EP2082376A2

EP2082376A2 - Method for authenticating and/or identifying a security and/or valuable document

Info

Publication number: EP2082376A2
Application number: EP07866530A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sandrine Rancien; Sébastien CHARIGNON
Original assignee: ArjoWiggins SAS; ArjoWiggins Security SAS
Current assignee: ArjoWiggins Security SAS
Priority date: 2006-10-31
Filing date: 2007-10-31
Publication date: 2009-07-29
Also published as: CA2667635A1; US20100001510A1; FR2907947A1; WO2008053129A2; WO2008053129A3; FR2907947B1; BRPI0718147A2

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for authenticating and/or identifying a security and/or valuable document comprising a sheet material, wherein the sheet material can be physically altered and comprises a substrate (4), at least one interlaced thread structure (5) at least partially embedded in the substrate (4), the method comprising the following steps: mechanically altering the sheet material so as to expose a portion at least of the interlaced thread structure (5), and deducing the authenticity and/or identity of the document at least by observing the exposed portion of the interlaced thread structure (5).

Description

Method for authenticating and / or identifying a security document and / or value

The present invention relates in particular to a method of authentication and / or identification of a security document and / or value, and a sheet material used to produce such a document.

The patent application EP 1 447 474 discloses a security paper that can be authenticated by tearing, comprising a layer of paper coated on at least one of its faces with one or more colored layers. The security paper further includes opacifying outer layers to conceal the underlying color layers. The torn security paper reveals the different colors of the various layers.

Other types of security papers that can be authenticated by tearing are also provided. These security papers can be made for example from a layer of colored paper covered, in particular by coating, on each side, an opaque white layer.

Also known security papers made from a layer of colored paper, laminated on each side with layers of white paper. These security papers can also be made from a layer of paper with a colored layer laminated with a layer of white paper. The security papers described above are authenticated by tearing, revealing one or more colors.

Patent FR 2 117 055 and patent application EP 520 060 also disclose security papers incorporating a band having stitches.

Also known from the patent application FR 2,873,134 a sheet material incorporating a knitted structure may include a specific authentication element and / or identification. The authentication of a document that incorporates such a structure is done by acquiring at least one characteristic information of the mesh of the knitted structure.

The invention aims to propose a new method of authentication and / or identification of a security document and / or value incorporating a sheet material. The expression "sheet material" can denote a fibrous sheet based on cellulosic and / or synthetic fibers, having a monolayer or multilayer structure, composite or not. A sheet material may for example have a relatively small thickness, especially less than or equal to 3 mm, for example equal to about 100 microns, and be flexible. In an exemplary implementation of the invention, the sheet material can be packaged in a reel, especially before being cut to the desired format.

According to one aspect of the invention, the sheet material can be physically altered, the material comprising: - a substrate, at least one intertwined wire structure embedded at least partially in the substrate, the authentication method and or identification comprising the following steps: mechanically altering the sheet material so as to make apparent at least a portion of the intertwined wire structure, concluding as to the authenticity and / or identity of the document by at least observation of the apparent portion of the intertwined wire structure.

This observation can be made under natural or artificial light, especially under UV or IR light. The invention thus makes it possible to authenticate and / or visually identify a security and / or value document, for example by initiating a tear in the document revealing at least a portion of the intertwined thread structure. The authentication of the document may also be based at least partially on a tactile effect corresponding to a feeling of resistance when tearing the intertwined thread structure and / or on an auditory effect corresponding to a specific sound emitted during tearing. of the intertwined thread structure.

The term "wire" may also refer to a band, for example a flat band.

In an exemplary implementation of the invention, the method comprises the following steps: altering by tearing, in particular manually, the document so as to make at least one yarn of the crisscrossed yarn structure visible over at least a portion of the length of this yarn, concluding as to the authenticity and / or the identity of the document thanks at least to the observation of the portion of apparent thread.

This observation can be made under daylight in artificial lighting, and / or possibly in UV and IR light, especially in case of fluorescence son.

The document can advantageously be torn first by initiating a tear on an edge of the document and then exerting substantially in the plane thereof, on either side of the tear primer, opposing forces.

This makes it possible to expose threads of the intertwined thread structure over a relatively large length.

The method advantageously comprises the following step: - altering the intertwined thread structure during the tearing of the document, by breaking one or more threads of the intertwined thread structure.

The break can reveal, if necessary, security elements present within the son.

In another example of implementation of the invention, the method comprises the following steps: punching the document in an area thereof containing at least a portion of the intertwined thread structure, concluding as to the authenticity and / or the identity of the document, by at least observing, in the punched area, the apparent portion of the interwoven wire structure.

The document presents, if desired, a thickness suitable for use in an automatic punching device such as for example used for transport tickets.

Another subject of the invention, according to another of its aspects, is a sheet material, in particular intended to produce a security and / or valuable document, the sheet material comprising: a substrate, at least one intersecting wire structure having a width, the sheet material being characterized in that it comprises at least one tearable zone, in particular manually, in which the intertwined wire structure is at least partially embedded in the substrate, and in that the substrate and the crisscrossed yarn structure are arranged in such a way as to allow a tear initiation of the substrate, in the tear-off zone, making the crisscrossed yarn structure visible over at least a portion of its width, in particular greater than 1 % of its total width, being for example between 5 and 50% of its total width, without, however, totally alter the intersecting wire structure, or without altering it at all. The structure can thus be partially altered. For example, only the son having a first orientation can be altered while those having a second orientation, for example perpendicular to the first, may not be.

The invention further relates, in another of its aspects, to a sheet material, in particular for producing a security document and / or value, the sheet material comprising: a substrate, at least one intertwined son structure , the sheet material being characterized in that it comprises at least one tearable zone, in particular manually, in which the interwoven wire structure is at least partially embedded in the substrate, and in that the substrate and the structure to be interlaced yarns are arranged so that, when the sheet material is completely torn, at least one yarn of the crisscrossed yarn structure becomes apparent over at least a portion of its length, in particular over a length of at least 1 mm for example between 2 and 10 mm. In an exemplary implementation of the invention, the interwoven son structure has a tear strength greater than that of the substrate, for at least one tear direction. The interwoven wire structure advantageously has a surface condition selected to allow slippage of the substrate material on the intertwined wire structure over at least a portion of that structure when the sheet material is torn. The yarns have, for example, a smooth outer surface and may comprise slipping aids such as a PTFE or graphite filler or be sheathed with a slip-promoting coating. such as a coating having PTFE or a lubricant. The wires can be treated individually before forming the structure. The treatment to promote sliding, which may be a surface treatment, can still be applied to the entire structure and already manufactured. During a mechanical alteration of the document, the substrate, in particular paper, tears first and slides on the intertwined thread structure, on each side of the tear, exposing the son of the structure, on at least a portion of their length.

The substrate may be made from a fibrous material, in particular containing cellulose fibers.

The substrate comprises, where appropriate, two jets of paper assembled, the interwoven son structure being interposed between the two jets.

In an exemplary implementation of the invention, the two jets are assembled using an adhesive. In another exemplary implementation, the interwoven son structure may be embedded in the substrate during the formation of the latter, which may be mono jet.

The intertwined son structure may comprise in particular at least one portion selected from: a woven portion, a lace portion, a knitted portion, a grid portion, a sewn portion. The term "lace" may designate a very perforated structure without weft or warp with locally relatively full and / or opaque patterns, and which may optionally have a substantially tooth-shaped edge.

In an exemplary implementation of the invention, the interwoven son structure extends over only a portion of the surface of the substrate and has for example a strip form.

Alternatively, the intertwined wire structure extends over the entire surface of the substrate.

The sheet material may include, where appropriate, weakening means to facilitate tearing, the weakening means including in particular at least one cut, made with or without removal of material. When the interwoven son structure is tearable manually, it comprises in particular at least one wire that can be broken by exerting opposing forces on two portions of this wire.

Advantageously, the crisscrossed son structure comprises at least two wires of different colors, which makes it possible to reinforce the security of the document against an attempt to falsify and to facilitate the authentication and / or the visual identification.

The interwoven son structure may comprise at least two son of different natures, with for example different magnetic properties.

The intersecting wire structure comprises for example at least one plastic wire, in particular polyester.

The crisscrossed yarn structure also comprises for example at least one yarn made of a material chosen from the following: metal, fiber, aramid (aromatic polyamide, for example Kevlar®, Twaron®), carbon, cellulose, wool, among others.

The section of at least one wire of the intertwined wire structure may be of variable shape, for example square, oval, rectangular, triangular, circular, star. The interwoven son structure may comprise at least two son of different section, for example of different shapes and / or different diameters.

The crisscrossed yarn structure may comprise at least one yarn having one or more sectional variations, for example a variation of the section diameter along the yarn and / or a variation in the shape of the section along the yarn. In one example implementation of the invention, the intertwined son structure comprises at least one security element, in particular detectable by a suitable detection device, the security element including in particular at least one tracer having for example optical properties, by example of IR or UV fluorescence or biological or chemical, magnetic, specific electromagnetic.

The security element can be present in all the wires of the structure or only in some of them.

The security element may be present in the mass of the wires, in their heart only or on the surface only, for example. In an exemplary implementation of the invention, the interwoven son structure has a thickness of between 10 microns and 100 microns, especially between 30 microns and 80 microns, being for example close to 55 microns. The crisscrossed yarn structure may comprise voids formed between the yarns, these voids having an average individual surface area of in particular between 1 mm ² and 50 mm ² , for example between 5 mm ² and 20 mm ² , being for example close to 9 mm ² .

The sheet material may comprise only layers or jets, in particular paper, having an identical color, unlike in particular the security paper described in the patent application EP 1 447 474, which comprises layers of different colors.

The invention further relates, in another of its aspects, to a sheet material, in particular designed to be used to produce a security and / or valuable document, the sheet material comprising: a substrate, at least one structure to intersecting yarns having at least one lace portion, the structure being at least partially embedded in the substrate.

The invention further relates, in another aspect, to a security document and / or value incorporating a sheet material as defined above.

The document can constitute one of the following elements: a ticket, such as an entry ticket, a transport ticket or an event ticket, a document having a fiduciary value intended for example to be exchanged, in particular a voucher. exchange, this list is not exhaustive. The invention further relates, in another of its aspects, to a method of manufacturing a sheet material comprising: a substrate, at least one intertwined wire structure comprising at least one wire that can be broken manually by exerting on two portions of this wire opposing forces, the method comprising the step of: incorporating the intertwined son structure within the substrate. In an exemplary implementation of the invention, the method comprises the following steps: - making two jets of paper, in particular on two different paper machines, assemble the two paper jets with the intertwined wire structure interposed between these jets.

The method may comprise the following step: laminating at least one of the two jets with an adhesive film, in particular a pressure-sensitive or heat-activatable adhesive, the intertwined wire structure coming into contact with the adhesive film.

In a variant, the method comprises the following step: assembling the two paper jets with the intertwined thread structure by laminating, in particular by using a liquid adhesive. The invention will be better understood on reading the following detailed description of examples of non-limiting embodiments of the invention, and on examining the appended drawing, in which: FIG. 1 represents, schematically and partially, a document according to the invention, - Figures 2 to 5 schematically illustrate tearing steps of the document of Figure 1, for the purpose of authentication, Figures 3 and 5 being enlarged views, Figure 6 shows, schematically and partially, a document according to another example of implementation of the invention, - Figure 7 is a cross section, schematic and partial, of the document of Figure 1, Figures 8 to 12 show, schematically and partially, various examples of intertwined wire structures, and Figure 13 schematically illustrates a step of a method of manufacturing a sheet material according to the invention.

In the drawing, for the sake of clarity, the relative proportions of the various elements represented have not always been respected, the views being schematic.

There is shown in Figure 1 a security document and / or value 1, comprising a sheet material 2 receiving elements 3, for example words or drawings, printed. The material 2 comprises a substrate 4 and an interwoven wire structure 5 embedded in the substrate 4. The interwoven wire structure 5 can be designed and arranged to be invisible to the naked eye when the document 2 is observed in reflection.

The intertwined yarn structure 5 may be a woven structure 5a (see FIG. 8), a knitted structure 5b (see FIG. 9), a grid 5c (see FIG. 11) or a lace structure 5d (see FIG. 12).

The structure 5, for example the grid 5c, may comprise son 6 of different colors, as shown in Figure 10, a color sequence formed by the son of the structure may constitute a code. If desired, the interwoven yarn structure 5 comprises at least two yarns of different natures, for example with different magnetic properties.

One of the son 6 may for example be a luminescent, fluorescent or phosphorescent wire or have any other agent sensitive to an external stimulus, for example an agent giving a color reaction in daylight, photochromic or piezochromic, electrochromic or solvatochrome.

The structure 5 may comprise, if desired, at least one authentication and / or identification element chosen from at least one of the following elements: an element for highlighting a falsification, notably visible and or detectable by means of a specific detection device, an element with variable optical effect, interferential and / or diffractive, iridescent or liquid crystal, a magnetic or crystalline coating, magnetic fibers, tracers detectable by magnetic resonance, detectable tracers by X-ray fluorescence, biomarkers, a varnish or ink, luminescent tracers (fluorescent or phosphorescent), photochromic, thermochromic, electroluminescent and / or piezochromic compounds and / or which change color in contact with one or more several predetermined products.

The element may become apparent, if any, only after tearing of the structure.

The interwoven yarn structure 5 is manually tearable, the yarns 6 being breakable by exerting opposing forces on two portions of a yarn. In the example of FIG. 1, the structure 5 extends over only a portion of the surface of the substrate 4 and has a strip shape with a width less than the width of the substrate 4. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the crisscrossed yarn structure 5 extends over the entire surface of the substrate 4.

In the examples described, the substrate 4 comprises two paper jets 8 and 9 between which is interposed the interwoven wire structure 5, as illustrated in FIG. 7. The sheet material 2 can be manufactured in the following manner (see FIG.

13).

The paper jet 8 is formed on a first round-shaped paper machine 10 comprising a vessel 11 containing a suspension 12 of fibers, for example of cellulose fibers, in which is partially immersed a rotating roll 13 defining a surface 14 in contact with which is formed continuously jet 8.

The paper jet 9 is formed on a second round paper machine 16, identical to the first one 10.

The two jets 8 and 9 are assembled by laminating with a liquid adhesive after introduction of the interwoven son structure 5 between these jets 8 and 9. In a variant, the jets of paper 8 and 9 are assembled with the using an adhesive film.

Example of a sheet material 2 according to the invention

The intertwined yarn structure 5 is a grid 5c formed from polyester yarns. This grid 5c is for example a grid marketed by Chavanoz Industrie under the reference GC3943 / 18, having a density of about 6.8 g / m ² and a thickness of about 55 microns. This grid 5c is interposed between paper jets 8 and 9 respectively having densities of 50 and 35 g / m ² . The grid 5c defines between the son of substantially square shaped voids having dimensions of about 3 mm x 3 mm.

The document 1 can be an entrance ticket for a cinema for example, as illustrated in FIG.

Alternatively, the document 1 may be constituted by a transport ticket or an event ticket, or a document having a fiduciary value intended for example to be exchanged, including a good exchange.

The document 1 can be authenticated and / or identified by tearing it manually. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, a tear initiation 21 of the substrate 4 makes the crisscrossed yarn structure 5 apparent on a portion e of its width, without, however, altering the structure 5.

By continuing the tearing of the document 1, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, by exerting substantially opposite forces in the plane of the document 1, on either side of the tearing primer 21, the structure 5 is deformed. by breaking son 6 thereof, so as to make apparent these son 6 broken on a portion 1 at least their length.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the sheet material 2 can comprise weakening means 20 making it easier to tear the sheet material 2, the weakening means including, for example, at least one cutout made with or without removing material.

The document 1 can be authenticated, alternatively, by punching.

The expression "having one" shall be understood as being synonymous with "having at least one", unless the opposite is specified.

Claims

A method of authenticating and / or identifying a security document and / or a value (1) incorporating a sheet material (2), the sheet material being physically alterable and comprising: - a substrate ( 4), at least one intersecting wire structure (5) at least partially embedded in the substrate (4), the method comprising the steps of: mechanically altering the sheet material (2) to expose at least a portion of the intersecting yarn structure (5), concluding as to the authenticity and / or identity of the document by at least observing the apparent portion of the crisscrossed yarn structure.

2. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - alter by tearing, particularly manually, the document (1) so as to make apparent at least one wire (6) of the structure (5). ) with crossed threads, over at least a portion of its length, conclude as to the authenticity and / or identity of the document by at least the observation of the portion of apparent thread.

3. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises the following step: altering the structure (5) crisscrossed son during the tearing of the document, breaking one or more son (6) of the structure to intertwined threads.

4. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: punching the document in an area thereof containing at least a portion of the interwoven son structure, conclude as to authenticity and / or the identity of the document by at least observing, in the punched area, the apparent portion of the intertwined wire structure.

5. Sheet material (2), in particular for producing a security document and / or value, the sheet material comprising: a substrate (4), at least one interwoven-wire structure (5) having a total width (L), the sheet material (4) being characterized in that it comprises at least one tear-off zone, in particular manually, in wherein the interwoven wire structure (5) is at least partially embedded in the substrate, and in that the substrate and the interwoven wire structure are arranged to allow a tear initiation of the substrate, in the tearable area, Apparent the structure (5) intersecting son on at least a portion (e) of its width, in particular greater than 1% of its total width (L), being for example between 5 and 50% of its total width (L) , without, however, completely altering the structure (5), or without altering it at all.

Sheet material, in particular for producing a security document and / or value, the sheet material (2) comprising: a substrate (4), at least one structure (5) with intertwined threads, the sheet material characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one tearable zone, in particular manually, in which the crisscrossed yarn structure (5) is at least partially embedded in the substrate, and in that the substrate and the intertwined yarn structure are arranged in such a way that, when the sheet material is completely torn, at least one wire (6) of the criss-cross-wire structure (5) becomes apparent over at least a portion (1) of its length.

7. Material according to one of claims 5 and 6, characterized in that the structure (5) intersecting son has a tear strength greater than that of the substrate, for at least one tear direction.

8. Material according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the structure (5) with interwoven son has a surface state selected to allow the sliding of the substrate material on the intertwined son structure , at least on a portion of this structure, when the sheet material is torn.

9. Material according to claim 8, the structure comprising a surface coating comprising PTFE or a lubricant.

10. Material according to any one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that the substrate (4) is made from a fibrous material, in particular containing cellulose fibers.

11. Material according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the substrate comprises two jets of paper (8, 9) assembled, the structure (5) with interwoven son being interposed between the two jets.

12. Material according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the two jets (8, 9) are assembled using an adhesive.

13. Material according to any one of claims 5 to 12, characterized in that the interwoven son structure comprises at least a portion selected from: a woven portion (5a), a lace portion, a knitted portion (5b) , a grid portion (5c), a stitched portion.

14. Material according to any one of claims 5 to 13, characterized in that the structure (5) with interwoven son extends over only a portion of the surface of the substrate.

15. Material according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the structure (5) with interwoven son has a strip form.

16. Material according to any one of claims 5 to 13, characterized in that the structure (5) with interwoven son extends over the entire surface of the substrate.

17. Material according to any one of claims 5 to 16, characterized in that it comprises weakening means (20) for facilitating the tearing of the sheet material, the weakening means including in particular at least one cutting.

18. Material according to any one of claims 5 to 17, characterized in that the structure (5) interwoven son is torn manually, the interwoven son structure comprising in particular at least one wire that can be broken by exerting on two portions from this thread opposing forces.

19. Material according to any one of claims 5 to 18, characterized in that the structure (5) intersecting son comprises at least two son (6) of different colors.

20. Material according to any one of claims 5 to 19, characterized in that the structure (5) intersecting son comprises at least two son of different natures, with for example different magnetic properties.

21. Material according to any one of claims 5 to 20, characterized in that the intersecting wire structure comprises at least one plastic wire, in particular polyester.

22. Material according to any one of claims 5 to 23, characterized in that the interwoven son structure comprises at least one security element, in particular detectable by a suitable detection device, the security element including in particular at least a tracer having specific biological, chemical, optical, magnetic or electromagnetic properties.

23. Material according to any one of claims 5 to 22, characterized in that the interwoven son structure has a thickness between 10 microns and

100 microns, especially between 30 microns and 80 microns, being in particular close to 55 microns.

24. Material according to any one of claims 5 to 23, characterized in that the intersecting wire structure comprises voids formed between the son, these voids having an average individual surface area of between 1 mm ² and 50 mm ² , in particular between 5 mm ² and 20 mm ² , being for example close to 9 mm ² .

25. Material according to any one of claims 5 to 24, characterized in that it comprises only layers or jets, including paper, having an identical color.

Sheet material, in particular designed to be used for producing a security and / or value document, the sheet material (2) comprising: a substrate (4), at least one intersecting-wire structure (5) comprising at least a lace portion, the structure being at least partially embedded in the substrate.

Security and / or valuable document incorporating a sheet material as defined in any one of claims 5 to 26.

28. Document according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it is chosen from one of the following elements: a ticket such as an entry ticket, a transport ticket or an event ticket, a document having a value trustee intended for example to be exchanged, notably a voucher.

29. A method of manufacturing a sheet material, the sheet material comprising: a substrate (4), at least one crisscrossed yarn structure (5) having at least one yarn that can be broken manually by exerting opposing forces on two portions of said yarn, the method comprising the step of: incorporating the yarn structure intertwined within the substrate.