN according to the invention.

Before explaining this test apparatus 2, let us first consider the manufacture and construction of a banknote BN according to the invention to be tested here, as exemplified in FIG FIG. 2 is shown.

The banknote BN has, on the one hand, circularly drawn pigments 21 of a luminescent feature substance applied over the entire banknote surface of length L and width B with a low surface density and volume density evenly distributed in the paper pulp. Furthermore, in the paper pulp also symbolically shaped mottled fibers 20 are introduced, which have the same luminescent feature substance. Although the area or volume density of the mottled fibers over the entire banknote surface or the entire banknote volume is less than that of the pigments, the local concentration of the feature substance in the mottling fibers 20 is clearly higher than the concentration of the feature substance of the pigments 21 in the surrounding ones Areas of the banknote surface. The Incorporation of the pigments 21 and the mottling fibers 20 can be effected in a manner known per se.

It should be emphasized that the pigments 21 or the mottling fibers 20 are only for better clarity in FIG FIG. 2 As such, these elements can not be visible or largely invisible to the naked human eye.

It is essential that, when illuminated with a radiation exciting the luminescence of the feature substance, the first introduction form of the feature substance, i. Here, the pigments 21 having a uniform intensity distributed over the banknote surface as the second introduction form of the same feature substance, i. here the mottled fibers 20, luminesce.

It is precisely this inventive property of genuine banknotes BN that is calibrated by the test device 2. For this purpose, the bank note BN passing by the illumination device 7 is illuminated by means of the illumination device 7 in the transport direction T along a track S1. The outline of this track S1 is in FIG. 2 represented by a dashed line S1. The sensor device 8 serves to detect the luminescence radiation of the banknote BN emanating from the illuminated track S1. The measurement takes place at one or more frequencies and / or frequency bands characteristic of the respective luminescence radiation.

In the lower half of FIG. 2 schematically an associated measurement curve of the sensor device 8 is shown. In particular, the measured intensity I of the luminescence radiation of a checked banknote BN is plotted over the measuring location x extending in the direction T. It turns out that the measurement curve has a basic level of intensity ib with individual local peaks, eg the maximum intensity ic at certain measuring points. The intensity ib stems from the luminescence radiation of the pigments 21 and the individual peaks of maximum intensity ic from the luminescence radiation of the mottling fibers 20, which are located in the measurement track S1.

In the evaluation direction 6 it can be checked whether, given the excitation, the measurement curve has a characteristic characteristic for real bank notes, i. for example, the individual intensities ib and ic or their ratio is correct and / or if the local peaks are present at the correct locations of the banknotes BN along the measuring track S1. If this is not the case, the checked banknote BN is classified as false or at least suspected of being forged. Otherwise, banknote BN may be classified as genuine, subject to the outcome of other optional further measurements.

If such a genuine banknote BN is withdrawn from circulation due to excessive wear and destroyed and a counterfeiter obtains access to the incineration ash of the banknote BN and uses it to make counterfeits, it can be expected that such a counterfeit will usually be designed in such a way that as it is in FIG. 3 is shown.

The counterfeit banknote BNF will have over the entire surface of length L and width B evenly distributed in the pulp introduced pigments 21 of the luminescent feature substance, which the counterfeiter has gained from the combustion ash of the genuine banknotes BN. Reproducing the predetermined distribution of the mottled fibers 20, which leads to local peaks of the measurement at predetermined locations of the banknote BN, can not be carried out by the forger without disproportionately high outlay.

Therefore it has the same measurement conditions as below FIG. 2 measured luminescent intensity curve I a substantially uniform level generally without high intensity local peaks, as they come from the mottling fibers 20 in real banknotes BN. Depending on the surface or volume density of the pigments 21, the intensity ia of the counterfeit BNF can be higher or lower than the intensity base level ib of the genuine banknotes BN.

Due to the difference of the trace of the counterfeit BNF ( FIG. 3 , below) to the expected measurement curve of genuine banknotes BN ( FIG. 2 , bottom) can thus be classified in the evaluation direction 6, the examined document BNF as a forgery.

In the above, a specific example of the invention has been described. Of course, numerous alternatives are conceivable for this purpose, some of which are described by way of example.

In addition, the different forms of introduction do not necessarily have to consist of mottling fibers 20. These can also exist in planchettes or imprints.

While it has been described above that the same feature substance with different concentrations is introduced into the paper, it is also possible to use different feature substances with different concentrations per se, at least as long as the measured values of the luminescence radiation of these different feature substances do not differ significantly in the test with a conventional test device 2 ,

Furthermore, it can also be provided that the different introduction forms 20, 21 have different feature substances or feature substance combinations. For example, the pigments 21 can consist of a first feature substance and the mottling fibers 20 of a combination of this first and another second feature substance. This possibility not just one, but several Provide different feature substances in possibly also different combinations, can significantly increase the number of possible codes of feature properties.

In this sense, a spatial coding can be carried out by, for example, there are several different and verifiable spatial arrangements of the mottling fibers 20 and / or pigments 21. If, for example, three different feature substances are available for coding and four different spatial arrangements of the feature substances in the different delivery forms are possible, then there are already 3 ⁴ , ie 81 different codes available. With the help of the so-called "Wilcox" method, mottled fibers can be placed very placed in the banknote paper. As a result, the number of spatial codes of the feature substances can be further increased.

It can also be provided that different elements, e.g. Melierfasern, planchettes, etc. are used, which contain the same (or more) feature substances in different concentrations. In this way, can also represent a coding. It can be provided that the various elements are localized or statistically dispersed in the banknote integrated.

The measurement of the luminescence radiation may finally be made e.g. not only along one but also along several tracks and / or only at several discrete points along a track.

Claims (9)

1. A sheet-shaped value document (BN) having a luminescent feature substance which is incorporated into a paper pulp of the value document in the form of pigments, characterized in that
   the feature substance is present at low concentration over the entire surface except for certain partial surfaces where it is present at higher concentration, and that the feature substance is present at higher concentration in the partial surfaces as a component of a mottling fiber (20), a planchet or a print, and the feature substance present at low concentration over the entire surface is incorporated into the paper pulp of the value document uniformly in the form of pigments (21).
2. The value document according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one form of application and/or incorporation (20, 21) of the feature substance has several feature substances and/or feature-substance combinations, and/or different forms of application and/or incorporation (20, 21) differ in the employed feature-substance combinations.
3. The value document according to either of the preceding claims, characterized in that there are different partial surfaces of elevated concentration which differ with regard to their signal level or with regard to their geometric form.
4. The value document according to any of the above claims, characterized in that a quantity derived from a signal pattern of the feature substance and/or a quantity derived from a statistical distribution of the signal pattern of the feature substance of the value document is applied to the value document as information.
5. A method for producing a sheet-shaped value document (BN) having a luminescent feature substance, characterized in that the value document (BN) is provided with a luminescent feature substance so that the feature substance is present at low concentration over the entire surface except for certain partial surfaces where it is present at higher concentration, whereby the feature substance is present at higher concentration in the partial surfaces as a component of a mottling fiber (20), a planchet or a print, and the feature substance present at low concentration over the entire surface is incorporated into the paper pulp of the value document uniformly in the form of pigments (21).
6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the feature substance is incorporated into the paper of the value document and/or applied to the paper of the value document at low concentration over the entire surface and in locally concentrated fashion at higher concentration on certain partial surfaces in different method steps.
7. The production method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the value document (BN) is provided with several different feature substances and/or feature-substance combinations in an identical and/or a different form of application and/or incorporation (20, 21).
8. The production method according to any of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that a number of value documents, such as e.g. bank notes (BN) of different denomination of a currency system, by the value documents being provided with different feature substances and/or feature-substance combinations preferably in different spatial combinations [sic].
9. The production method according to any of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that a signal pattern of the feature substance and/or a quantity derived from a statistical distribution of the signal pattern of the feature substance of the value document (BN) is applied to the value document as information and/or deposited in an external database.

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