IE970417A1 - A magnetic card susceptible of allowing graphic alterations¹to be performed on its surface through hot printing - Google Patents

Abstract

A magnetic card susceptible of allowing graphic alterations to be performed on its surface through hot printing, consisting of a card defined by a superposition of layers, formed by two external protecting layers (1) and (1'), internally leant against two printed layers (2) and (2'), the printed layer (2) being leant against a hot printing layer (3), and the latter being leant, in turn, against a polyethilenterephthalane layer (4), the layer (4) being leant against a magnetic layer (5) of barium ferrite, and the latter being, in turn, leant to a shield layer (6), which is leant against the remaining face of the printed layer (2').<Fig.1>

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present specificaction refers to an application for a patent Of invention concerning a magnetic card susceptible of allowing 10 graphic alterations to be performed on its surface through hot printing, the evident purpose of which is to make possible to gradually and graphically show on one of its faces the available cash balance of same, and, at the same time, to gradually record the amounts withdrawn from the total cash balance of the card, accor15 ding to the card utilization.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention will find application in the field of the indus20 try devoted to the manufacture and distribution of magnetic cards or like, applicable as transaction elements in payment operations.

RELATED ART The applicant is aware of the existence of a plurality of different types of magnetic cards manufactured in a general configuration on the lines of using plastic materials, incorporating one or two layers, which include, in all cases, a magnetic band, according to which it is possible to carry out cash operations among different banking entities, or else to obtain directly ready cash using different terminals, which are known as automatic cash dispensers .

Also, the cards being used up to date can be utilized to purpose once the existence of funds has been checked, for paying this OFWTOFUBUC INSPECTION UNDER SECTION 28 AND RULE 23 NO. ...... - 2 IE 970417 several products puchased from authorized shops fitted with means for effecting cash collections through the use of the cards in question.

In all cases, the use of cards provided with magnetic bands allows, through the utilization of terminal computers connected to a computerized network of different bank or credit concerns, the withdrawn amounts to be recorded, informing the card's owner about the several cash operations carried out by means of the card.

Nevertheless, the applicant is unaware of the existence, at present, of any card which, apart from its own characteristics, can be used in a conventional way like as all the known cards, allowing, at the same time, the amounts withdrawn from the cash balance ascribed to the card in question, to be gradually printed, and allowing the remaining cash balance to be graphically checked, and one of the card faces acting as a statement of the remaining cash balance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The magnetic card susceptible of allowing graphic alterations to be performed on its surface through hot printing as proposed by the invention constitutes per se an evident novelty in its application field, since on the basis of its own characteristics, it is possible to be used as a conventional magnetic card applicable to obtain a cash balance, and to pay the value of diverse products bought, making possible, at the same time, to show, on one of its two faces, an adequate number of recordings revealing the remaining cash balance of the amount attributed as operative to the card in question.

In a more definite way, the magnetic card susceptible of allowing graphic alterations to be performed on its surface through - 3 IE 970417 hot printing of the invention, is defined starting from superposing two layers, which, depending on the ultimate characteristics which it is desired to incorporate to the card in question, with regard to its utilization, can be modified in relation to their space distribution, as well as some of these constituent layers or also all the protecting layers, in the strict sense, can be optionally eliminated.

In synthesis, the invention presents two external protecting layers incorporated on two printed layers configured in offset, which are located, one of them, on a hot printing layer, which alters between 802C and 2502C, while the other printed layer is situated on a shield layer.

The hot printing layer is leant against a polyethilen-terephthalane layer, fluctuating between 150 and 250 microns, this layer being leant at its other face against a magnetic layer of barium ferrite, which is leant, in turn, at the opposite face, against the above-mentioned shield layer.

Optionally, the invention can be defined starting from two external protecting layers leant against internal printed layers, which are respectively leant against a polyethilen-terephthalane layer which is similar to the previously mentioned layer, while the remaining printed layer is leant against a hot printing layer similar to the mentioned ones in the first option, the polyethilen-terephthalane layer being leant, at its opposed face, against a barium ferrite magnetic layer, which, in turn, is leant against a shield layer, the opposite face of which is leant against the hot printing layer.' The basic material for manufacturing these cards is polyethilenterephthalane (PET) film of 150 thru 250 +/- 18.8 micron thick.

As regard the physical dimensions, it should be pointed out that - 4 IE 970417 the cards must comply with the following requirements, at 65% and 22fiC relative humidity, namely: - Thickness: - Width: - Length: - Corner radius: 0,21 +/- 0,02 mm 53,90 +/- 0,08 mm 85,50 +/- 0,30 mm rounded with a 3,0 +/- mm radius.

In relation to the magnetic properties, it should be pointed 10 out the the magnetic material used is barium ferrite (Ba 0,6 Fe 203), and with regard to the magnetic characteristics, these will have a coercive force between 300 Oe and 3,7500 +/- 200 Oe.

The remainder flux density is on the order of between 1,45 +/15 0,15 Mx/cm, with a quadrature radius always higher than 0,5.

With regard to the magnetic direction, it should be pointed out that the easy magnetizing direction should agree with the longitudinal direction of the card, altough it is possible to effect a transverse magnetizing to the longitudinal direction of the card in question.

The mechanical properties of the card should obey a stress 2 strength of 13 Kg/mm minimum, and a breaking strength of 90 Kg/25 2p mm minimum.

The heat shrinkage level is 3,0% maximum, and it relais on a folding strength of 200 times minimum, with a stiffness of 25 g.cm. minimum.

The variation of the magnetic products, after being submitted to the magnetic friction test, that is to say, load: 500 g: 500 times, willnot surpass · 5% the total, and, likewise, it should be noted that the printed characters will not be erased, even U> though Lbo card la rubbed with a plastic eraser, said printed - 5 IE 970417 characters will not be removed, and the magnetic band will not become detached.

The steam moisture resistance is such as the card will not 5 change its appearance after being submitted to a relative humidity atmosphere of 95% thru 60%C for 96 hours, and the chemical resistance is such as the printed characteres will not disappear, and the magnetic band will not be damaged after dipping the card into alcohol, gasoline or a detergent for one hour.

As regard the water resistance, it should be pointed out that the printed characters do not disappear, and the magnetic band does not become detached after being dipped into water for 24 hours, the card having a scratchproof such as the printed charac15 tersand the magnetic band will not be removed when being scratched with a hard model H pencil, the card counting on an appropiate adherence which will not allow the cards to be adhered after being submitted to 4,9 Kpa (50 G/cm) pressure at an atmosphere of 502C and 95% relative humidity for 48 hours.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order to complement this description and to aid to a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, the appen25 ding drawings, which are a part of this specification, show, by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, thr following figures : Figure 1 corresponds to a side elevational view showing the ' different layers configuring, in a first embodiment, the magnetic card susceptible of allowing graphic alterations to be performed on its surface through hot printing, which is the object of the invention.

Figure 2 shows a similar view to that represented in figure 1, - 6 IE 970417 which corresponds to a second embodiment of the invention, and it must be pointed out that in both illustrations the view is a sectioned one.

Figure 3 corresponds to a synthesized view of the printing termic layer, which appears to be constituted by different components.

From these views, it can be seen that the magnetic card susceptible of allowing graphic alterations to be performed on its surface through hoy printing of the invention is constitued starting from a body (figure 1), defined as a card (10), having, at its two external faces, a protecting layer (1) and (1'), defined as protecting layers made of a synthetical paper, a feature of which is to be 100% transparent, and manufactured as a conventional cellulosic compound, having internally protecting layers (1) and (I1) leant against printed layers (2) and (2'), which are defined as printed layers obtained through offset.

The printed layer (2) is leant, at its internal face, against a hot printing layer (3), obtained starting from 2% selenium (20), 61% selenious sulfate (21), 3,5% lead tellurium (22), 15,5% zinc tellurium (23), 0,01% zinc (24), 3% strontium sulfide (25), 8% thallium tellurium (26,, 0,2% thallium (27), 0,9 cadmiun sulfide (28), and 4,39 lead sellurum (29).

The hot printing layer (3) is leant, at its internal face, against a' polyethile-terephthalate (4) having 150 through 250 microns, and this layer (4) is internally leant against a magnetic layer (5), configured in barium ferrite, which is internally leant against a shield layer (6) defined as a cellulosic compound, which, in turn, is leant, at its opposite’face, against said printed layer (21).

In a second embodiment of the invention, the magnetic card (101) is defined starting from an assembly of layers formed by external protecting layers (1) and (I1) internally leant against - 7 IE 970417 printed layers (2) and (2'), the printed layer (2) being leant against a polyethilen-terephthalane layer (4), and the latter, in turn, is leant against a magnetic layer (5), which is internally leant against the shield layer (6), and, in turn, this shield 5 layer (6) is leant against the hot printing layer (3), which, lastly, is leant against the printed layer (2').

It is not considered necessary to extend this description for any expert in the art to understand the scope of the invention and the advantages derived from it.

The materials, shape, size and arrangement of the components will be open to variation, provided that it does not imply any alteration to the essence of the invention.

The terms under which this specification has been described should be always taken in an ample and non-limitative sense.

Claims (9)

1. - A magnetic card susceptible of allowing graphic alterations to be performed on its surface through hot printing, of those configured starting from a plurality of superposed layers, and that depending on the ultimate characteristics to be obtained as regard their utilization, they can be alterated or changed as to their spatial distribution, as well as, optionally, being devoid of any or all their protecting layers, characterized in that, in a first embodiment, the magnetic card (10) is defined by two external protecting layers (1) and (1'), internally leant against two printed layers (2) and (2'), the printed layer (2) being internally leant against a hot printing layer (3), and, the latter being leant, in turn, against a polyethilen-terephthalane layer (4), the layer (4) being leant to a magnetic layer (5), and the latter, in turn, being leant against a shield layer (6), which is leant, at its opposite face, to the printed layer (2').

2. - A magnetic card susceptible of allowing graphic alterations to be performed on its surface through hot printing, according to claim 1, characterized in that the protecting layers (1) and (1') are configured in a synthetic paper featuring a 100% transparence, and manufactured on the basis of a cellulosic compound.

3. - A magnetic card susceptible of allowing graphic alterations to be performed on its surface through hot printing, according to claims 1, characterized in that the printed layers (2) and (2') are manufactured in offset.

4. - A magnetic card susceptible of allowing graphic alterations to be performed on its surface through hot printing, according to claim 1, characterized in that the hot printing layer (3) is defined starting from 2%seLenium (20), 61% selenious sulfate (21), 3,5% lead telerium (22), 15,5% zinc tellurium (23), - 9 IE 970417 0,01 zinc (24), 3% strontium sulfide (25), 8% thallium tellurium (26), 0,2% thallium (27), 0,9%cadmium sulfide (28), and 4,39% lead sellurum.

5. 5,- A magnetic card susceptible of allowing graphic alterations to be performed on its surface through hot printing, according to claim 1, characterized in that the layer (4) is 150 thru 250 micron polyethilen-terephthalane layer. . 10

6.- A magnetic card susceptible of allowing graphic alterations to be performed on its surface through hot printing, according to claim 1, characterized in that the magnetic layer (5) is barium ferrite. 15

7.- A magnetic card susceptible of allowing graphic alterations to be performed on its surface through hot printing, according to claim 1, characterized in that the shield layer (6) is a cellulosic compound. 20

8.- A magnetic card susceptible of allowing graphic alterations to be performed on its surface through hot printing, according to claim 1, characterizes in that, in a second embodiment, the magnetic card (10') is defined starting from two external protecting layers (1) and (l 1 )» internally leant against two printed 25 layers (2) and (2'), respectively, the printer layer (2) being leant against a polyethilen-terephthalane layer (4) of 150 thru 250 microns, and the latter is leant against a barium ferrite magnetic layer (5), the magnetic layer (5) being leant against the shield layer (6), and the latter, in turn, being leant to the hot printing layer (3), which 30 lastly, is leant to the printed layer (2').

9.- A magnetic card substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.