EP2274482B1 - Security sheet with a ribbon having a zone of reduced opacity - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to the field of security documents, and more particularly to that of security sheets. It relates to a security sheet, for example mainly made of paper, comprising a security tape having an area of reduced opacity allowing the creation of particular security effects observable in transvision.

In the description, "paper" means any sheet obtained by wet process using a suspension of natural cellulose fibers and / or vegetable, mineral or organic fibers other than cellulose, which may be synthetic fibers, which may contain various fillers and various additives commonly used in stationery.

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In the field of security sheets, obtaining a zone of reduced opacity localized on a sheet is sometimes desirable in order to allow the creation of particular effects on the sheet, these effects being for example visible by observation in transvision. The particular effects produced may in particular result from additional impressions on the front and back of the sheet, the observation of the complementarity of the prints being favored at the level of the reduced opacity zone.

The European patent application EP 1 122 360 discloses a method of manufacturing a security sheet which has an area of reduced opacity obtained through the presence of a screened watermark. This area of reduced opacity allows the creation of different authentication patterns on the sheet from impressions on the front and back of the sheet.

The solutions proposed by the prior art, however, have several disadvantages. For example, they generally require a significant reduction in the fiber content of the sheet at the level of the reduced opacity zone, which generates significant mechanical weaknesses in this area. Therefore, any security, such as printing for example, can hardly be placed in the reduced opacity zone and must often appear on areas with less mechanical stress. In addition, the creation of a zone of reduced opacity according to the prior art frequently leads to a reduction in the thickness of the security sheet at the level of the zone which is difficult to control, which is often too great, and therefore the sheet can be easily pierced, for example by inks during a printing step.

summary

There is therefore a need to remedy at least some of the disadvantages mentioned above.

In particular, there is a need to improve the production of security documents, especially security sheets, in particular to achieve areas of reduced opacity on the documents, allowing the obtaining of particular effects in these areas.

The invention aims to meet all or part of these needs, including the incorporation of a ribbon having a reduced opacity area in the security sheet.

The invention thus has, in one of its aspects, a sheet comprising a fibrous substrate and at least one ribbon defining at least one zone of reduced opacity, the sheet comprising at least two complementary security elements located respectively from on both sides of the ribbon and whose complementarity is observable in transvision thanks to the reduced opacity zone.

The security elements are for example respectively located on the front and back of the substrate. Alternatively, one of the security elements is located on the ribbon and the other on the substrate. One of the security elements can be for example on the front of the substrate and the other element on the back of the ribbon and vice versa, which can reduce the visual pollution in reflection.

The security elements can still be respectively located on the front and back of the ribbon.

It is also possible to have at least two complementary security elements respectively located on the front and back of the substrate, and whose complementarity is observable in transvision at the region of reduced opacity of the ribbon, and the ribbon can comprise on at least one of its faces at least one additional security element, which is complementary to at least one of the complementary security elements of the sheet.

All the additional security elements can be totally or partially superimposed on the ribbon when the sheet is viewed from the front. Alternatively, at least one of the complementary security elements is not superimposed on the ribbon, being for example present on the back or on the front of the fibrous substrate. For example, the substrate can receive on the front and / or back sides a security element in the form of an impression, which forms, when the sheet is observed in transvision, with another element. visible security thanks to the reduced opacity zone, a particular motive, for example a word, a number, a drawing or a logo.

Thus, by transvision, the security elements of the substrate and the ribbon security element or elements make it possible to observe, thanks to their complementarity, a pattern, a particular design, etc. This complementarity can be observed at the level of the area of reduced opacity of the ribbon. The term "complementarity" encompasses any type of optical interaction between security elements.

By "reduced opacity" it is meant that the opacity of the reduced opacity zone is lower than the opacity of the substrate, or even lower than the opacity of the remainder of the ribbon, when the zone of reduced opacity extends only to a fraction of the ribbon.

The area of reduced opacity preferably extends to the entire ribbon. In this way, the entire ribbon has a lower opacity than the substrate. Also, the term "zone of reduced opacity" may designate both a restricted zone on the ribbon, of dimensions smaller than those of the ribbon, and the ribbon itself when it extends to the entire ribbon.

"Supplementary security features" means security features whose observation in transvision results in the observation of a particular effect, for example a pattern produced by the superposition of the security elements, resulting from the complementarity between the elements. of security. This pattern can be an alphanumeric character or a design or logo, for example present elsewhere on the document.

By "observable in transvision" is meant an observation of the light which passes through the ribbon in the direction of its thickness, for example in visible, ultraviolet or infrared light.

Thanks to the invention, it is possible to obtain a security sheet having an area of reduced opacity while overcoming at least some disadvantages of the prior art. Indeed, since the zone of reduced opacity is carried by a ribbon incorporated into the substrate of the security sheet, the invention makes it possible to avoid the problems of mechanical weakness resulting from the production of areas of reduced opacity directly on the substrate of the security sheet. In addition, the presence of a ribbon defining a zone of reduced opacity in the security sheet may advantageously make it possible to avoid the presence of a sub-thickness at the level of the reduced opacity zone and, therefore, may to reduce the risk of piercing the leaf.

Ribbon

The term "ribbon" refers to a ribbon made of a single piece or made of an assembly, a stack or a juxtaposition of bands or elementary pieces.

The ribbon can define one or more areas of reduced opacity. Alternatively, the reduced opacity zone may extend to the entire ribbon, the ribbon having in this case a lower opacity than the substrate. In this case again, it is thus possible to obtain a security sheet comprising a zone of reduced opacity corresponding exactly to the dimensions of the ribbon.

When the ribbon has a zone of reduced opacity not extended to the entire ribbon, this zone may be made during a preliminary ribbon processing step prior to its incorporation into the fibrous substrate.

The ribbon may be fully incorporated into the fibrous substrate, for example by "mass" or between two streams. In this case, the substrate may advantageously have sufficient opacity to enable the observation of the ribbon, and in particular of the zone of reduced opacity of the ribbon, by transvision.

The ribbon may for example have its main faces entirely covered by the substrate, in particular by the fibers of the substrate. Alternatively, the ribbon may have at least one of its main faces covered by at least one element attached to the substrate.

The ribbon may be covered by substantially equal fibrous substrate fiber thicknesses on either side of the ribbon faces. Alternatively, the ribbon may be covered by fibers of the fibrous substrate to a lesser thickness on one side of the ribbon and a greater thickness on the other side of the ribbon.

The ribbon may still be entirely located on the surface of the security sheet, appearing on both sides of the security sheet. Alternatively, the ribbon may be close to the surface of the security sheet only by one of its faces, front or back, the other face being completely covered by the substrate.

The ribbon may still come flush with the surface of the security sheet either on one of its faces or on both sides of the sheet, or may come hollow or projecting on the surface of the security sheet.

The introduction of the bulk ribbon can in particular be carried out in a single jet, on a flat-bed or round-shaped paper machine. In the case of a form round, the ribbon is for example introduced into the form tank before or shortly after the beginning of the draining of the fibrous suspension on the fabric. The position of the ribbon in the thickness of the final security sheet is determined in particular by the place and the insertion inclination of the ribbon. The jet thus obtained can then be married in the wet state, that is to say before drying, with other jets whose fibrous compositions can be identical or different and which can be formed on paper machines at the table flat or round.

The sheet may have, at the region of reduced opacity, substantially the same thickness as in the vellum zone of the sheet. The ribbon can be completely covered by the substrate on its two main faces in the area of reduced opacity.

The area of reduced opacity may vary in size and shape. The area of reduced opacity may for example have a round, square, rectangular, oval, polygonal, star, or more generally with rectilinear and / or curvilinear contours, among others.

The area of reduced opacity may have irregularly shaped edges, for example in the form of broken or wavy lines, crenellations, zigzag, among others. The edges of the area of reduced opacity may have the same shapes or different shapes, regular or irregular.

The observation of the zone of reduced opacity can be done for example with the naked eye, by reflection or by transmission and in visible, ultraviolet or infrared light.

The zone of reduced opacity may have an opacity index of less than or equal to 80%, preferably less than 50%, according to the ISO 2469 standard.

The area of reduced opacity, and thus possibly the entire ribbon, can be made from any material, or a combination of several different materials. In particular, the ribbon may be a fibrous and / or plastic ribbon.

The area of reduced opacity can be made from a fibrous mass, especially paper. The area of reduced opacity can be made from a highly refined and uncharged fibrous composition which has low opacity. The area of reduced opacity can be made from fibers refined to a high Schöpper degree, at least greater than 65.

The area of reduced opacity can be made from a tracing paper. In particular, the opacity zone may be on a ribbon made of a tracing paper or may be made of a tracing paper placed, for example by gluing, on the ribbon.

The term "tracing paper" is used in the sense of the present invention, and traditionally in the paper industry, a so-called "natural" tracing paper obtained from an aqueous pulp suspension having undergone a refined refining of the cellulose fibers. that it contains.

In fact, paper pulps must undergo a refining step in order to hydrate and fibrilate the fibers. This step densifies the fibrous mat forming on the web of the paper machine and controls the physical and optical characteristics of the paper sheet. During the manufacture of tracing paper, this refining step is pushed to obtain a very dense sheet almost free of air (voids), which gives transparency to the paper.

Alternatively, the area of reduced opacity can be made from a composition of synthetic fibers, for example of polyamide or polyester type, preferably unfilled and thus having a low opacity. The zone of reduced opacity can also be made from a composition of polyolefin fibers, for example polyethylene, these fibers having undergone melting by a hot treatment of the sheet, in particular, a hot embossing carried out on the security sheet formed.

In another variant, the zone of reduced opacity may be made from a polymeric material, in particular a thermoplastic polymer, for example a transparent or opalescent plastic tape, or slightly opalescent, for example polyolefin, in particular polyethylene, or polyester .

When said polymeric material is opaque or translucent, for example for a porous plastic material, its opacity can be reduced, in particular by hot embossing.

The area of reduced opacity can be made from a material, especially a tracing paper, having previously undergone a wet strength treatment (WER).

The ribbon may have a wet strength (REH) with respect to traction greater than 30%, in particular so as not to cause problems when introducing the ribbon into the sheet. The resistance in the wet state in tension is measured dividing the value of the wet tensile strength measured according to standard NF Q 03.056 by the dry tensile strength measured according to the standard NF EN ISO 1924. This resistance in the wet state may in particular be provided in a conventional manner by means of addition of a wet strength agent, for example such as a polyamine-amide-epichlorohydrin resin (PAAE), a melamine formalin resin, etc.

Alternatively, an additional wet strength (REH) may be obtained by adding a portion of the REH agent (s) in surfactant baths of a fibrous sheet, for example for making the tape.

The ribbon may be made from a transparent or translucent ply-resistant fibrous sheet having an opacity index of less than 50% comprising fibers, an anionic polymer having a glass transition temperature greater than -45 ° C, and a proportion of between 5 and 40% by dry weight relative to the total dry weight of the sheet, a main cationic flocculating agent in a proportion of between 0.1 and 10% by dry weight relative to the total dry weight of the sheet .

The substrate may include one or more security elements on its front face and one or more security elements on its back side, the security elements of the front face being complementary with the security elements of the reverse side.

In the case where the fibrous substrate comprises at least one security element located on the front or on the back of the sheet, the ribbon may comprise at least one zone of reduced opacity and at least one complementary security element located on the front or back side. ribbon, substantially opposite the security element located on the front or the back of the sheet, so as to have the complementarity between the security element located on the front or the back of the sheet and the security element located on the front or back of the ribbon, the complementarity being observable in transvision at the reduced opacity zone.

One can still have a security element on the front of the substrate and the other security element on the back of the ribbon and vice versa.

When the substrate comprises at least two complementary security elements located respectively on the front and back of the substrate, and whose complementarity is observable in transvision at the reduced opacity zone of the ribbon, the ribbon may comprise on one of its faces at least one additional security element, which by complementarity (total or partial) with the security elements complementary substrate, allows to create by observation in transvision, at the area of reduced opacity of the ribbon, a particular pattern.

The ribbon may comprise one or more security elements, these elements corresponding or not to the additional security elements mentioned previously where being additional security elements.

The ribbon may comprise at least one additional security element on one of its faces, or even on each of its faces. The ribbon may have different additional security features on each side.

The security elements can preferably be applied, for example by printing, to the mark on the reduced opacity zone and / or the substrate. By "mark printing", it is to be understood that the position of the security elements relative to the reduced opacity zone is determined.

complementarity

The security elements can only represent different patterns completely or partially, for example one or more alphanumeric characters or drawings or logos, for example present elsewhere on the document.

The complementarity of the security elements observed in transvision can make appear different reasons, for example one or more alphanumeric characters or drawings or logos, for example present elsewhere on the document.

The complementary security elements can make it possible to observe in transvision at least one reason having a particular meaning for a user.

The security elements can form patterns that juxtapose when viewed in transvision, or alternatively patterns that overlap totally or partially.

The complementary security elements may have a slight opacity, in particular an opacity different from the reduced opacity zone and / or from the rest of the ribbon, notably a higher opacity. The opacity may be sufficient to show a contrast between the security elements and the reduced opacity zone and / or the ribbon during the observation in transvision.

Security elements can be impressions. The inks used may comprise other additional security elements, such as specific pigments, for example.

The security elements may comprise an electronic device, for example a chip. For example, a security element may be a chip constituting the point of a letter "i" formed otherwise by other security elements such as prints for example.

The security elements can make it possible to obtain different optical effects that vary or not, thanks to their complementarity observed in transvision.

The security elements can for example make it possible to obtain in transvision a "moiré effect".

For example, a moiré effect can reveal a pattern produced by the superposition of the two security elements, for example by bringing lines of the two security elements closer together. For example, a first impression can be made on the front side of the substrate and a second impression can be made on the back side of the substrate. During observation in transvision through the reduced opacity zone, a complementary pattern may appear by moire effect between the first and second impressions.

The security elements can still allow for example to obtain in transvision "combinatorial effects".

A "combinatorial effect" results from the observation in transvision of a particular pattern which is the result of the combination of two patterns each appearing on either side of the ribbon, for example on the front and back of the substrate. For example, a first pattern may be printed on the front of the substrate and a second pattern may be printed on the back of the substrate. During the observation in transvision, a third pattern can then be observed, resulting from the combination of the first and second patterns.

Advantageously, the zone of reduced opacity may have sufficient transparency to allow observation of a combinatorial effect.

Moiré effects and combinatorial effects can be achieved other than by printing on the front and back sides of the ribbon.

For example, a foil, namely a thin film, partially metallized or printed, hot-transferred and / or a patch may be applied to the front face and / or the back side of the fibrous substrate. The security elements may in this case appear on such a foil or patch. The foil or patch may for example be printed, metallized or demetallized.

The complementarity between the foils and / or the patches appearing on either side of the ribbon, for example on the front and back sides of the fibrous substrate, may make it possible to obtain the same moiré and / or combinatorial effects as previously described. The complementarity may for example be between impressions carried by the foils and / or patches. Complementarity can still be done between metallized patterns carried by the foils and / or patches.

The ribbon may comprise at least one security element placed directly on the ribbon, for example by printing, this element being complementary with at least one pattern of a foil and / or a patch appearing on the front and / or back side. of the substrate.

The ribbon can still be printed with one or more transparent inks, especially in the area of reduced opacity. The one or more transparent inks may be associated with at least one security element located on one side of the ribbon, for example with several security elements located on the front and / or back of the ribbon.

Advantageously, the use of transparent inks can preserve the shade of the ribbon. Thus, the area on which a transparentizing ink has been applied, in particular the zone of reduced opacity, may have the same shade as the areas of the ribbon where no transparentizing ink has been applied. In this way, the one or more transparent inks may not cause color difference between the zone or zones where they appear and the area or zones of the ribbon devoid of transparentizing ink.

A ribbon without shade and without load can be introduced into the colored fibrous substrate. In this way, it is possible to obtain a difference in shade between the ribbon and the substrate. Optionally, one or more transparentizing inks can be applied on the ribbon.

One or more transparent inks may be applied at a ribbon area whose reduced opacity has been achieved by other means, thereby creating one or more areas of increased transparency on the ribbon.

When the ribbon has areas where one or more transparent inks have been applied, but not only in this case, it is possible to apply other security elements, preferably visible, on the ribbon at these areas or outside these areas.

It is possible to print one or more patterns on the ribbon with one or more transparent inks, especially in the reduced opacity zone, this or these patterns defining one or more observation windows in transvision of the security sheet. Such patterns may for example allow a user to better locate on the security sheet where the area of reduced opacity and therefore the location can be observed in transvision. The printing of these patterns may allow a printer to create any kind of designs such as a particular logo or symbol. Printing one or more patterns corresponding to one or more observation windows may be associated with one or more security elements on either side of the ribbon.

The observation window (s) can have variable dimensions and shapes. The observation window or windows may for example have a round, square, rectangular, oval, polygonal or star shape, or more generally with rectilinear and / or curvilinear contours, among others. They may also have for example irregularly shaped edges, for example in the form of broken or wavy lines, crenellations, zigzag, among others. The edges can have the same shapes or different shapes, regular or irregular.

The inks or transparencies can be applied on both sides of the front and back of the ribbon, or on one side of the ribbon. When a single face of the two faces of the front and back of the ribbon comprises one or more transparent inks, the latter can advantageously be observable on the other side of the ribbon, especially because of the opacity of the ribbon at the area of the ribbon. reduced opacity.

In an exemplary implementation of the invention wherein the security sheet comprising the ribbon comprises at least one zone of reduced opacity, the sheet may comprise an impression, for example an iridescent printing, applied to the substrate and superimposed on the ribbon, with the exception of an unprinted reserve area, thus forming an observation window on said zone of reduced opacity.

When the ribbon has areas where one or more transparent inks have been applied at the area of reduced opacity, and an impression, for example iridescent, is applied to said area of reduced opacity of the ribbon except of said zones where one or more transparentizing inks have been applied, the ribbon then has unprinted reserve areas forming observation windows of increased transparency on the area of reduced opacity of the ribbon.

The ribbon may be fibrous, being for example based on cellulosic fibers (in particular cotton fibers) and / or natural organic fibers other than cellulosic fibers and / or synthetic fibers, for example such as polyester or polyamide fibers. and / or optionally mineral fibers, for example such as glass fibers. The ribbon may not include polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers.

The fibers may be hydrophilic, in particular so as to develop chemical bonds, mainly hydrogen, with the fibrous substrate.

The ribbon may comprise by weight at least 50% of cellulosic fibers.

The ribbon may have a grammage of between 5 and 100 g / m ² , preferably between 15 and 55 g / m ² and more preferably between 20 and 30 g / m ² .

The ribbon may have a width of between 2 and 60 mm, preferably between 4 and 30 mm and more preferably between 10 and 20 mm.

The ribbon may have a thickness of between 20 and 120 μm, preferably between 30 and 80 μm, and more preferably between 45 and 55 μm.

The ribbon may optionally be combined with a strip of thermoplastic material and / or metal, for example PET, laminated or hot rolled to the ribbon before its introduction into the fibrous substrate.

The incorporation of the ribbon to the substrate may not generate extra thickness of the security sheet. For example, the ribbon may be introduced into the fibrous substrate according to the process described in the application EP 0 773 320 .

The ribbon may have no watermark.

The substrate may or may not include a watermark. When the substrate has a watermark, it can be superimposed at least partially on the area of reduced opacity.

The ribbon may have optical properties that are different from those of the fibrous substrate, in particular coloring, fluorescence, phosphorescence, magneto-optical, photochromic, thermochromic, piezochromic, and other properties.

For example, the substrate and the ribbon may have different colors. All colors are possible. The ribbon and the substrate may have a color difference or color difference ΔE (according to the CIE Lab 1976 color space) greater than 0.2 and preferably greater than 1. However, the human eye is more sensitive to a difference in color. color on unsaturated hues, and one skilled in the art can adapt the color difference to obtain the desired "contrast".

The substrate and / or the ribbon may also comprise, for example in addition to a possible transparentizing ink, a conventional or security ink, in particular fluorescent, phosphorescent, magnetic, photochromic, thermochromic, piezochrome, among others. This ink can constitute a security element of the front and / or back sides of the ribbon. The ink may be applied partially or totally to the ribbon, i.e. only to certain areas of the ribbon surface, especially to the area of reduced opacity, or to the entire surface of the ribbon. The ink can be applied to the ribbon and / or the substrate by printing means such as offset, gravure, screen printing or inkjet printing.

The additional security elements may be one of the inks mentioned above.

The ribbon and / or the substrate may be further coated with a transparent or colored varnish.

The ribbon and / or the substrate may comprise a fluorescent agent. The fluorescent agent may be colored or not, visible or invisible in visible light. The fluorescent agent may for example be incorporated in the mass of the ribbon. The fluorescent agent may be visible for example under ultraviolet (UV) and / or infrared (IR) light.

Preferably, the ribbon extends between two opposite edges of the sheet.

The ribbon may have irregularly shaped edges, for example in the form of broken or wavy lines, crenellations, zigzag, among others. The edges of the ribbon can have the same shapes or different shapes, regular or irregular.

The ribbon may still have different characteristics perceptible for example to the sight or touch.

The ribbon may for example be embossed, thus creating a particular effect, for example a tactile or surface relief effect, the ribbon may appear partially on the surface of the fibrous substrate.

The ribbon may be coated with a thermoplastic polymer and optionally embossed as a result of this coating.

The ribbon can be printed with drops of varnish, resin or heat-reflecting ink, among others.

The ribbon may partially comprise, on some of these zones, a thermo-inflating ink making it possible to create at least one relief, this ink being activated before introducing the ribbon into the fibrous substrate. Activation before incorporation reduces the risk of destructuring the sheet during swelling of the ink.

The ribbon may comprise particles, for example detectable with the naked eye or with the touch, introduced in mass in the ribbon, for example in the form of balls, for example balls of a synthetic material, for example the polyurethane, or mineral , for example glass, of dimension for example less than 300 microns, or by deposition by screen printing or heliogravure, for example in the form of beads, for example less than 100 microns in size.

The ribbon may comprise a textile band, for example knitted, integrated ribbon or laminated tape.

The ribbon may partially include, in a localized manner, a relief printing, for example screen-printed.

The ribbon may have a rough, smooth, silky, soft feel, among other things.

The ribbon advantageously retains its own cohesion after introduction into the fibrous substrate. Also, the structure of the ribbon may be observable after its introduction into the fibrous substrate under certain conditions, for example in section or by vision in reflection or in transmission. Thus, it may be possible to observe the ribbon through differences in optical properties, for example differences in contrast, hue, saturation, clarity, opacity, which make visible a boundary between the ribbon and the substrate or characterize the presence of the ribbon.

The ribbon may still be observable by topography in the leaf.

The ribbon may also be observable by transparency in the sheet, in particular with the naked eye.

The ribbon may comprise perforations, in particular to promote drainage during the manufacture of the sheet or to add an additional optical effect. For example, these perforations are arranged at the edge of the ribbon or so as to form a pattern or a code.

Among the security elements, some are detectable to the naked eye, in visible light, without the use of a particular device. Advantageously, the reduced opacity zone of the ribbon of the security sheet according to the invention makes it possible to increase the visibility certain security features. These security elements comprise for example colored fibers or boards, fully or partially printed or metallized wires.

These security elements are called first level.

Other types of security elements are detectable only with a relatively simple device such as a lamp emitting in the ultraviolet or infrared. These security elements comprise, for example, fibers, boards, strips, wires or particles. These security elements may be visible to the naked eye or not, being for example luminescent under a lighting of a Wood lamp emitting in a wavelength of 365 nm.

These security elements are said to be second level.

Other types of security elements still require for their detection a more sophisticated detection device. These security elements are for example capable of generating a specific signal when they are subjected, simultaneously or not, to one or more external excitation sources. The automatic detection of the signal makes it possible to authenticate, if necessary, the document.

These security elements comprise for example tracers in the form of active material, particles or fibers, capable of generating a specific signal when these tracers are subjected to optronic, electrical, magnetic or electromagnetic excitation.

These security elements are said to be third level.

The security elements present on the ribbon and / or the substrate, especially in the zone of reduced opacity, may have first, second or third level security features.

The security elements may in particular be chosen from tracers, in particular nanoscale, security fibers including metallic, magnetic (with soft magnetism and / or hard), or absorbable or excitable in the ultraviolet (UV), the visible or the infrared (IR) and in particular the near-infrared (NIR), flat and relatively small security elements such as boards, pigments or pigment agglomerates especially absorbent or excitable under laser illumination or in the ultraviolet (UV) , the visible or the infrared (IR), in particular the near infrared (NIR), and the security threads (based on plastic, in particular polyester) comprising in particular an at least partial coating, metallic, metallized, or magnetic (with soft magnetism and / or hard), the coating may include in particular positive or negative patterns and said patterns may in particular be obtained by demetallization, and combinations thereof.

The incorporation of tracers in a security sheet through the ribbon is located, which allows in particular to create a zone, possibly invisible to the naked eye, recognition and / or authentication of said security document. The recognition and / or authentication of said document may in particular be based on the intensity and / or the type of the signal generated by the tracers, considered individually or not, on the density of the tracers, or on their spatial distribution in a zone. predefined or not of the document. In particular, randomly distributed tracers can form a unique signature and thus be used for identification purposes.

In particular, the introduction into a security sheet of pigments or agglomerates of absorbent pigments in the infrared or in the near infrared as mentioned above, can be used to make said sheet authenticatable, as described in the patent application. WO 2005/034049 .

In the particular case of a ribbon comprising magnetic fibers, the authentication can be performed by analyzing the signal of the magnetic response. In particular, the introduction into seedling, that is to say, in a mixture in the fibrous suspension before its dewatering, of soft magnetic fibers called "soft magnetic" fibers makes it possible, in a reproducible manner, to obtain a homogeneous distribution of magnetic soft fibers. On the other hand, the introduction of the strip magnetic soft fibers according to the prior art, that is to say in a round shape by localized supply ducts or by laminar flow over a flat table, induced a certain variability in the concentration of magnetic soft fibers, but also in the width of the magnetic soft fiber band. By using a security tape made by cutting a sheet comprising magnetic soft fibers introduced in seedling, the invention makes it possible to reproducibly obtain a homogeneous distribution of magnetic soft fibers. Thus, by varying the concentration of soft magnetic fibers and the width of the security tape introduced, the number of "signatures" or possible magnetic signals is multiplied.

According to a particular case of the invention, the ribbon comprises between 0.1 and 1% by dry weight of magnetic fibers, in particular with soft magnetism, with respect to the total amount of fibers, and preferably between 0.2 and 0. , 6%.

The ribbon may comprise a plurality of small boards distributed at a density of between 4000 and 25000 boards / m ² , preferably between 5000 and 20000 boards / m ² and more preferably between 11000 and 18000 boards / m ² . Due to the reduced opacity zone of the ribbon, the boards can be made more visible in transvision.

The ribbon may comprise a series of parallel safety wires, and more particularly the succession of inter-wire spaces and / or the series of different widths of the security wires constitute a code, in particular of the barcode type.

The ribbon may include a soft magnetically anti-theft wire. This type of antitheft security wire can be very sharp and therefore difficult to incorporate into a security sheet. It happens in particular that the anti-theft wire, when introduced according to the prior art, that is to say directly in a fibrous substrate, is not completely covered with fibers. The incorporation of such an antitheft security thread according to the present invention consists in the manufacture of a fibrous sheet in which several anti-theft security threads are introduced, the security sheet thus obtained then being cut into ribbons comprising at least one thread lock. These ribbons are then introduced into the fibrous substrate. Thus, the areas of the ribbon which may have fibrous overlap defects are covered by the fibrous material of the fibrous substrate, and thus a security sheet is obtained comprising at least one anti-theft security thread and free of covering defects.

According to a particular case of the invention, the ribbon comprises at least one electronic device. Preferably, the electronic device is a radio frequency identification device, more commonly referred to as an RFID device, and in particular an electronic chip and / or an antenna which can notably be printed on the ribbon. The reduced opacity zone of the ribbon may allow the electronic device to be more visible within the security sheet.

The ribbon may include perforations in a pattern or code. Depending on the differences in opacity and color between the substrate and the ribbon, the pattern or code is observable, or observable only in transmitted or observable light in both transmitted light and reflected light. If the ribbon has an invisible fluorescent print, the pattern may also be visible only under UV illumination.

In particular, the pattern produced by perforation comprises at least one alphanumeric character or an ideogram.

The ribbon can be calendered. This calendering is carried out in particular in order to minimize the extra thickness created by the introduction of the ribbon.

The ribbon may comprise an adhesive, for example a heat-sealing agent, in order to improve its cohesion within the fibrous substrate.

When the tape has an adhesive, the latter makes it possible to optimize the adhesion of the ribbon in the sheet.

The adhesive may for example be a heat-sealing coating, for example a heat-sealing varnish, an ultraviolet (UV) cross-linkable agent, an adhesive to be irradiated, a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA), a varnish with a solvent base, of the type polyester for example, an adhesive in the aqueous phase, etc.

As adhesive in the aqueous phase, mention may be made especially of the following marks: Mowilith DC (aqueous dispersion of vinyl acetate homopolymer with particles of size ranging from 0.3 μm to 2 μm and glass transition temperature T _g of 38 About C °, and solids dry content between 55 and 57%) and Vinamul 3265 from the company CELANESE; DH9004, DH9017, DH9044 and DL5001 from the company COLLANO; Primal NW 1845, Primal LC40, Primal P308M and Primal EP6000 from Rohm &Haas; the 006SDW078-2 from BASF.

The adhesive may advantageously be an adhesive based on polyvinyl acetate such as Mowilith DC.

The Applicant has found that among the adhesives mentioned above, Vinamul 3265, Mowilith DC, Collano DL5001, Primal NW1845 and Primal P308M have very good results in the dry crumple test, that is to say that the adhesion of the ribbon in the paper is not excessively affected by wrinkling.

In addition, Vinamul 3265 and Mowilith DC also perform very well in the wet crumple test. Mowilith DC has very good results in the washing test.

Also, Mowilith DC provides very good results in terms of adhesiveness, but the invention is not limited to a particular adhesive.

According to an exemplary implementation of the invention, the adhesive is not present in the form of fibers or in particulate form.

The addition of the adhesive to the security tape may in particular be done by a coating process, for example a coating, or by methods resulting from the techniques printing a paper base after its manufacture, for example air-bladed coating, gravure printing, screen printing, curtain coating, flexography, among others.

The coating of the adhesive, for example on a fibrous sheet used for the manufacture of the ribbon, can be carried out for example at a rate of 2 to 15 g / m ² per side, preferably between 3 and 8 g / m ² per face.

The sealing temperature can vary between 70 and 135 ° C, for example, depending on the adhesive used, and sealing can take place during drying of the security sheet.

The coating may be carried out at least partially at the core, that is to say reach in depth, or even the entire ribbon or surface.

Preferably, the coating is performed on the support used for the manufacture of the tape before cutting the support. Alternatively, the coating can be performed during the manufacture of the support for the manufacture of the tape.

The coating can be performed on one side of the support or on both sides of the support. The adhesive can completely cover the face on which it is deposited.

The incorporation of the adhesive tape can also be done by impregnation, by dipping the ribbon or the support used to make it in a bath.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a 20 g / m ² wet-strength fibrous sheet (REH) is coated with an adhesive in the aqueous phase at a rate of 5 g / m ^2. m ² per side, using a rotogravure process for example. This gives a satisfactory compromise between adhesion power and amount of coated material.

In order to detect the presence of the adhesive in a security sheet according to the invention, it is possible to observe the adhesive, for example the heat-sealing varnish, in the form of bubbles, for example with the aid of a scanning electron microscope (SEM).

substratum

The term "substrate" denotes a fibrous sheet that may especially comprise one or more fibrous layers. In particular, the term "jets" will be used to denote layers produced continuously on the same paper machine and then associated with the wet state.

The substrate may comprise at least one security element, in particular chosen from tracers, in particular nanometric tracers, and especially metallic, magnetic (soft magnetism and / or hard), or absorbent or excitable, security fibers. in the ultraviolet (UV), visible or infrared (IR) and in particular the near infrared (NIR), flat and relatively small security elements such as boards, pigments or pigment agglomerates including absorbents or excitable under laser illumination or in the ultraviolet (UV), visible or infrared (IR), in particular the near infrared (NIR), and security son (usually based plastics, including polyester) comprising in particular an at least partial coating, metal, metallized, iridescent or magnetic (with soft magnetism and / or hard), the coating may include in particular positive or negative patterns and the patterns may in particular be obtained by demetallization, chemical reagents or biochemical infalsification and / or authentication and / or identification may in particular react with at least one respectively falsification agent and / or authentication and / or identification cation, and optically variable elements including holograms, liquid crystals, iridescent pigments or mirror effect structures, particularly dielectric layers, and combinations thereof.

The fibrous substrate may in particular comprise safety elements visible to the naked eye, but it may also include tracers which are in the form of active material, particles or fibers, capable of generating a specific signal when these tracers are subject to to optronic, electrical, magnetic or electromagnetic excitation. These "tracers" constitute an identifiable substance through a distinctive property and used to mark an element (a security document in this case) and ensure its follow-up, the follow-up of its evolution or allow its recognition, authentication or identification.

The dielectric structures with a mirror effect consist of an alternation of high and low index layers, for example respectively of Hafnium dioxide and of silica, and may in particular be obtained by ion etching.

According to a particular case of the invention, the fibrous substrate comprises at least one chemically or biochemical chemical tampering and / or authentication and / or identification reagent reacting in a colored manner, with at least one respectively falsifying agent and / or or authentication and / or identification.

The fibrous substrate may be based on fibers as described above for the ribbon. The substrate also comprises conventional additives, in particular mineral fillers giving it an opacity greater than that of the ribbon.

According to a particular case of the invention, the fibrous substrate and the ribbon are based on the same fibers, that is to say that their fiber composition is the same in nature and preferably in the same proportions, this allows a good affinity between both components and can, in addition, be an additional means of authentication.

Leaf

Preferably, the sheet comprises at least two jets and is formed by papermaking on a round shape, the tape being introduced during the formation of one of the jets, for example in the wet part of the machine.

The incorporation can still be carried out according to a single-jet technique. In order to facilitate drainage, one or more relatively narrow ribbons may be introduced, and in the case of several ribbons, with sufficient spacing between them.

It is also possible to use an at least partially microperforated ribbon to facilitate drainage and its resistance in the sheet.

The sheet can also be formed on a paper machine combining a flat table and a round shape.

The introduction of the ribbon into the fibrous substrate can also be done according to the methods of introduction of the plastic security threads of the prior art or by laminating the ribbon between two sheets or fibrous layers which then constitute the base of the fibrous substrate .

Security document

The invention also relates to a security document comprising a sheet as defined above.

This document can be manufactured by cutting, binding, binding, rolling, gluing and / or laminating this sheet.

In particular, the security document may be a means of payment, such as a bank note, a check or a restaurant ticket, an identity document such as an identity card or a visa or a passport or a passport. driver's license, a lottery ticket, a ticket or a ticket to cultural or sporting events.

Article to authenticate

The invention also relates to an article to be authenticated comprising the sheet as defined or obtained previously, the article being chosen from a security tag, packaging, in particular a packaging for medicines or for food or for cosmetics or perfumes or for electronic parts or for spare parts, a sheet used in the medical or hospital field, in particular a paper used to make sterilization packaging , and again a paper of art.

Manufacturing process

The invention also relates to a method of papermaking a sheet as defined above, wherein the ribbon is introduced in the wet portion in the fibrous substrate. The substrate and ribbon assembly thus obtained is then pressed and dried.

According to an exemplary implementation of the invention, the ribbon is introduced in the wet part, in bulk in the fibrous substrate. For this purpose, known methods can be used to introduce plastic security threads of the prior art. The ribbon may have any of the features detailed above, or any combination thereof.

According to another example of implementation of the invention, the method uses a paper machine which is equipped with at least one round shape, and the ribbon is introduced into the round shape of the bowl, before or shortly after the beginning of the dewatering of the composition forming the fibrous substrate of the sheet.

The method may further utilize a paper machine that is equipped with at least one flat table, and the ribbon is introduced over the flat table, during the dewatering of the composition forming the substrate of the sheet.

• la figure 1 représente, en vue de face, la face recto d'un exemple de feuille selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 représente, en vue de face, la face verso de la feuille de la figure 1,
• les figures 3 à 7 représentent, en coupe, des exemples de disposition des éléments de sécurité d'une feuille selon l'invention, et
• la figure 8 représente, en vue de face, la face recto d'un autre exemple de feuille selon l'invention, et
• la figure 9 représente, en vue de face, la face verso de la feuille de la figure 8.

The invention will be better understood on reading which follows, the description of non-limiting examples of implementation of the invention and the examination of the figures of the drawing, schematic and partial, in which:

• the figure 1 represents, in front view, the front face of an exemplary sheet according to the invention,
• the figure 2 represents, in front view, the reverse side of the sheet of the figure 1 ,
• the Figures 3 to 7 represent, in section, examples of the arrangement of the security elements of a sheet according to the invention, and
• the figure 8 represents, in front view, the front face of another example of sheet according to the invention, and
• the figure 9 represents, in front view, the reverse side of the sheet of the figure 8 .

We have shown on the figure 1 , a sheet 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, comprising a fibrous substrate 2 and a ribbon 3.

In this example, although it is apparent in the drawing to facilitate the understanding of the figure, the ribbon 3 is fully incorporated in the fibrous substrate 2. Preferably, the opacity of the substrate 2 is sufficient to allow the observation of the The ribbon 3 may optionally be incorporated in the fibrous substrate 2 so that it is flush with the surface of the sheet 1 on one or both of its front and back sides.

The fibrous tape 3 defines a zone of reduced opacity 4. The zone of reduced opacity 4 may be obtained by one of the methods described above and may have one or more of the characteristics mentioned above.

The front face of the substrate 2, corresponding in this example to the front face of the sheet 1, has at the level of the reduced opacity zone 4, a security element 5 visible in reflection, for example as illustrated in the form of two figures zeros, shown in this example on a transparent patch 7. All the variants previously described for the security elements are possible alternatively to the solution proposed in this example.

The figure 2 represents the reverse side of sheet 1 of the figure 1 . In this figure, it can be seen that the back side of the substrate 2, corresponding in this example to the back side of the sheet 1, has at the level of the reduced opacity zone 4 of the ribbon 3, a second security element 6, in the form of numbers two and eight.

The security elements 5 and 6 respectively of the front and back side of the substrate 2 are complementary. They represent two distinct reasons.

During an observation in transvision of the reduced opacity zone 4 of the ribbon 3, it is possible to observe, for example by moire or combinatorial effect, a third pattern resulting from the superposition of the patterns formed by the security elements. 5 and 6, this pattern corresponding in this example to 2008. By way of illustration, there is shown the two figures 2 and 8 which appear in dotted transvision on the figure 2 .

In the example of Figures 1 and 2 , the security elements 5 and 6 are respectively located on the front and the back of the substrate 2. In a variant, the security elements may be located on at least one of the faces of the ribbon 3 and / or at least one of the faces of the substrate 2. All the combinations described above are possible.

The Figures 3 to 7 represent, in section, a sheet 1 according to the invention with different possibilities of location of the security elements 5 and 6.

The figure 3 represents a sheet 1 comprising security elements 5 and 6 located respectively on the front and the back of the substrate 2.

In the example of the figure 4 , the security element 5 is located on the front of the substrate 2 and the security element 6 is on the back of the ribbon 3.

The figure 5 represents a sheet 1 comprising a security element 5 located on the front of the ribbon 3 and a security element 6 located on the back of the substrate 2.

The figure 6 represents a sheet 1 comprising two security elements 5 and 6 located respectively on the front and back of the ribbon 3.

In the example of the figure 7 , the security elements 5 and 6 are respectively located on the front and back of the substrate 2. The sheet 1 further comprises another security element 9 located on the front of the ribbon 3. This security element 9 may be an additional security element as those described above. The security element 9 may or may not be complementary to at least one of the security elements 5 and 6.

In the examples of Figures 1 to 7 the security elements 5 and 6, and possibly the security element 9, are complementary, their complementarity being observable in transvision at the level of the reduced opacity zone, which can be located at a fraction of the ribbon 3 or may extend to the entire ribbon 3.

The dimensions of the security elements 5, 6 and 9 may be variable, the latter may for example be superimposed on one another completely or partially. The security elements 5, 6 and 9 may or may not overlap completely with the reduced opacity zone 4.

The figure 8 represents the front of another example of sheet 1 according to the invention.

The sheet 1 comprises a ribbon 3 and a fibrous substrate 2. The zone of reduced opacity 4 corresponds here to the entirety of the ribbon 3, and it is merged with it.

The substrate 2 comprises on the front an iridescent impression 10 superimposed on the reduced opacity zone 4 of the ribbon 3 except on a reserve zone, not printed, forming an observation window 8.

A security element 5, in the form of the number one in this example, is printed, for example, on the substrate 2 in the observation window 8.

The figure 9 represents the back of sheet 1 of the figure 8 .

In this figure, it can be seen that the opacity of the substrate 2 is sufficient to perceive in transvision the observation window 8 and the iridescent printing zone 10.

A security element 6, in the form of the zero digit, is printed, for example, on the back of the substrate 2 at the observation window 8. The security elements 5 and 6 are complementary, the observation of the substrate 2 on the front or back of the sheet 1 at the ribbon 3 for example to observe the two numbers one and zero. The security elements 5 and 6 appearing in transvision are shown in dashed lines on the Figures 9 and 8 .

The observation zone 8 can thus enable an observer to locate on the sheet 1 the zone where the complementarity of the security elements 5 and 6 can be observed.

Other security elements could be printed in the observation window 8 or printed in the iridescent printing area 10. As a variant, the observation window 8 could itself constitute a security element.

Example 1 of ribbon

A paper ribbon is made from unpigmented (i.e., uncharged) cotton fibers, which ribbon has also been wet-strength treated (REH) by the use of resin. polyamide amine epichlorohydrin. The ribbon then has a basis weight of 37 g / m ² , a thickness of 51 microns and an opacity index of 69.4 measured according to the ISO 2469 standard.

The ribbon has a color defined by the color coordinates L * a * b *: 94.8 / 0.53 / 1.60. (according to CIE Lab 1976 color space, illuminant D65, observation angle 10 °).

This ribbon is introduced into a shaped tank in a pigmented fibrous suspension comprising cotton fibers, titanium dioxide and shading dyes, this tape having also been treated so as to be wet-resistant (REH). and having a polyvinyl alcohol surfacing.

This gives a security sheet having the following characteristics.

At the level of the ribbon integrated in the sheet, the total thickness of the sheet is 112 μm and the opacity index is 84.7. The measured color is defined by the colorimetric coordinates L * a * b *: 94.8 / 0.14 / 4.83 under illuminant D65, observer 10 °.

At the vellum area of the security sheet, the basis weight is 87.3 g / m ² , the thickness is 114 μm and the opacity index is 90.1, which is a difference in opacity 5.4 with the area where the ribbon is. The measured color is then defined by the colorimetric coordinates L * a * b *: 94.9 / -0.28 / 5.24 under illuminant D65, observation angle 10 °.

Ribbon Example 2

A wet tracing paper tape is made from a fibrous suspension comprising highly refined cellulosic resin fibers, a carboxylated styrene-butadiene copolymer, a flocculation agent in the form of a PAAE resin. The ribbon then has a basis weight of 55.2 g / m ² , a thickness of 86 microns and an opacity index of 40.3.

The ribbon has a color defined by the colorimetric coordinates L * a * b *: 84.1 / -1.63 / 0.92 under illuminant D65, observation angle 10 °.

This ribbon is introduced into a shaped tank in a pigmented fibrous suspension comprising cotton fibers, titanium dioxide and shading dyes, which has also been wet-resistant treated (REH) and has been surface-treated. polyvinyl alcohol.

This gives a security sheet having the following characteristics.

At the ribbon integrated in the sheet, the thickness obtained is 131 μm and the opacity index is 87.9. The measured color is defined by the colorimetric coordinates L * a * b *: 90.1 / 2.21 / 5.91 under illuminant D65, observer 10 °.

At the vellum area of the security sheet, the basis weight is 92.5 g / m ² , the thickness is 108 μm and the opacity index is 91.9, which is a difference in opacity of 4 with the area where the ribbon appears. The measured color is then defined by the colorimetric coordinates L * a * b *: 90.9 / 3.21 / 8.20 under illuminant D65, observer 10 °.

The two examples 1 and 2 above describe two ribbons that can be used in the context of the present invention, the respective areas of reduced opacity of these two ribbons extending to the entirety of each of the ribbons.

The additional security elements on the substrates may be as previously described.

In particular, the substrates may comprise complementary security elements in the form of prints, the substrates then being printed on each of their faces. In examples 1 and 2, the substrate may in particular comprise as security elements patterns in the form of two complementary digits respectively printed on each of the faces of the substrate, patterns whose complementarity is observable in transvision at the zone level. reduced opacity of the ribbon.

The expression "comprising one" is synonymous with "having at least one", unless the opposite is specified.

Claims (21)

1. A sheet (1) comprising a fiber substrate (2) and at least one ribbon (3) defining at least one zone (4) of reduced opacity, the sheet (1) including at least two complementary security elements (5, 6) situated respectively on either side of said at least one ribbon (3) and of complementarity that is observable in show-through by virtue of the zone (4) of reduced opacity.
2. A sheet according to claim 1, the zone (4) of reduced opacity covering the entire ribbon (3).
3. A sheet according to either preceding claim, the security elements (5, 6) being situated respectively on the recto and the verso of the substrate (2).
4. A sheet according to claim 1 or claim 2, one of the security elements (5, 6) being situated on the ribbon (3) and the other on the substrate (2).
5. A sheet according to claim 4, the security elements (5, 6) being situated respectively on the recto of the substrate (2) and on the verso of the ribbon, or vice versa.
6. A sheet according to claim 3, the ribbon (3) comprising on at least one of its faces at least one additional security element that is complementary to at least one of the complementary security elements (5, 6) of the sheet (1).
7. A sheet according to any preceding claim, the zone (4) of reduced opacity presenting an opacity index that is less than or equal to 80%, preferably less than 50%, in accordance with the ISO 2469 standard.
8. A sheet according to any preceding claim, the zone (4) of reduced opacity being made from a non-filled highly refined fiber composition.
9. A sheet according to any preceding claim, the zone (4) of reduced opacity being made from a tracing paper.
10. A sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the zone (4) of reduced opacity being made from a composition of synthetic fibers, in particular of the polyamide or polyester type, and preferably non-filled.
11. A sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the zone (4) of reduced opacity being made from a polymer material, in particular a plastics ribbon that is transparent or opalescent, in particular a polyester ribbon.
12. A sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the zone of reduced opacity being made from a composition of polyolefin fibers, in particular polyethylene fibers, the fibers being subjected to localized melting by heat treatment, the treatment being in particular hot embossing of the sheet.
13. A sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the zone (4) of reduced opacity being made from a material, in particular a tracing paper, that has previously been subjected to wet strength (WS) treatment.
14. A sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the ribbon being made from a crease-resistant fiber sheet that is transparent or translucent with an opacity. index of less than 50%, comprising fibers, an anionic polymer presenting a glass transition temperature higher than -45°C and at a concentration lying in the range 5% to 40% by dry weight relative to the total dry weight of the sheet used for making the ribbon, and a main cationic flocculation agent at a concentration lying in the range 0.1% to 10% by dry weight relative to the total dry weight of the sheet used for making the ribbon.
15. A sheet according to any preceding claim, the two security elements (5, 6) serving to obtain moiré effects in show-through.
16. A sheet according to any preceding claim, the two security elements (5, 6) being printing.
17. A sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 15, the two security elements (5, 6) appearing on a foil and/or a patch (7) applied to the recto and/or the verso of the substrate (2) at least in register with the zone (4) of reduced opacity.
18. A sheet according to any preceding claim, the ribbon (3) including in register with the zone (4) of reduced opacity one or more patterns made with one or more transparentizing inks, said pattern(s) defining one or more show-through observation windows (8) of the sheet (1).
19. A security document including a sheet (1) as defined in any one of claims 1 to 18.
20. An article to be authenticated including a sheet (1) as defined in any one of claims 1 to 18.
21. An article according to the preceding claim, the article being selected from a security label, packaging, in particular packaging for medication, for food, cosmetics, perfumes, electronic parts, or spare parts, a sheet used in the medical or hospital field, in particular a paper used for sterilization packaging, or art paper.

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