GB2160476A

GB2160476A - A form, a card and a method of producing a card

Info

Publication number: GB2160476A
Application number: GB08415483A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Ayre
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-06-18
Filing date: 1984-06-18
Publication date: 1985-12-24
Also published as: GB8415483D0

Abstract

A form (1), comprises: (i) a first layer (2) having on one face a layer of discretely releasable ink (3) or transfer material; and (ii), juxtaposed to the first layer (2), a second layer (4) of a plastics material capable of absorbing that ink (3), or bonding to that transfer material, when released; wherein the layer of ink (3) or transfer material, which faces the second layer (4), is of such a form that, when pressure is applied to the layer of ink (3) or transfer material, via the second layer (4), the ink (3) is released at the region of pressure and is absorbed by, or the transfer material is released at the region of pressure and adheres to, the second layer (4) in a corresponding region, so marking that region. The layer of plastics material (4) may be incorporated into a security card to display information. In another embodiment, the transferable layer is carried by the second, plastics, layer. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A form, a card and a method of producing a card This invention relates to a form, a card and a method of producing a card and is more particularly, although not exclusively, concerned with security cards which have a layer displaying variable information, the layer being derived from a form.

Plastic credit cards, security pass cards and cheque guarantee cards are all identified by means of a mark unique to the user of that card, usually a signature accompanied by a code, and in some instances,a photograph. Currently, the personal identification, e.g. a signature, is applied to the card after the card has been manufactured; therefore, the card is usually sent through the post to the intended user of the card who, on receipt of the card, uniquely identifies the card with, for example, his signature.

This procedure means that cards which bear no unique, personalised indication, pass through the post and, hence, may be intercepted and used for fraudulent purposes.

According to the first aspect of the present invention there is provided a form, wherein at least a portion of the form comprises: (i) a first layer having on one face a layer of discretely releasable ink or transfer material; and (ii), juxtaposed to the first layer, a second layer of a plastics material which is capable of absorbing that ink, or bonding to that transfer material, when released; wherein the layer of ink or transfer material, which faces the second layer, is of such a form that, when pressure is applied to the layer of ink or transfer material, via the second layer, the ink is released at the region of pressure and is absorbed by, or the transfer material is released at the region of pressure and adheres to, the second layer in a corresponding region, so marking that region.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a form, wherein at least a portion of the form comprises: (i) a first layer; and (ii) , juxtaposed to the first layer, a second layer of a plastics material having on one face a layer of discreetly releasable transfer material; wherein the layer of transfer material, which faces the first layer, is of such a form that, when pressure is applied to the layer of transfer material, via the second layer, the transfer is released at the region of pressure.

Preferably, the transfer material, released at the region of pressure, adheres to the first layer in a corresponding region, so marking that region.

The second layer may be treated so that it has an improved receptibility to ink; the second layer may also have adhesive properties and/or tactile properties. Alternatively an additional layer, in juxtaposition to the second layer and remote from the first layer, may be provided having tactile properties.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a card which displays infor mation and comprises: (i) a base layer formed from a plastics material; and (ii) , bonded to the base layer, a data-imparting layer of a plastics material having ink absorbed therein, or transfer material adhering thereto, in one or more selected region.

The data-imparting layer of the card may correspond to, and be derived from, the second layer of plastics material which forms part of the form as described above. In this case, the ink which is absorbed into, or the transfer material which adheres onto, the data-imparting layer of plastics material will, for forms according to the first aspect of the present invention, be at a region where pressure has been applied to the second layer of the form and, for forms according to the second aspect of the present invention, the transfer material will be missing from the region where pressure has been applied to the second layer of the form.

The form described above may be an application form onto which data is to be inscribed by means of a writing implement. Such an application form may be sent by a card manufacturer, e.g. a manufacturer of credit cards, security pass cards or bank guarantee cards, to a person to whom a card is to be issued. That person then provides a unique indication, e.g. a signature, to the multi-layered portion of the form. Where the form is according to the first aspect of the present invention, ink, or the transfer material, is released from the first layer and is absorbed by, or adheres to, corresponding regions of the first layer. Where the form is according to the second aspect, the transfer material is released from the regions of the second layer where pressure is applied.The application form, appropriately completed, may then be sent back to the card manufacturer where the second layer of plastics material, which now has ink absorbed therein, or transfer material absorbed thereon, in one or more selected region, may be bonded to the base layer of the appropriate card "blank".

With this procedure, the finished card is never in an unsigned state and, accordingly, this system of producing and issuing cards is considerably more secure than unsigned "security" cards which are presently issued by post.

The second layer of the form and the data-imparting layer of the card are preferably, but not necessarily, formed from a polyvinyl chloride plastics material. This plastics material has been found best suited for absorbing the ink. The polyvinyl chloride plastics material is conveniently clear in order that any ink absorbed into, or transfer material adhering onto, that layer is easily visible. The second layer of the form, or the data-imparting layer of the card, preferably has a thickness of up to 200 lim and more preferably a thickness of about 100 zm.

The preferred plastics material from which the base layer of the card is formed is a polyvinyl chloride plastics material; this has been found to bond particularly well to a data-imparting layer which is formed from a polyvinyl chloride plastics material.

The form may comprise additional layers, for ex ample, layers conferring rigidity on at least a portion of the form. The additional, or further additional, layer may be a layer equivalent to the first layer of the form, or may be a conventional carbon paper; this additional layer, placed in juxtaposition to the first layer of the form and on that face thereof remote from the second layer may serve to provide an additional record of a signature, or appropriate mark which is inscribed on the form.

Where the form used is according to the second aspect of the present invention, transfer material, in the pattern of the signature or other appropriate mark, may, after marking, be present on the first layer. This may provide a second record of the mark and removes the necessity for a further layer of carbon paper.

The ink referred to throughout the specification may be in the form of a bleach; in this case, a dye may be distributed through the second layer such that, upon release of the bleach and absorbtion into the second layer, the appropriate mark is bleached into the second layer. The ink may also refer to any inorganic or organic chemical or chemicals which, upon being released from the first layer, interact with the second layer. The second layer may be pretreated through its entire thickness or only at the surface thereof so that the chemical causes a visible mark to be made in the second layer or at the surface thereof.

Forms according to the second aspect of the present invention may have a pattern incorporated into the second layer between the plastics material and the transfer material. When transfer material is released from the second layer, the pattern will be visible, and provide further security when the second layer is laminated to a blank to make a card.

The form according to the first aspect of the present invention may further comprise a removable layer which is juxtaposed to the second layer on that face thereof remote from the first layer and is weakly bonded to the second layer, wherein the removable layer is formed from a plastics material which is substantially impervious to the ink. This removable layer is preferably formed from a polyester plastics material. The removable layer may be present so that, when a card is being manufactured, which involves laminating together the base layer of the card and a portion from the form, there is a layer protecting the presses from the ink absorbed in the data-imparting layer. The ink cannot pass through the removable layer and is therefore not smeared onto the presses used in the manufacture of a card. After pressing, the removable layer can be removed.

The card may be provided, in the base layer, with a recess capable of housing an informationconveying insert. The information-conveying insert may conveniently be a photograph.

In addition to the data, displayed by the ink absorbed into, or transfer material adhering onto, the data-imparting layer,being an inscription in the form of a signature, there may also be provided data in the form of an Optical Character Read (OCR) number. This can be added to the data-imparting layer when that layer is still part of the application form, by applying pressure to the relevant part of the form.

The card is preferably provided with one or more further security features; the security feature may be in the form of a guilloche, a hologram or an ultra-violet sensitive ink.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of producing a card as described above, the method comprising laminating together a base layer, which is formed from a plastics material, and a film comprising one or more layer wherein one of the one or more layer is a data-imparting layer of a plastics material which has ink absorbed thereon, or transfer material adhering thereto, in one or more selected region, wherein the data-imparting layer of plastics material corresponds to, and is derived from, the second layer of plastics material which forms part of the form according to the first two aspects of the present invention.

The film may also include a removable layer which corresponds to the removable layer of the form as described above. This removable layer is removed after lamination of the base layer and the film.

The lamination process preferably takes place at a temperature in the range from 115 to 130", more preferably approximately 120to. The lamination is conveniently carried out at pressure, preferably in the range from 11.25 to 15 kgicm2.

Several cards may be laminated in one step by interleaving, between the outer plates of the main press, cards in the pre-laminated form with metal plates.

Heat is applied at the appropriate temperature until the card most distant from the outer plates of the main press reaches the desired temperature.

This ensures that all the cards are correctly laminated.

After lamination, the card is allowed to cool whilst still under pressure. The card is then trimmed and cut to the necessary size.

The transfer material used in the present invention may be sold under the trademark INSTANTEX Q by Letraset.

Reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of a portion of a form according to the first aspect of the present invention; Figure 2 shows an oblique perspective view of a card according to the present invention; and Figure 3 shows a side view of the card illustrated in Figure 2.

Referring first to Figure 1, a portion 1 of a form is illustrated. This portion 1 comprises a first layer 2 having on one face a layer of discretely releasable ink 3. Juxtaposed to the first layer, adjacent the face of the first layer 2 which has the ink 3 absorbed thereon, there is a second layer 4 of a plastics material which is capable of absorbing the ink 3. Juxtaposed to this second layer, and remote from the layer of ink 3, there is a removable layer 5 of a plastics material, for example, a polyester plastics material.

In use of the form, a person applies pressure to the uppermost, i.e. the removable, layer 5 by means of a writing implement. The pressure applied releases the ink 3 from the regions at which pressure is applied, and the ink is then free to be absorbed at corresponding regions in the second layer 4.

The form, which now has a permanent record of an appropriate inscription recorded in the second layer, may be returned to, for example, a security card manufacturer, where the first layer 2 (and unused ink 3) may be peeled from the combination of the second layer 4 and removable layer 5 and the second layer 4, together with the removable layer 5, may be laminated to a card "blank". The removable layer 5, which is impermeable to the ink, prevents ink 3 escaping from the second layer 4 and marking the press plates or rollers which apply pressure to laminate the card.

Turning to Figure 2, a card according to the present invention is illustrated. The card comprises a base layer 6 having various patterns 7, 8 marked thereon. The card further comprises a data-imparting layer 9 (shown in Figure 3) which corresponds to the second layer 4 of the form as illustrated in Figure 1. The data-imparting layer 9 has ink absorbed therein at selected regions 10, and the absorbed ink conveys information. An insert 11 may be provided beneath the data-imparting layer 9.

The insert 11, which sits in a shallow recess (not shown) may be in the form of a photograph.

Figure 3 shows the section across Ill-Ill in Figure 2. The base layer 6 of the card has a recess 12 within which an insert, for example, a photograph, may sit. Juxtaposed to the base layer 6, and overlying the recess 12, is the data-imparting layer 9 of a plastics material. Ink 13 is absorbed into the data-imparting layer and this ink conveys information.

Claims

1. A form, wherein at least a portion of the form comprises: (i) a first layer having on one face a layer of discretely releasable ink or transfer material; and (ii) , juxtaposed to the first layer, a second layer of a plastics material capable of absorbing that ink, or bonding to that transfer material, when released; wherein the layer of ink or transfer material, which faces the second layer, is of such a form that, when pressure is applied to the layer of ink or transfer material, via the second layer, the ink is released at the region of pressure and is absorbed by, or the transfer material is released at the region of pressure and adheres to, the second layer in a corresponding region, so marking that region.

2. A form, wherein at least a portion of the form comprises: (i) a first layer; and (ii) ,juxtaposed to the first layer, a second layer of a plastics material having on one face a layer of discretely releasable transfer material; wherein the layer of transfer material, which faces the first layer, is of such a form that, when pressure is applied to the layer of transfer material, via the second layer, the transfer is released at the region of pressure.

3. A form according to Claim 2, wherein the transfer material, released at the region of pressure, adheres to the first layer in a corresponding region, so marking that region.

4. A form according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, which is an application form onto which data is to be inscribed by means of a writing implement.

5. A form according to any preceding claim, wherein the second layer is formed from a polyvinyl chloride plastics material.

6. A form according to Claim 5, wherein the polyvinyl chloride plastics material is clear.

7. A form according to any preceding claim, wherein thesecond layer of plastics material has a thickness of up to 200 > m.

8. A form according to Claim 7, wherein the second layer has a thickness of 100clam.

9. A form according to any preceding claim, further comprising one or more additional layer.

10. A form according to Claim 9, wherein the one or more additional layer confers rigidity on at least a portion of the form.

11. A form according to Claim 9,or 10, wherein the or each additional layer is a layer equivalent to said first layer or is a conventional carbon paper.

12. A form as claimed in any one of Claims 1, or 4 to 11, further comprising a removable layer which is juxtaposed to the second layer on that face thereof remote from the first layer and is weakly bonded to the second layer, wherein the removable layer is formed from a plastics material which is substantially impervious to the ink.

13. A form as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the removable layer is formed from a polyester plastics material.

14. A form according to Claim 1 or 2, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

15. A card which displays information and comprises: (i) a base layer formed from a plastics material; and (ii) ,bonded to the base layer, a data-imparting layer of a plastics material having ink absorbed therein, or a transfer material adhering thereto, in one or more selected region.

16. A card as claimed in Claim 15, wherein the base layer is formed from a polyvinyl chloride plastics material.

17. A card according to Claim 15 or 16, wherein the data-imparting layer is formed from a polyvinyl chloride plastics material.

18. A card according to Claim 15, 16 or 17, wherein the data-imparting layer has a thickness of up to 200jim.

19. A card according to Claim 18, wherein the data-imparting layer has a thickness of 100 > m.

20. A card according to Claim 13, wherein the data-imparting layer of plastics material corresponds to, and is derived from, the second layer of plastics material which forms part of the form as claimed in any one of Claims 1 or 4 to 11, and wherein the ink is absorbed into, or the transfer material adheres onto, the data-imparting layer of plastics material at the region where pressure has been applied to the second laver of the form.

21. A card according to an one of Claims 15 to 20, wherein there is provided, in the base layer, a recess capable of housing an information conveying insert.

22. A card according to Claim 21, wherein the information conveying insert is a photograph.

23. A card according to any one of Claims 15 to 22, wherein the data displayed by the ink absorbed into the data-imparting layer is an inscription.

24. A card according to Claim 23, wherein the inscription is a signature and'or an OCR number.

25. A card according to any one of Claims 15 to 24, wherein the card is provided with one or more security feature.

26. A card according to Claim 25, wherein the security feature is in the form of a guilloche, a hologram, or an ultra-voilet sensitive ink.

27. A card according to Claim 15, substantially as herein before described with reference to and as illustrated in, Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

28. A method of producing a card as claimed in any one of Claims 15 to 27 or 37, the method comprising laminating together a base layer, which is formed from a plastics material, and a film comprising one or more layer wherein one of the one or more layer is a data-imparting layer of a plastics material which has ink absorbed therein, or transfer material adhering thereto, in one or more selected region, wherein the data-imparting layer of plastics material corresponds to, and is derived from, the second layer of plastics material which forms part of the form as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 13.

29. A method according to Claim 28, wherein the film also includes a removable layer which corresponds to the removable layer of the form as claimed in Claims 12 or 13.

30. A method according to Claim 29, wherein, after lamination, the removable layer is removed.

31. A method according to any one of Claims 28 to 30, wherein the lamination takes place at a temperature of from 115 to 130 C.

32. A method according to Claim 31, wherein the temperature is approximately 120vac.

33. A method according to any one of Claims 28 to 32, wherein the lamination is carried out at pressure.

34. A method according to Claim 33, wherein the pressure is in the range from 11.25 to 15 kilograms per square centimetre.

35. A method according to Claim 28, substantially as hereinbefore described.

36. A form according to Claim 2, substantially as herein before described.

37. A card according to any one of Claims 15 to 19 or Claims 21 to 26, wherein the data-imparting layer of plastics material corresponds to, and is derived from, the second layer of plastics material which forms part of the form as claimed in Claim ; or 3, and wherein the transfer material is missing from the data-imparting layer at the region where pressure has been applied to the second layer of the form.