GB2565561A

GB2565561A - Document security

Info

Publication number: GB2565561A
Application number: GB1713097.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Crowther Jim
Original assignee: SECURITY PRINT SOLUTIONS Ltd
Current assignee: SECURITY PRINT SOLUTIONS Ltd
Priority date: 2017-08-15
Filing date: 2017-08-15
Publication date: 2019-02-20
Also published as: GB201713097D0

Abstract

A document comprising a first sheet 16 and a second sheet 17 that are in pressing engagement. The combination of the two sheets being provided with relief lines in the form of a pattern. The relief lines are shaped such that a portion of the lines is displaced relative to an adjacent portion of said relief line so as to give the impression that at least part of said surface is not in the same plane as a remainder of said surface. The first sheet may comprise paper and the second sheet may comprise metallic foil. The relief pattern may comprise a plurality of letters. Also disclosed is a stamp for applying the embossed seal to a sheet. Also disclosed is a method of forming a document with an embossed seal using a heated stamp.

Description

Document Security

The present invention relates to a document and relates particularly, but not exclusively, to a document, such as a certificate, with enhanced security features, to a method of creating and to a tool for creating such a document.

The problem of forged documents is well known and techniques have been developed to make such documents more secure, that is to ensure that documents cannot be copied without the forgery being detected. Techniques for improving document security include the addition of physical features to a document, for example, by adhering a hologram to a document or adhering a foil seal, which mimics the wax seals used as one of the first document security techniques. Alternative techniques include security print techniques which often utilise very detailed images and text to make the reproduction of the document extremely difficult. One such technique is disclosed in our earlier patent application published in the UK under the number GB2411862. This document discloses a technique, known as micronumismatics, which utilises micro-text and the techniques of numismatics to create complex images which are extremely difficult to reproduce. However, such security print techniques suffer from the disadvantage that it is possible, although extremely difficult, to scan a document and create a digital image which includes the security print technique. The resolution quality both on the scanner and the subsequent used printer, are extremely high making it very difficult to accurately reproduce security print techniques such as micronumismatics but it is in principle possible.

Using holograms and foil seals creates a document in which these aspects cannot be scanned to be reproduced. However, holograms are used on so many documents that their availability makes them a less secure addition to a document than was originally the case when they were first introduced into document security. Furthermore, it is generally the case that holograms are produced separately and by a different manufacturer from the remainder of the document which they secure. That is, a separate supplier creates holograms and provides them to the security printer who adds them to the paper as part of the printing process that creates the secure document. As a result, the security printer does not have complete control over the production and handling of the holograms and stocks of holograms may go missing during storage, production or transportation. It is also the case that holograms are an expensive addition to a document and add significantly to the cost of a document where used. To offer reasonable security it is preferable to have a bespoke hologram created specifically for the document to be protected. However, the cost of commissioning a new hologram is significant and the time required for design and manufacture of a bespoke hologram is typically several weeks. The use of foil seals is significantly less expensive than holograms but foil seals are generally regarded as a low security technique as the tools required to reproduce such seals are easily obtained and created.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention seek to overcome or alleviate the above described disadvantages of the prior art.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a document comprising:a first sheet material;

a second sheet material adhered to said first sheet material by pressing engagement, said combined first and second sheet materials have relief lines in the form of shapes and formed into a surface therein by said pressing engagement wherein at least a portion of each relief line of a plurality of said relief lines is displaced relative to an adjacent portion of said relief line so as to give the impression that at least part of said surface is not in the same plane as a remainder of said surface.

The above document provides significant advantages over the prior art which can be categorised into three areas of security, time and cost. Firstly, with regard to improved document security, the relief lines formed into the surface of the second sheet material provide multiple levels of security checking. That is, the document allows a simple check to be applied without the need for any detailed viewing of the document as well as allowing a detailed review to be conducted as further verification of authenticity. For example, it is possible for any user, without any specialist equipment such as an eye glass, to assess whether the three-dimensional effect created by the relief lines appearing to not be in the same plane as the paper surface. As an additional check, again without the use of specialist equipment, the user is able to change the angle of the paper relative to a light source which results in the threedimensional effect appearing and disappearing. Furthermore, a user can then perform a more detailed check by using an eyeglass or other image enlargement device, to compare the detail of the shapes and letters to a standard, and in particular the stretching that has been applied to these shapes in order to create the appearance of relief lines not being in the same plane .

These multiple checks provide security beyond the level of a hologram and do so at significantly lower cost. Furthermore, once a stamp has been produced which is used to press the second sheet material into engagement with the first sheet material this device is used under the control of the security printer and, as a result, the production of this foil seal is entirely under the control of the printer and not with a material supplier .

Furthermore, the line effect created by the stamp is unscannable, particularly where the second sheet material used is foil, as the light used by scanners reflects evenly off the whole surface of the foil creating an essentially blank image for that portion of the scanned document.

The security features of the document described above are most similar to those of a security document which includes a hologram. That is the foil seal cannot be scanned as is the case for a hologram but the detail of the foil seal is impossible to reproduce to the accuracy which can be identified by a detailed review of the relief lines. Thus the security offered by the seal used in the present invention is greater than that offered by a hologram. However, this increased security is provided at a lower cost and can be created in a much shorter period of time.

For example, the cost of origination of a bespoke security hologram is at least ten times the cost of creating artwork for and manufacturing a new dye stamp for use in the present invention.

Furthermore, the cost of materials is also less expensive for the present invention with holographic foil costing roughly five times more than the standard foil required for the present invention.

In a preferred embodiment the first sheet material comprises paper and the second sheet material may comprise metallic foil.

In another preferred embodiment the relief line comprises an indentation into said first and second sheet.

An indentation line is more robust and less likely to be rubbed away by engagement of other objects with the exposed surface of the second sheet material.

In a further preferred embodiment the shapes comprise a plurality of letters.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a stamp for use in the formation of a document, the stamp comprising:a body having a stamping surface for pressing and adhering to a first sheet material a second sheet material, the stamping surface having lines in the form of shapes and formed thereon wherein at least a portion of each line of a plurality of said lines is displaced relative to an adjacent portion of said line so as to give the impression that at least part of said surface is not in the same plane as a remainder of said surface.

One particular advantage of the present invention is that the production of the stamp is controlled by the document manufacturer. This is in contrast to the production of holograms where it is almost always the case where one company produces holograms in their factory and delivers to the document manufacturer for application to the substrate. Separate manufacture of holograms and the final document creates a security risk that holograms may be lost or stolen in small or large guantities which could then be made available to counterfeiters. In contrast, the present invention allows complete control of the document manufacturer by one party once the stamp has been produced. Once created the stamp remains the property of the document manufacturer and will be maintained on their premises thereby allowing the manufacturer complete control of the production process.

The line may comprise a protrusion or alternatively may comprise an indentation.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of forming a document comprising the steps : bringing a first and a second sheet material into engagement with each other; and heating a stamp and pressing with a predetermine pressure said stamp to said second sheet so as to adhere a portion of said second sheet to said first sheet, the stamp comprising a body having a stamping surface with lines in the form of shapes and formed thereon the lines forming corresponding relief lines formed into a surface of said first sheet material and said portion of second sheet materials by said pressing engagement wherein at least a portion of each relief line of a plurality of said relief lines is displaced relative to an adjacent portion of said relief line so as to give the impression that at least part of said surface is not in the same plane as a remainder of said surface.

The second sheet material may further comprises a backing material against which said stamp engages said second sheet material.

In another preferred embodiment the relief line is formed as an indentation into said first and second sheet.

In a further preferred embodiment the shapes comprise a plurality of letters.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and not in any limitative sense with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a portion of a stamp with the lines representing the lines formed in the stamp of the present invention and used in the production of a document of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a close-up view of a portion of the image of figure 1; and

Figures 3 to 6 are photographic images of a portion of a document of the present invention.

A document 10 is formed primarily from a substrate in the form of a first sheet material such as paper 12, which is partially shown in figures 3 to 6. A second sheet material in the form of foil 14 is adhered to the paper 12. The document 10 can be any document where identifying originality of the document is important and where security authentication techniques, such as security printing, are used. An example of such a document includes, but is not limited to, certificates including those issued to indicate academic qualifications.

The document 10 is formed by adhering the foil 14 to the paper 12 using a stamp or dye 16 which presses the foil 14 into engagement with the paper 12 so that these elements stick to each other. This is normally achieved by the application of heat through the stamp 16 which activates an adhesive formed on the surface of the foil 14 which engages the paper 12. The foil 14 before it is adhered to the paper 12 is formed, as will be familiar to person skilled in the art, as a sheet material comprising a transparent polymer sheet material to which the foil is adhered and an adhesive backing which will stick the foil to the paper. Once heat is applied to this sheet material the adhesion between the polymer sheet and the foil is less than the adhesion between the foil and the paper and therefore the foil is released from the polymer sheet and sticks to the paper where the stamp has engages and applied heat.

The stamp 16 is formed with a pattern of shapes which are recreated as a relief pattern when the stamp is brought into engagement with the combination of the foil 14 and paper 12. In the illustration in figure 1, the article is of a portion, approximately a quarter, of the whole stamp 16 and the line 17 represents the outermost edge of the stamp. Within the illustration in figure 1 the lines, shapes and letters (indicated at 18) represent raised portions of the stamp whilst the white areas (indicated at 20) represent the lower or nonraised portions. These non-raised portions are formed by etching into a planar surface of a blank. When the stamp 16 is used in pressing engagement to adhere the foil 14 to the paper 12 the raised portions create indentations in the surface of the combined foil 14 and paper 12 thereby appearing as a relief pattern in the foil 14. In principle, the indentations could be formed purely in the foil 14 by using a sufficiently thick foil. However, the common practice is to use a very thin foil which adhere to the paper and any change in thickness of the document is barely perceptible and as a result the indentation is both into the foil and the paper. The outermost white portion (indicated at 21) between the outer edge of the shapes 18 and the outermost edge of the stamp 17 is also cut away from the original blank used to form the stamp 16. However, this outermost portion 21 is lower, that is it is cut away further than the white portions indicated at 20. As a result, when the stamp 16 engages the sheet material that includes the foil 14 and presses it into engagement with the paper 12 this outermost portion 21 does not apply pressure or heat and therefore the foil does not adhere to the paper in this area.

The stamp 16	is divided into two portions namely an inner
circular portion,	indicated at 22, and an outer annular portion,
indicated at 24.	These portions create equivalent portions in
the foil in the	final document 10 and these same reference

numerals have been used to indicate these portions. Within the inner circular portion 22 a pattern of guilloche lines has been created. In the outer annular portion 24 a micro text has been used spelling the words ADVANCED SECURITY. The selection of these words is arbitrary so that any other text can be used and the letters can be replaced with numbers or shapes. Portions of this text remain as plain text. However, other portions of the text have been modified in order to create features which are visible on top of the micro text. In particular, the technique known as numismatics is applied to the text to distort the lines which form the text and create the appearance of an additional image. In the example shown in the figures that image is the word ORIGINAL and the image is created using the technique outlined in our earlier application published with the number GB2411862.

This additional image is created by distorting the lines that form the text so as to give the impression that at least part of a surface of the outer annular portion 24 onto which the words ADVANCED SECURITY are formed is shifted so as to not be in the same plane as the remainder of that surface. In other words, the word ORIGINAL appears to stand out as though protruding out of the plane of the outer annular portion 24. The distortion of the text ADVANCED SECURITY around the upper edges of the word ORIGINAL appears as letters overlapping each other thereby creating a darker shading representing those upper edges. Examples of such darker portions are indicated on figure 2 at 26. In contrast the lower edges of the word ORIGINAL are formed by stretching the letters of the text ADVANCED SECURITY thereby creating more white space thereby lightening these portions compared to the closely spaced text of an undistorted portion. Examples of such lighter portions are indicated on figure 2 at 28.

Once the stamp 16 has been created it is used to adhere the foil 14 to the paper 12 by pressing engagement of the foil onto the paper and the application of heat to activate the adhesive. The raised or protruding portions of the stamp including the letters 18 create a corresponding relief pattern in the combined foil and paper. Examples of this are shown in the four images presented as figures 3 to 6. With particular reference to figures 3 and 4, it can therefore be seen that as a first test of the authenticity of the document 10 the foil 14 can be examined in order to see that the word ORIGINAL is visible as though formed as not part of the same surface as the underlying micro text. This authentication step can be taken with the naked eye and without the need for any specialist equipment such as an eyeglass.

The figures 3 to 6 are photographic representations of a portion of a document of the present invention including the foil 14 adhered to the paper 12. The foil seal shown in the photographs in figures 3 to 6 has a diameter on the original document of approximately 43 mm. However, the seal can be any suitable size for the document is being applied to. Figures 3 and 5 and figures 4 and 6 are similar images in which the angle of the foil relative to a light source has been changed. When comparing these associated figures it is immediately apparent that some portions of the image used on the security seal on document 10 become more and less visible depending upon the angle of the light relative to the foil 14 whereas this does not occur for other portions of the image. For example, in figures 3 and 4 the word ORIGINAL created using the numismatic technique described above is clearly visible whereas in figures 5 and 6 this word has largely disappeared and cannot be described as being legible. In contrast, in another part of the outer annular portion 24 the words UNIVERSITY NAME are also formed. These words are not formed using the numismatic technique of distortion of the micro text described above but instead by removing the micro text for the space is taken up by the letters of these words. The words UNIVERSITY NAME are clearly and legibly visible in all of the figures 3 to 6.

Another authentication step is therefore to examine the foil 14 and change the angle of the light source relative to the foil 14, by rotating or tilting the document, to determine whether the text of the word ORIGINAL switches between being visible and legible (figures 3 and 4) and being substantially invisible and illegible (figures 5 and 6). This authentication step can also be taken with the naked eye and without the need for any specialist equipment such as an eyeglass.

These first two authentication steps can be easily taken without specialist knowledge or equipment by simply comparing the foil seals on similar documents. However, if necessary a further, and more forensic, authentication step can be undertaken. The preferable way to achieve this secondary authentication is for a person suspecting that a document is not original or is a counterfeit to return the document to the manufacturer in order that a detailed analysis of the distorted letters can be undertaken. For example, the letter N indicated at 30 on figure 2 is distorted by forming part of the G in the word ORIGINAL and the suspected document can be viewed under an eyeglass to determine whether the letter N is correctly distorted in line with the artwork used to produce the stamp 16. Other portions of other letters which go to make the word ORIGINAL can also be used. Typically there are specific portions of the word which distort the micro text in a way which makes them particularly easy to identify. As a result, a template of specific check portions can be used to make the authentication process fairly rapid.

As an alternative to returning the suspect documents to the manufacturer for detailed analysis, the manufacturer could supply a template of checkpoints showing the key areas described above. However, the manufacturer would not want to supply the whole artwork which was used to create the stamp as this might allow production of a counterfeit stamp. These multiple levels of authentication are useful for deterring both the casual and most determined counterfeiters since the production of the seal with the three-dimensional effect of a word which also appears and disappears depending upon the angle of the light applied is sufficiently difficult to prevent low-tech counterfeiters. At the same time, the more forensic test described immediately above makes it almost impossible for even the most determined counterfeiter to accurately recreate the foil seal.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the above embodiments have been described by way of example only and not in any limitative sense, and that various alterations and modifications are possible without departure from the scope of the protection which is defined by the appended claims. For example, the words used above and on the figures are merely examples of text which could be used and alternative text can be applied. Furthermore, the arrangement of the design used on stamp 16 into an inner circular portion 22 and an outer annular portion 24 which includes the micro text and numismatic distortion of the micro text can be different with the micro text located in any suitable portion of the foil seal.

In the above embodiments the document 10 has described as being formed from a paper substrate with a foil seal adhered thereto. However, the paper 12 could be replaced with any suitable sheet material including, but not limited to, sheet material such as plastics. In this instance the stamp would be heated sufficiently to cause slight softening of the plastic material so as to form the relief pattern into both the foil and the plastic substrate. Furthermore, the term foil should be interpreted broadly to include other materials which have a metallic finish or a non-metallic finish which is reflective or shiny. In the embodiment described above the stamp illustrated in figures 1 and 2 as the lines and black areas indicated at 18 as raised and the spaces and white areas indicated at 20 having been etched away. However, this situation can be reversed with the lines and black areas 18 being etched way leaving the spaces

- 13 in wide areas 20 being raised and therefore it is these areas which press into and create the relief pattern in the combination of the foil 14 and paper 12.

Claims

1. A document comprising :- a first sheet material;

2. A document according to claim 1, wherein said first sheet material comprises paper.

3. A document according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said second sheet material comprises metallic foil.

4 . A document according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said relief line comprises an indentation into said first and second sheet.

5. A document according to any of the preceding claims,

wherein said shapes comprise a plurality of letters.

6. A stamp for use in the formation of a document, the stamp comprising : a body having a stamping surface for pressing and adhering to a first sheet material a second sheet material, the stamping surface having lines in the form of shapes and formed thereon wherein at least a portion of each line of a plurality of said lines is displaced relative to an adjacent portion of said line so as to give the impression that at least part of said surface is not in the same plane as a remainder of said surface.

7 . A stamp according to claim 6, wherein said line comprises a protrusion .

8 . A stamp according to claim 6, wherein said line comprises an indentation .

9. A method of forming a document comprising the steps:-

bringing a first and a second sheet material into engagement with each other; and heating a stamp and pressing with a predetermine pressure said stamp to said second sheet so as to adhere a portion of said second sheet to said first sheet, the stamp comprising a body having a stamping surface with lines in the form of shapes and formed thereon the lines forming corresponding relief lines formed into a surface of said first sheet material and said portion of second sheet materials by said pressing engagement wherein at least a portion of each relief line of a plurality of said relief lines is displaced relative to an adjacent portion of said relief line so as to give the impression that at least part of said surface is not in the same plane as a remainder of said surface.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said first sheet material comprises paper.

11. A method according to any of claims 6 to 10, wherein said shapes comprise a plurality of letters.

11 . A method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein said second sheet material comprises metallic foil. 12 . A method according to any of claims 9 to 11, wherein said

second sheet material further comprises a backing material against which said stamp engages said second sheet material.

13. A method according to any of claims 9 to 12, wherein said relief line i s formed as an indentation into said first and second sheet. 14 . A method according to any of claims 9 to 13, wherein said

shapes comprise a plurality of letters.

04 09 18

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows:

Claims

1. A document comprising:- a first sheet material;

a second sheet material adhered to said first sheet material by

5 pressing engagement, said combined first and second sheet materials have relief lines in the form of shapes and formed into a surface therein by said pressing engagement wherein at least a portion of each relief line of a plurality of said relief lines is displaced relative to an adjacent portion of said relief 10 line so as to give the impression that at least part of said surface is not in the same plane as a remainder of said surface.

3. A document according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said second 15 sheet material comprises metallic foil.

4. A document according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said relief line comprises an indentation into said first and second sheet.

5. A document according to any of the preceding claims, 20 wherein said shapes comprise a plurality of letters.

6. A method of forming a document comprising the steps:- bringing a first and a second sheet material into engagement with each other; and heating a stamp and pressing with a predetermine pressure said 25 stamp to said second sheet so as to adhere a portion of said second sheet to said first sheet, the stamp comprising a body having a stamping surface with lines in the form of shapes and formed thereon the lines forming corresponding relief lines formed into a surface of said first sheet material and said 30 portion of second sheet materials by said pressing engagement wherein at least a portion of each relief line of a plurality of said relief lines is displaced relative to an adjacent portion

of said relief line so as to give part of said surface is not in the 5 said surface. the impression that at least same plane as a remainder of 7 . A method according to claim 6, wherein said first sheet

material comprises paper.

8. A method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein said second sheet material comprises metallic foil.

10

9.

A method according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein said second sheet material further comprises a backing material against which said stamp engages said second sheet material.

10. A method according to any of claims 6 to 9, wherein said relief line is formed as an indentation into said first and

15 second sheet.