IL101976A - Plurality of printed coupons and process and apparatus for their production - Google Patents

Description

o'oaTin t eni>n i?ty 'u Plurality of Drinted coupons, and process and apparatus for their production Joseph SCHWEIGER C. 86301 PLURALITY OF PRINTED COUPONS , AND PROCESS APPARATUS FOR THEIR PRODUCTION The invention relates to a process for the production of a plurality of printed coupons, such as forms, tickets, lotto coupons or pools coupons and the like, according to the precharacterising clause of Claim 1, and to an apparatus for carrying out the process and to a plurality of printed coupons which are produced according to the process according to the invention or by means of an apparatus according to the invention.

The invention is to be described below by way of example with reference to a country-specific embodiment - of lotto coupons for Greece. The format for such coupons is specified. A read or write field occupies a rather small area of the coupon. An essentially free field of the coupon which serves for registration has a narrow stripe which extends transversely across the coupon and serves for identification of the coupon. The completed coupon is read and registered via EDP at the lotto acceptance point, the coupon being separated along this identification stripe simultaneously with its registration. During this registration, the numerical sequence read is printed on the free field of the coupon, on both sides of the identification stripe. That part of the coupon which has been separated off, provided with the control registration and has the write field should then - in the case of a winning -act as evidence for the lucky owner to present to the lotto office. There, for checking and reliably identifying the winning coupon, the two coupon parts which have been separated in the middle of the identification stripe are placed against one another and the agreement between the patterns and the identification stripe is checked. To keep the possibility of forgeries, either by copying or reprinting, as small as possible, an attempt has been made to design the pattern on the identification stripe in a complicated manner, in different colours and differently for each coupon, but this has always been restricted owing to the printing requirements, so that these patterns are repeated after every 400, at most 1000, coupons. Forgeries therefore cannot be ruled out .

This problem is encountered not only in the case of lotto coupons but is also present in the case of pools coupons, admission tickets for public or exclusive events or travel tickets, as well as for documents whose ownership simultaneously serves as evidence of the legality of some right.

Accordingly, it is the object of the invention to provide a process for the production of a plurality of printed coupons which act as identity cards and can be identified satisfactorily and are virtually forgery-proof. This is achieved by the characterising features of Claim 1.

Advantageous further embodiments are described by the characterising features of the dependent Claims.

The apparatus for carrying out the process according to the invention is described by the characterising features of Claims 4 to 7, and the coupons produced in this manner are described by the characterising features of Claims 8 to 11.

A plurality of such coupons is printed in a known manner, preferably in rotary printing presses, the printing plate and the printing plate support being cylindrical and being driven by means of gears. The individual coupons are printed continuously on paper webs and are cut into individual coupons after the end of the printing process. During the revolution of a printing cylinder, the printed images for 15 to 20 copies, i.e. the number of coupon prints per revolution are printed. In contrast, the identification images of the control field are overprinted in the manner according to the invention by means of rollers whose rotary speed during the printing process is changed and/or by means of rollers which are not driven, in contrast to the printing cylinders, generally driven by gears, for the production of the printed image, thus ensuring synchronous printing. During the passage of the paper webs through the roller arrangement for the production of the identification images, the rollers are therefore moved by means of friction only by the paper webs moved during the entire printing process at essentially constant throughput speed.

Because the rollers for the identification images are, in particular, not driven, rollers having very different diameters can readily be used without more complicated technical means being necessary for synchronisation of the drive. The various printing plates or embossing or perforating dies for the identification images can thus be dimensioned independently of the copies determined by the circumference of the printing cylinders which produce the printed images. Thus, a single identification image can also extend over a sequence of coupons.

This arrangement, i.e. different diameters and not entirely synchronous and hence undetermined driving of the rollers over the paper webs, already permits greater variability for the overprinting of the identification images; this is further increased by other measures such as randomised braking of the rollers - controlled in particular by means of a random number generator - or by recesses in the rollers.

Another measure can be used in the case of rollers which are driven. For this purpose, their drive is changed continuously or intermittently, in particularly regularly - but preferably in a randomised irregular manner - during the printing process, so that they each rotate at a different speed. This can be effected by means of a suitable transformer circuit, in particular controlled via a random number generator. Overmounting of rollers rotating at constant speed has a similar effect .

Although considerable security against forgeries is provided by the suitable variation which is achievable with the aid of the process according to the invention or by means of the apparatus according to the invention and which is determined by the different positions of the identification images relative to one another and within the control field for at least 4,000 coupons, but preferably for at least 40,000 coupons, this security is also increased by varying the form and printing medium of the identification images.

Thus, it is possible to print the individual identification images using different inks. If inks are changed during the printing process without changing their application rollers, which is possible by means of known, automatic ink changing means, random ink mixtures may result. At least one of the identification images can likewise constitute a sequence or a pattern of holes or of embossings.

Identification images in the manner of guilloches, i.e. interlaced line screens or line ornaments, make the photomechanical reproducibility of such coupons more difficult.

The overprinting of identification images by means of fluorescent and/or magnetic ink increases the potential variation and hence the achievable security against forgeries, which is definable by the probability of the presence of two coupons with identical control fields.

The checking of the coupons, in which the agreement between the identification images at the ideal separation line is to be determined, is generally carried out by the human eye, but other measuring apparatuses can be used, in particular for checking magnetic or fluorescent overprints. If, for example, corresponding lines differ by about half a millimetre, this is readily perceived by the eye. Thus, if it is assumed that the control field of a coupon is 100 mm long and overprinting of each of these two or more identification images is displaced by this half millimetre in each case, the consequent possible variation in terms of coupons with differing control fields is given by 200 x 200. Each further measure from among the measures described above increases this number .

The invention is described below by way of example with reference to drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a conventional lotto coupon; Fig. 2 shows a lotto coupon comprising a plurality, according to the invention, of coupons; Fig. 3 and 4 show rotary printing presses having different printing units for the production of a plurality, according to the invention, of coupons; Fig. 5 and 6 show examples of printing units for the one-sided or two-sided printing of identification images and Fig. 7, 8 and 9 show various rollers for the printing of identification images. 1 0 1 9 76 / 2 - 6 - Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a known lotto coupon la having a print field 2 in which a printed image 3 which is identical for all lotto coupons is overprinted. A registration region 15a, 15b which is unprinted for the most part has a narrow, stripe-like control field 4 with two identification images 6a and 6b.

In the printed image 3, a cross is placed against the selected winning numbers . At the lotto acceptance point, the lotto coupon la is then read by means of EDP and the numbers marked with a cross are printed on both sides of the control field 4 -fo checking by the owner and for registration by the lotto company. At the same time, the lotto coupon la is cut along an ideal separation line 5 running through the control field 4. The part 15a of the coupon la having the print field 2 with the printed image 3 marked with crosses and having the part of the registration region which contains the control overprint remains in the owner's hands while the other part of the coupon la having the part 15b of the registration region which contains the registration overprint is sent to the lotto company. Thus, a part of the control field 4 which has been cut along the ideal separation line 5 and has the two identification images 6a and 6b, likewise cut, is in the hands of the owner of the lotto coupon la and the other part of said control field is in the hands of the lotto company.

If the owner of the lotto coupon is lucky enough for his marked numerical combination to constitute a winning combination, this lotto coupon section serves as evidence of legal right to the winnings. For this purpose, not only must the control overprint on his part 15a of the registration region agree with the . registration overprint on the separated part of the coupon la, but, when the two lotto coupon sections are placed against one another along the ideal separation line 5, the two identification images 6a and 6b must also complement one another without errors. If, as in the case of the lotto coupon la shown in Fig. 1, every coupon is provided with a different number, it has been found that this alone is not sufficient to rule out the possibility of forgery of the lotto tickets.

The lotto coupon 1 shown in Fig. 2 and representative for a plurality of similar but not identical lotto coupons appears in itself to be not essentially different from the lotto coupon la described in Fig. 1. Here too, a print field 2 is._proyJ.ded with a printed image 3, a registration field 15a, 15b divided into two and a control field 4 dividing said registration field and having two identification images 6al and 6bl. In contrast to the lotto coupon 1A of Fig. 1, however, here the positioning of the two identification images Sal 'and 6bl' - which of course cannot be shown with reference to a single lotto coupon - is not fixed relative to one another and within the control field 4. The identification image 6al at the lower edge of the control field 4 is therefore only partly overprinted, and the supplementary part of the same identification image 6al' can be seen at the upper edge of the control field 4. The guilloche-like second identification image 6bl' exhibiting wavy lines also occupies, for each of the coupons, a different position relative to the first identification image 6al' and relative to its position in the control field 4. In some coupons, a second identification image 6bl' may likewise be divided, in accordance with the identification image 6al in the printed form shown in Fig. 2. The two identification images 6al' and 6bl'are preferably of different colours, and a magnetic printing ink can also be used for one of the two identification images 6al' and 6bl'. To test the authenticity of the magnetic printing ink, a g 101976/3 special read system is used, and the calibration field must be overprinted for this purpose.

Of course, the lotto coupons 1 , 1a shown, indicate only the two of many possible variants of the manner and form in which identification image can be arranged in the control field 4. One of the identification images 6a, corresponding to the lotto coupon la of Fig. 1, represents a numerical sequence, and the text may be in the form of a guilloche; however/ the identification imaae can also extend over the entire control field 4 if, as will be shown with reference to the process, such an identification image extends over a plurality of copies, and the change in its particular relative position can be recognised only from a sequence of printed, still uncut coupons on the paper web. An identification image may also be in the form of embossings or holes of any type and shape, overprints in fluorescent ink also being possible. Such identification images which are invisible in normal illumination can of course also be provided within the registration region 15a, 15b and hence outside the visible control field 4. In this case, the total registration region 15a, 15b must be regarded as control field 4 or can be formed as such, that is to say in such a form that identification images of any type or shape extend thereof, and registration or control overprints are produced on these identification images. The separation of such an image is then effected along an ideal separation line 5 which is located between these parts 15a and 15b of the lotto coupon 1a which bear the twd overprints for registration or control. At which point on a lotto coupon 1a the control field 4 is formed, its front or back, and whether any registration field at all is to be provided for receiving any overprints, is in principle unimportant. The control field 4 can be located at any point on such a lotto coupon 1 and can even extend transversely over the print field 2, which in principle is identical for every lotto coupon 1.

The principle of the invention, which plays a role only in the case of a plurality of coupons but has been presented only with reference to a single lotto coupon 1, is equally of interest for all possible types of coupons which are produced in a plurality, in particular for those which, as already stated at the outset, are separated for the purpose of registration or control and in which - for whatever reason - it should be necessary for one of the coupon parts to serve the owner or the controlling office as evidence of legal ownership or sale. Coupons which have the characteristics described above with reference to the lotto coupon 1 of Fig. 2 are very substantially forgery-proof and thus constitute satisfactory authentication .

Fig. 3 shows a rotary press on which a plurality, according to the invention, of coupons is printed. A paper web 16 taken off from a reel 7 of paper is fed at constant speed through various printing units 11, the printing cylinders 13 provided for overprinting the printed images 3 of different colours in the print field 2 being driven in a known manner, in particular via gears, in order to ensure the synchronism of the printing process and hence to produce print fields 2 having identical and matching printed images 3. Inking units 12 having a number of inking rollers are each provided for inking during printing. With each revolution of a printing cylinder 13, the same print field 2 is printed for a certain number of coupons, which are referred to as copies. Fig. 3 shows four printing units 11 which, for reasons relating to space, could also be arranged one on top of the other.

This sequence of four printing units 11 is followed by a numbering unit 17, an embossing or perforating unit 19, a code printing unit 18 and finally a cutting apparatus 20. A numbering unit 17 shown in Fig. 3, as well as the embossing or perforating unit 19, is in the form of a conventional unit, i.e. having driven rollers. The rollers can have a larger or smaller diameter, but the same image, i.e. - as shown in Fig. 1 - for changing the numerical sequence, is repeated in the same place with an embossed or perforated image which moves away and hence returns periodically after a certain number of prints.

On the other hand, the code printing unit 18, for example a GP-Tinter (R) (protected trade mark of GP-Graphic Equipment Ltd., Stavanger, Norway), the function of which is described in detail with reference to Fig. 5 to 9, has, in contrast, no positively driven rollers. With the aid of such a code printing unit 18, identification images 6a, 6b as described with reference to Fig. 2, are possible. In the cutting apparatus 20, the printed paper web 16 is cut into the individual coupons .

Fig. 4 shows a variant corresponding to Fig. 3, two independent code printing units 18, which print identification images (Fig. 2) on the front and back of the coupons, being provided here.

The code printing units 18 can be positioned in the same manner at a different point of the printing process, before or after the printing units 11. However, it is advantageous if the printing units 11 responsible for the production of the printed -images 3 (Fig. 2) can operate as a block for satisfactorily ensuring the synchronism desired for this purpose.

Both numbering unit 17 and embossing or perforating unit 19 are, however, perferably to be provided similarly to code printing units 18, i.e. with rollers which are not positively driven, if embossing, perforation or numbering are provided as identification images. Otherwise, as component (s) of printed images 3 in the print field 2 (Fig. 2), they should have cylinders driven in the same manner as printing units 11.

Fig. 5 shows the passage of a paper web 16 through a code printing unit 18a; An inking unit 12 having two or more separate ink containers 21, valve system 22 and pump unit (not shown) make it possible to apply various inks via the printing roller 8a to the paper web 16. For this purpose, the paper web 16 is pressed by means of guide rolls 23 against the printing roller 8a, with the result that the latter is caused to rotate. This friction-related rotation of the roller 8a is of course not exactly defined. Thus, for example, the roller will move more slowly during start-up than during the printing process itself; imponderables, such as different ink application, slightly differing paper thickness or the impression pressure exerted by the guide roll 23, can also influence the rotary speed of the roller 8a.

For example, embossings can be made by means of a second roller 8b, which is likewise not positively driven.

The inking unit 12 can be controlled by means of a remote control unit (not shown) which can be mounted on the print roll console of the printing press, the corresponding valves for each different ink container 21 being driven - preferably in a randomised manner and, in the course of automation of such printing 12 101976/2 processes, in particular with the aid of a random number generator - so that the printing roller 8a can be wet with different inks even during the printing process, with the result that ink mixtures of a type which cannot be determined beforehand result and the associated identification image exhibits colour variations which are difficult to copy.

Corresponding to Fig. 5, Fig. 6 shows the passage of a paper web 16 through a code printing unit 18b, in which both the front and the back of the paper web 16 can be provided with identification images. Both rollers 8a are wet with ink from ink containers 21. Since the paper web 16 is fed in a double-bend way over the guide rolls 23, first its front and then its back are pressed against one of the two rollers 8a. Here too, at least one of the two rollers 8a can be in the form of an embossing or perforating roller or can be connected to a numbering unit.

Fig. 7 to 9 show examples of rollers 8c, 8d, 8e for the production of images (Fig. 2). Fig. 7 shows the stripe-printing roller 8c in which the rolls 24 bearing the print negative of the identification image can be mounted in any manner on the roller. The outer rolls 24a are moved over the paper web 16 (Fig. 6).

Fig. 8 shows a so-called stereotype roller 8d on which the print negative 14 is stuck, for example as a flexographic printing plate on the aluminium roller core .

Fig. 9 shows an engraved roller 8e which has a recess 26 in its surface. This recess, which furthermore extends only pver part of the roller 8e or may be inclined with respect to the axis of the roller 8e, repeatedly causes an interruption during transport by means of the paper web and hence an incalculable delay and displacement of the overprint.

Each of the rollers 8 provided for one identification image each, for which rollers Fig. 7 to 9 show examples, also preferably has a different diameter. The movement of the rollers can furthermore readily be braked by means of a control unit - once again preferably controlled in a randomised manner via a random number generator - or these rollers can be lifted for a short time from the paper web.

For the purposes of the invention, it is also possible for the rollers 8 to be positively driven, in which case, however, the differing relative positions of the identification images must be established by means of accurately calculated gear transmissions. The process according to the invention, described above, and the apparatus for this purpose are simple and at the same time effective in comparison.

Claims (13)

- 14 - 101976/2 CLAIMS :

1. Process for the production of a plurality of printed coupons, each of which have at least one print field with a printed image and at least one control field comprises at least two identification images, continuous paper webs being printed and then cut to size, the throughout speed of the paper web of the coupons being essentially constant during the entire printing process and the two identification images being printed by means of two rollers operating at different circumferential speeds, characterized in that the rotational speed of at least one of the rollers is changed during the printing process independently of the second roller and asynchronously to a possible change in rotating speed of said second roller.

2. Process for the production of a plurality of printed coupons, each of which have at least one print field with a printed image and at least one control field which is located at the same point for all coupons and through which an ideal separation line runs and which comprises at least two identification images, continuous paper webs being printed and then cut to size, the throughput speed of the paper web of the coupons being essentially constant during the entire printing process and the two identification images being printed by means of two rollers operating at different circumferential speeds, characterized in that during the printing process at least one of the rollers is not driven.

3. Process according to Claim 1, characterized in that during the printing process the second roller is not driven.

4. Process according to Claim 1, characterized in that the rotational speed is changed in a random manner - preferably in a pulsating manner - in particular under control by a random number generator. _ 15 - 101976/3

5. Process according to any of Claims 1 or 4 , with the least one roller for a color print, characterized in that the . rinting ink for the one or more rollers is changed by an automatic ink-changing means, preferably in a random manner, during the printing process.

6. Apparatus for carrying out a process according to Claims 2 to 5, having a rotary printing press with at least one printing unit and at least one inking unit for the production of the printed image and at least one code printing unit for producing at least two identification images, characterized in that at least one printing cylinder for the printing of the image is driven, whereas the rollers for producing the identification images are, apart from the friction-related transportation by the paper feed, not driven.

7. Apparatus for carrying out the process according to any of Claims 1 to 5, having a rotary printing press with the at least one printing unit and the at least one inking unit for producing the printed image and the at least one code printing unit for producing the identification image, characterized in that in addition to the driving means for the printing and color unit, an additional driving means, preferably controlled by a random number generator, is provided for at least one of the two rollers, via which independently of and asynchronously to the second roller, the first roller can be accelerated, retarded and/or lifted or pressed.

8. Apparatus according to Claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the rollers carrying a print negatives for the identification images have different diameters, if necessary recesses being provided in the circumferences of the rollers.

9. Apparatus according to any of Claims 6 to 8, characterized in that an ink-changing means which is controllable, preferably via a random number generator, in particular automatic, and has at least two ink containers is provided for at least one of the rollers. - 16 - 101976/2

10. A plurality of printed coupons, produced by means of the process according to any of Claims 1 to 5 or on an apparatus to any of Claims 6 to 9, having the at least one print field with the same printed image and the at least one control field which is located at the same point for the all coupons and through which the ideal separation line runs and which has the at least the two identification images characterized in that the positions of the identification images relative to one another and within the control field are identical for the two coupons with a probability of less than 1:4,000, preferably less than 1:40,000.

11. A plurality of coupons according to Claim 10, characterized in that the at least one identification image in the form of either or both of embossings and perforations is formed.

12. A plurality of coupons according to Claim 10 or 11, characterized in that at least one of the identification images has guilloches and/or numerical sequences .

13. A plurality of coupons according to any of Claims 10 to 12, characterized in that at least one of the identification images is printed on by means of fluorescent and/or magnetic ink. For the Applicants, ARTNERS EH/Jg/86301/2.1.1994