JP2003202414A - Pattern-revealing body and method of using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an attractive pattern-revealing body which is hardly forged or altered to have high forgery checking effect and makes it possible to easily make an authenticity discrimination and a method of using it. <P>SOLUTION: The pattern-revealing body has a light transmission/reflection layer 33 having a light-transmission part 33b in specified pattern which can transmit light and a light reflection part 33a which can reflect light and a light diffraction layer 32 which is formed under the light transmission/reflection layer 33 and can reproduce an image with light reflected by the light reflection part 33a, and the specified pattern revealus itself visibly when the body is held against light. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a relief reflection hologram transfer foil, a foil having a metal reflection layer such as an embossing metal foil, and securities, stock certificates to which these foils are attached,
The present invention relates to a pattern appearance body suitable for preventing counterfeiting of cash vouchers such as gift certificates and for authenticating authenticity, and a method of using the pattern appearance body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a hologram foil is excellent in designability and cannot be easily duplicated even in a color copying machine and is difficult to forge / alter. Therefore, individual authentication of various kinds of cash vouchers, ID cards, etc. It is widely used for certificates, guarantees and certificates.

[0003]

However, with the recent widespread use of hologram manufacturing technology, counterfeiting of hologram foils is increasing, and the effect of suppressing counterfeiting of hologram foils is decreasing. Also, in order to prevent the card part from disappearing when the hologram foil is attached to the card,
An invention has been disclosed in which a large number of large holes are provided in a metal reflection layer (JP-A-1-246582). However, doing so sacrifices the image reproduction capability of the hologram, and also does not look good.

An object of the present invention is to provide a pattern appearance body which is good-looking, difficult to forge / alter and has a high anti-counterfeiting effect, and which can easily discriminate between authenticity and a method of using the same. .

[0005]

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems by the following means for solving the problems. It should be noted that, for ease of understanding, reference numerals corresponding to the embodiments of the present invention will be given and described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 1 has a light-transmitting / reflecting layer (3) having a light-transmitting portion (33b) having a predetermined pattern capable of transmitting light and a light-reflecting portion (33a) capable of reflecting light.
3) A pattern appearance body, comprising: 3), wherein the predetermined pattern appears visibly when shaded by light.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the pattern appearance body according to the first aspect, an image can be reproduced by the reflected light which is formed on the light transmitting / reflecting layer (33) and is reflected by the light reflecting portion (33a). A pattern appearance body comprising a light diffraction layer (32).

The invention of claim 3 relates to claim 1 or claim 2.
In the pattern appearance body according to [1], the ratio of the light transmitting portion (33b) in the light transmitting and reflecting layer (33) is 1
The pattern appearance body is characterized by being 0% to 50%.

The invention of claim 4 is from claim 1 to claim 3.
In the pattern appearance body according to any one of
The light transmitting portion (33b) is a pattern appearance body characterized by being formed by parallel lines having a line width of 5 μm to 50 μm.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the pattern appearance body according to the fourth aspect, the light diffraction layer (32) is an embossed hologram, and the embossed portion is parallel to the light transmitting portion (33b). It is a pattern appearance body that is almost parallel to a line.

The invention of claim 6 is from claim 1 to claim 5.
The method of using the pattern appearance body according to any one of 1 to 4, wherein when the predetermined pattern is visible when viewed under light, it is a genuine product, and when it is invisible, it is a counterfeit product. It is a method of using a pattern appearance body, which is characterized by determining whether it is true or false.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a transfer foil which is a first embodiment of a pattern appearance body according to the present invention. Figure 2
2A and 2B are diagrams showing a state in which the transfer foil is transferred to an adherend. FIG. 2A is a plan view, FIG. 2B is a sectional view, and FIG.
FIG. 2C is an enlarged view of portion C of FIG. The transfer foil 10 holds a transfer seal 30 on a support sheet 20. The transfer seal 30 also includes a surface protection layer 31, a hologram layer 32, a light transmission / reflection layer 33, and an adhesive layer 34.

The support sheet 20 is a sheet for holding the transfer seal 30. Since the support sheet 20 is coated with the surface protection layer 31, the hologram layer 32, and the like in order to form the transfer seal 30, the heat resistance and the solvent resistance sufficient to withstand the formation are required. Further, in the case of the type in which the transfer seal 30 is thermally transferred to an adherend such as a gift certificate, heat resistance performance capable of withstanding the heat is required. As a material having such performance, for example,
Biaxially stretched polyethylene terephthalate film (hereinafter,
Simply called "PET film"). When such a PET film is used, its thickness is 5 to 2
The thickness is preferably 50 μm, and more preferably 10 to 50 μm in consideration of workability, tensile strength, thermal efficiency at the time of thermal transfer and the like.

The surface protective layer 31 is a layer that is peeled off from the support sheet 20 during transfer, and after transfer, the transfer seal 3 is formed.
Protect the 0 surface. As the material of the surface protective layer 31,
Acrylic skeleton resin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer,
It is formed of a mixture of cellulose acetate and a thermosetting acrylic resin, melamine resin, nitrocellulose resin, polyethylene wax, or the like, and particularly preferably contains an acrylic skeleton resin as a main component. In addition, the surface protection layer 31
A polyester resin or the like may be used to adjust the adhesion between the substrate sheet 20 and the support sheet 20. Further, in order to provide releasability, wax or silicone resin may be added. A release layer 31a is formed on the surface of the surface protective layer 31 that contacts the support sheet 20. This release layer 31a
Is a release layer coating liquid prepared by dissolving or dispersing the above resin in an appropriate solvent by means of a gravure printing method, a screen printing method, or a reverse coating method using a gravure plate on the support sheet 20. Formed by coating and drying. The thickness after drying is 0.1 to 10 μm.

The hologram layer 32 is a layer for recording an interference fringe of a diffraction grating or a hologram as a relief of unevenness on the surface and reproducing an image by the reflected light reflected by the light transmitting / reflecting layer 33. As the material of the hologram layer 32, a thermoplastic resin such as polyvinyl chloride, acrylic resin, polystyrene, or polycarbonate, or a thermosetting resin such as unsaturated polyester, melamine, epoxy, or acrylate may be used alone or as described above. A thermoplastic resin and a thermosetting resin can be mixed and used. Further, a thermoformable substance having a radical-polymerizable unsaturated group, or a substance having a radical-polymerizable unsaturated monomer added thereto to render it ionizing radiation-curable can be used. The thickness of such a hologram layer 32 is preferably in the range of 0.1 to 6 μm, particularly preferably in the range of 1 to 4 μm. When the hologram layer 32 is an embossed hologram, in particular, when the unevenness of the embossed portion is arranged so as to be substantially parallel to the light reflecting portion 33a and the light transmitting portion 33b, which will be described later, the reflected light from the light reflecting portion 33a is particularly reflected. Can be effectively utilized for image reproduction, and the presence of the light transmitting portion 33b becomes difficult to see when viewed from the front.

The light transmitting / reflecting layer 33 is formed on the relief surface of the hologram layer 32, and the light reflecting portion 33a and the light transmitting portion 3 are provided.
3b is provided. The light reflecting portion 33a enhances the diffraction efficiency of the hologram layer 32 by the reflected light reflected. Light transmission part 33
b is formed in a parallel line shape (see FIG. 2C),
A predetermined pattern is formed as a whole. When the user shades the transfer seal 30 against light, a predetermined pattern becomes visible by the light transmitted through the light transmitting portion 33b. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2A, the pattern “A” is visible. The method of forming the light transmitting / reflecting layer 33 will be described later. The ratio of the light transmitting portion 33b in the light transmitting / reflecting layer 33 is preferably 10% to 50%, and
The line width of the light transmitting portion 33b is preferably 5 μm to 50 μm. This is because when the number of light transmitting portions 33b is larger than this ratio or when the light transmitting portions 33b are thick, the presence of the light transmitting portions 33b may be known or the image reproduction capability may be sacrificed just by looking from the front. Also, if the ratio is smaller or smaller than this ratio, it is not possible to visually observe a predetermined pattern even if the light is shaded.

The material of the light transmitting / reflecting layer 33 is aluminum (Al), zinc (Zn), indium (In),
Gold (Au), silver (Ag), cobalt (Co), tin (S
n), selenium (Se), titanium (Ti), iron (Fe),
Single metals such as tellurium (Te), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), and palladium (Pd) or alloys thereof are suitable. Examples of the method for forming the thin film of the light transmitting / reflecting layer 33 include thin film forming methods such as a vacuum vapor deposition method, a sputtering method, and an ion plating method. Appropriate conditions may be set for the thin film depending on the color tone, design, application, etc., but it is preferably 50 Å to 1 μm, and more preferably 100 to 1000 Å.

The adhesive layer 34 is a layer for attaching the transfer seal 30 to an adherend such as a gift certificate. As a material of the adhesive layer 34, an acrylic resin, an acrylic ester resin,
Or copolymers thereof, styrene-butadiene copolymer, natural rubber, casein, gelatin, rosin ester,
Terpene resin, phenol resin, styrene resin, chromanindene resin, polyvinyl ether, silicone resin, etc.Also, alpha-cyanoacrylate adhesive, silicone adhesive, maleimide adhesive, styrene adhesive, polyolefin adhesive Agents, resorcinol-based adhesives, polyvinyl ether-based adhesives, silicone-based adhesives and the like. When such a material is used, release paper 34a may be temporarily adhered to the adhesive layer 34 in order to prevent inadvertent adhesion before attachment to an adherend. As the release paper 34a, a conventionally known release paper obtained by subjecting a paper or a film base material to a release treatment can be used. The adhesive layer 34 may use a heat sealing agent. Examples of such a heat sealing agent include ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin, polyamide resin, polyester resin, polyethylene resin, ethylene-isobutyl acrylate copolymer resin, butyral resin, polyvinyl acetate and its copolymer resin, cellulose derivative, Polymethylmethacrylate resin, polyvinyl ether resin,
Polyurethane resin, polycarbonate resin, polypropylene resin, epoxy resin, phenol resin, SBS, S
Thermoplastic elastomer such as IS, SEBS, SEPS,
Alternatively, a reactive hot melt resin or the like can be exemplified. The thickness of the adhesive layer 34 is 3 μm to 20 μm.
It is good to set m.

(Method of Forming Light Transmission / Reflection Layer) The light transmission / reflection layer can be formed by forming a light transmission portion on the metal reflection layer. As a method of forming the light transmitting portion on the metal reflection layer, (1) a vacuum evaporation method, (2) when forming the metal reflection layer by sputtering or the like, a pattern-like shield such as a mask is provided to form the pattern in a pattern. How to do (3)
After forming the metal reflection layer uniformly, there is a method of removing it in a pattern. Further, as a method of removing the pattern of (3), there are (3-1) a removal method by a photolithographic process, (3-2) a removal method using a laser marking device, and the like. In the method of forming using the laser marking device of (3-2), the metal reflection layer can be locally removed by irradiating the laser in a slit shape. Further, by scanning the laser in a two-dimensional manner while controlling ON / OFF, it is possible to form a pattern such as a pattern or a character. When scanning the laser light, it is desirable to scan at intervals of 1 times or more of the slit shape, and it is further desirable to scan at intervals of 1.5 times or more.

Next, a laser marking device will be specifically described as an example. 3A and 3B are diagrams showing a configuration of the laser marking device, FIG. 3A is a plan view, and FIG. 3B is a view seen from an arrow B of FIG. 3A. The laser beam emitted from the laser oscillator 71 of the laser marking device 70 is modulated by the laser modulator 72, passes through the half mirror 78 and the beam expander 75, and is reflected by the polygon mirror 73.
Is reflected by the F-θ lens 76, is corrected by the F-θ lens 76, and is irradiated onto the object to be processed. The polygon mirror 73 is a polygon mirror and is rotated by a motor of a polygon mirror driving device 74. Further, the beam expander 75 and the f-θ lens 76 correct the laser beam. Semiconductor laser 77
Emits a laser for detecting the rotation state of the polygon mirror 73. The laser emitted from the semiconductor laser 77 is introduced into the optical path through the half mirror 78, and the polygon mirror 73
And is detected by the detector 79. The transport unit 80 winds up and transports the workpiece. The transport unit 80 is fed to the side of the polygon mirror 73 from top to bottom and wound up. The control unit 81 is electrically connected to the laser modulator 72 and the detector 79, and controls the modulation timing of the laser modulator 72 based on the timing signal of the detector 79.

Laser marking is performed according to the following flow. A processing object in a winding form, for example, a PET in which an aluminum layer is vacuum-deposited on the transport unit 80.
Attach a film, etc. Then, the transport unit 80
To move the object to be processed at a constant speed. Polygon mirror 7
3 is rotated at a constant speed by the driving device 74, the laser oscillator 71 is turned on, and the laser beam is emitted. However, since the laser beam is blocked by the laser modulator 72 at this stage, it does not reach the object to be processed. Further, the semiconductor laser 77 is turned on. Then,
In response to the rotation of the polygon mirror 73, the semiconductor laser 7 is detected by the detector 79.
The beam of 7 arrives and a timing signal synchronized with the rotation of the polygon mirror 73 is obtained. At a timing synchronized with this timing signal, the control unit 81 outputs a pulse signal for the scanning line corresponding to the data to be marked, to the laser modulator 7.
Send to 2. In response to this pulse signal, the laser modulator 72
Modulates the intensity of the laser beam to mark one scanning line. By repeating this every time the detector 79 detects it as a timing signal, a predetermined marking is made on the workpiece. When the operation is repeated, scanning is performed at intervals of about 1 to 10 times the diameter of the laser beam to be irradiated, so that the laser is irradiated discontinuously, and as a result, a discontinuous pattern is formed. .

(Usage Method) FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a method of determining authenticity by using a transfer foil. The transfer foil 10 is used by attaching the transfer seal 30 to an adherend such as a gift certificate 50. (1) The authenticity determination person observes the transfer sticker 30 attached to the gift certificate 50 from the front. Then, at this time,
The image (star in FIG. 4A) reproduced on the hologram layer 32 can be confirmed. (2) Next, the authenticity determiner observes the transfer sticker 30 by holding one side of the gift certificate 50 (the surface on which the transfer sticker 30 is not attached) against light. Then, at this time, a predetermined pattern (“A” in FIG. 4B) can be confirmed by the light transmitted through the light transmitting portion 33b of the light transmitting / reflecting layer 33. In this way, the authenticity determination person can confirm that the gift certificate is genuine by confirming the predetermined pattern.

According to this embodiment, in a member having a metal reflection layer such as a hologram transfer foil, the metal reflection layer is patterned into a pattern constituted by fine constituents, so the pattern cannot be identified in a normal state. The pattern can be identified by seeing through the light source or the like.
By utilizing this characteristic, it is possible to easily make a true / false decision. Further, it is very difficult to form the light transmitting portion 33b on the metal reflection layer, and it is difficult to forge it. Furthermore, since the hologram layer 32 is provided, the design is rich. Further, the hologram layer 32 hides the light transmitting portion 33b, and its existence is difficult to understand. In particular, the hologram layer 3
When the unevenness of the embossed portion 2 is arranged so as to be substantially parallel to the light reflecting portion 33a and the light transmitting portion 33b of the light transmitting and reflecting layer 33, the reflected light of the light reflecting portion 33a can be effectively utilized for image reproduction. The light transmitting portion 33 is formed when viewed from the front.
The existence of b is more difficult to understand.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a metal foil which is a second embodiment of the pattern appearance body according to the present invention. In the present embodiment, parts having the same functions as those in the above-described first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted as appropriate. The metal foil 40 is a metal foil for embossing that includes a light transmitting / reflecting layer 43 and an adhesive layer 44. A release paper 44a is temporarily attached to the adhesive layer 44. The light transmitting / reflecting layer 43 is similar to the light transmitting / reflecting layer 33 of the first embodiment, and includes a light reflecting portion 43a and a light transmitting portion 43b. The light transmitting portions 43b are formed in parallel lines and form a predetermined pattern as a whole.
When the user shades the metal foil 40 against light, the light transmitting portion 43
The light transmitted through b allows the predetermined pattern to be visible. Further, as the material of the light transmitting / reflecting layer 43, similar to the light transmitting / reflecting layer 33 of the first embodiment, aluminum (A
l), zinc (Zn), indium (In), gold (A
u), silver (Ag), cobalt (Co), tin (Sn),
Selenium (Se), titanium (Ti), iron (Fe), tellurium (Te), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), nickel (N
i), elemental metals such as palladium (Pd) or alloys thereof are suitable.

According to this embodiment as well, the pattern cannot be identified in a normal state, but the pattern can be identified by seeing through the light source or the like. By utilizing this characteristic, it is possible to easily make a true / false decision. Further, unlike the first embodiment, since it does not have a hologram layer, it is inexpensive.

(Modifications) The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but various modifications and changes can be made, which are also within the scope of the present invention. For example, in the first embodiment, the transfer foil type in which the transfer seal 30 is held by the support sheet 20 has been described as an example, but the same effect can be obtained even if the transfer seal type is a label type. can get. Further, in the second embodiment, the metal foil for embossing has been described as an example, but a transfer foil type including a support sheet or a label type including a surface protective layer may be used.

[0026]

EXAMPLES The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples. (Example) In order to confirm the effect of the present invention, a 50 μm polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film with 50 n
Laser beam diameter: 10 μm, scanning interval during drawing: 25 μm for an aluminum layer vacuum-deposited with a thickness of m
Drawing is done with a light transmission part with a width of 10 μm and a width of 15 μm.
A light transmitting / reflecting layer having a light reflecting portion of was formed to prepare a pattern appearance body. When the pattern appearance body was attached to a gift certificate and visually observed, it was difficult to visually recognize the pattern when viewed from the front, but it was confirmed that the pattern could be easily recognized when viewed through light (Fig. 3)

Comparative Example As a comparative example, a 50 μm polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film with 50 nm
What was produced using the vacuum-deposited aluminum layer with the thickness of 3 was attached to a gift certificate, and was visually observed in the same manner. As a result, even when viewed through the light, no particular difference from the one viewed from the front could be confirmed.

[0028]

As described in detail above, the present invention has the following effects. (1) Since the light-transmitting / reflecting layer having the light-reflecting portion and the light-transmitting portion is provided, predetermined information that cannot be seen in a normal state is
Since it becomes visible by seeing through a light source or the like, the authenticity can be easily determined. (2) It is very difficult to form the light transmission part on the metal reflection layer, and it is difficult to forge it. (3) Since the hologram layer is provided, the design is good and the appearance is good. Further, since the light transmitting portion is formed by thin lines, a hologram image similar to a normal hologram can be seen. (4) The hologram layer hides the light transmitting portion, and its existence is difficult to understand. In particular, if the unevenness of the embossed portion of the hologram layer is arranged so as to be substantially parallel to the light reflecting portion, etc., the reflected light of the light reflecting portion can be effectively utilized for image reproduction, and when viewed from the front, The existence of the light transmission part is more difficult to understand. (5) Even if it is used as a metal foil without forming a hologram layer, predetermined information that cannot be seen in a normal state can be seen by seeing through a light source or the like. be able to.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a transfer foil which is a first embodiment of a pattern appearance body according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state where the transfer foil, which is the first embodiment of the pattern appearance body according to the present invention, is transferred to an adherend.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a laser marking device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a method of authenticity determination using a transfer foil.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a metal foil that is a second embodiment of the pattern appearance body according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Transfer foil 20 Support sheet 30 Transfer Sticker 31 Surface protection layer 32 hologram layer 33 Light transmitting / reflecting layer 33a Light reflection part 33b Light transmission part 34 Adhesive layer 50 gift certificate 70 Laser marking device

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F term (reference) 2C005 HA02 HB10 JB08 JB09 KA03                       KA07 KA38 KA48 KA61                 2H042 AA02 AA05 AA17 AA19 AA21                 2H049 AA07 AA13 AA40 AA56 AA64                 2K008 AA13 EE04 FF12 GG05 HH01                       HH18

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A light-transmitting / reflecting layer having a light-transmitting portion having a predetermined pattern capable of transmitting light and a light-reflecting portion capable of reflecting the light, and the predetermined pattern is visible when exposed to light. A pattern appearance body characterized by that. 2. The pattern appearance body according to claim 1, further comprising a light diffractive layer formed on the light transmitting / reflecting layer and capable of reproducing an image by reflected light reflected by the light reflecting portion. Appearing body. 3. The pattern appearance body according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of the light transmitting portion in the light transmitting / reflecting layer is 10 or less.
% To 50%, a pattern appearance body. 4. Any one of claims 1 to 3
Item 5. The pattern appearance body according to item 4, wherein the light transmitting portion is formed by parallel lines having a line width of 5 μm to 50 μm. 5. The pattern appearance body according to claim 4, wherein the light diffraction layer is an embossed hologram, and the embossed portion is substantially parallel to a parallel line of the light transmitting portion. A pattern appearance body that does. 6. Any one of claims 1 to 5
The method of using the pattern appearance body according to the item, when the predetermined pattern is visible when viewed under light, it is determined as a genuine product, and when it is not visible, it is determined as a counterfeit product. A method of using a pattern appearance body characterized by: