JP2004106551A - Improved information carrier with watermark - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information carrier which can be easily manufactured, has an uncomplicated layer structure, can be cut into a plurality of sets of identification (ID) cards, and gives tamperproofness to the ID cards which can be cut from the information carrier. <P>SOLUTION: The information carrier includes information (private information in some cases) applied on a receiving layer preferably by ink jet printing, and further includes a new type of a watermark obtained by applying hardneable varnish in a pattern, hardening it, and hardening a hardenable lacquer entirely applied. One of the varnish and the lacquer has the ability of changing its transparency by the penetration into the receiving layer, and thus a transparent watermark is made on an opaque background or an opaque watermark is made on a transparent background. The completed information carrier is cut into preferably a plurality of sets of identification (ID) cards. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

The present invention relates to a method for producing a carrier with improved information and an ID card cut therefrom.

In recent years, several types of identification (ID) cards have been used with the progress of the information-oriented society. For example, cards associated with electronic remittance include bank cards, payment cards, credit cards and shopping cards. Various types of warranty cards allow card holders to enter and exit certain areas, such as companies (employee ID cards), the military, public institutions, banking security departments, and the like. For a long time, the nation issued an identity card to prove the citizenship of a citizen. Still other types of identification cards include social security cards, club or group membership cards, and driver's license cards. Such ID cards typically include information indicating, on the one hand, both the institution issuing the card and the owner of the card. The first type of information is general information, such as the name and / or logo of the issuing agency, or security marks, such as watermarks and security prints, such as repetitive monochromatic patterns or imitations. It can be a gradually changing color pattern that is difficult to do. The second type includes, for example, a unique card number, personal data, such as a birthday, a photo of the owner, and a signature. The card may also contain confidential information, and consequently a magnetic strip or an electronic chip ("smart card").

Large sets of ID cards are manufactured on a large carrier of information, such as a web or sheet, by a step and iterative process, after which the information carrier is cut into a plurality of products, each having the appropriate dimensions to display a personal ID card. . Smart cards and ID cards currently have standard dimensions of 85.6 mm x 54.0 mm x 0.76 mm.

-Usually, the card is protected by a plastic sheet material, for example by laminating the card on a plastic sheet, or, as is the case in general, by laminating between two plastic sheets.

With regard to their widespread use, especially in commerce such as check cashing, credit purchases, etc., persons relying on ID cards to identify holders have not changed their ID cards and / or imitated ID cards. It is important to make the greatest possible confirmation. Numerous efforts have been made to provide this desired degree of confirmation. For example, special adhesive systems and lamination techniques have been developed to prevent or discourage ID card changes. These systems and techniques are designed to obtain a high degree of bonding efficiency between the surface of the card and the plastic sheet material bonded thereto. For example, some adhesive systems known in the art as "security seals" can be applied. "Protective seal" is best described by stating what would happen if an attempt was made to pull the plastic sheet material from the surface of the card bonded to the plastic. If a "protective seal" is present, all or at least a portion of the adhered surface will be removed from the card along with the plastic sheet material. Thus, a "protective seal" is typically placed between the plastic carrying the information of the card or document and the plastic. In such an environment, removal of the plastic would also remove a substantial portion of the information-bearing surface of the card, rendering the card unusable for modification purposes. An adhesive or adhesive system that can provide a "protective seal" has been described (see U.S. Pat. A protective seal can be provided by applying a heat-sealable polymer to obtain a sealed envelope-type bag (see US Pat.

Additionally, the art's solution to the imitation problem has included the integration of an ID card with "verification features" to prove authentication. These "inquiry features" include signatures, for example, authorized human signatures or holder signatures for issuing ID cards. Other "inquiry features" include, inter alia, the use of watermarks, fluorescent materials, verification patterns or marks and polarizing strips. These "inquiry features" are integrated in the ID card in various ways and they may be "visible" or "invisible" on the finished card. If "invisible", they can be confirmed by examining the features under conditions that make them visible. Details regarding the use of the "inquiry feature" in the ID card are described, for example (see Patent Literature 5, Patent Literature 6, Patent Literature 7, Patent Literature 8, Patent Literature 9, Patent Literature 10, Patent Literature 11).

The present invention extends to the teaching of verification marks and especially watermarks.

Documents related to the patentability of the present invention have been known (Patent Literatures 1 to 11, Patent Literature 12, Patent Literature 13, Patent Literature 14, and Patent Literature 15).
U.S. Pat. No. 3,582,439 issued Jun. 1, 1971 U.S. Pat. No. 3,614,439 issued Oct. 26, 1971 U.S. Pat. No. 4,115,618 issued Sep. 19, 1978 U.S. Pat. No. 4,322,461 issued Mar. 30, 1982 U.S. Pat. No. 2,984,030 issued May 16, 1961 U.S. Pat. No. 3,279,826 US Patent No. 3,332,775 issued July 25, 1967. U.S. Pat. No. 3,414,998 issued Dec. 10, 1968 U.S. Pat. No. 3,675,948 issued Jul. 11, 1972 U.S. Pat. No. 3,827,726 issued Aug. 6, 1974 U.S. Pat. No. 3,961,956 issued Jun. 8, 1976 European Patent Application No. 071,162, issued February 9, 1983 German Patent C-920378 issued Jan. 24, 1991 European Patent Application No. 856,056, issued Aug. 12, 1998 DE 100 21 896 A1 issued on November 15, 2001

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved type of information carrier that can be easily manufactured, has a simple layer structure, and can be cut into sets of ID cards.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved type of information carrier manufacturing method that can be easily manufactured, has a low complexity layer structure, and can be cut into sets of ID cards. .

The object of the present invention is also that the information carrier thus obtained and the ID card which may optionally be cut therefrom have a new type of watermark.

Another object of the present invention is that an ID card that can be cut off from an information carrier is fraud-proof.

That the previously opaque porous receiving layer comprising the pigment and the binder upon penetration by varnish or lacquer can be substantially transparent, i.e. the resulting layer comprising at least three components, It has surprisingly been found that the layer containing at least two is substantially transparent despite the fact that it is opaque. Furthermore, the substantially transparent porous receiving layer comprising the pigment and the binder may be rendered opaque upon penetration by a varnish or lacquer despite the fact that the layer containing at least two of the components is transparent. Was found. These actions form the basis of the realization of the watermark in the information carrier according to the invention.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a rigid sheet or web support, an opaque porous receiving layer comprising a pigment and a binder which can be made substantially transparent by penetration by a lacquer, on the surface of said receiving layer and / or in The image provided on the surface of the receiving layer provided with the image or, if the varnish cannot render the receiving layer transparent, the image provided on the surface of the receiving layer and / or into An information carrier comprising a cured pattern of a varnish to be provided, and the cured layer of the lacquer provided on the receiving layer provided with the image and the cured pattern of the varnish, wherein the lacquer Makes the portion of the receiving layer in contact with it substantially transparent, and the cured pattern of the varnish is realized by an information carrier forming an opaque watermark.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a rigid sheet or web support, an opaque porous receiving layer comprising a pigment and a binder, which can be made substantially transparent by penetration by a varnish, a surface of said receiving layer and And / or an image provided therein, a cured pattern of the varnish provided in the receiving layer provided with the image, and a surface of the receiving layer provided with the image and the cured pattern of the varnish. Alternatively, if the lacquer does not allow the receiving layer to be transparent, the image and the cured pattern of the varnish comprise a hardened layer of lacquer supplied on and / or into the surface of the receiving layer provided. An information carrier comprising the varnish making the portion of the receiving layer in contact therewith substantially transparent and the cured pattern of the lacquer forming a substantially transparent watermark. Also realized by a carrier.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a rigid sheet or web support, a transparent porous receiving layer comprising a pigment and a binder, which can be made substantially opaque by penetration by a lacquer, on the surface of said receiving layer and And / or on the surface of the receiving layer provided with the image, or on the surface of the receiving layer provided with the image if the varnish cannot render the receiving layer opaque and / or An information carrier comprising a cured pattern of a varnish supplied therein, and said cured layer of lacquer provided on said receiving layer provided with said image and said cured pattern of said varnish. Thus, the lacquer also renders the portion of the receiving layer in contact with it substantially opaque, and the cured pattern of the varnish is also realized by an information carrier forming a transparent watermark.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a rigid sheet or web support, a transparent porous receiving layer comprising a pigment and a binder, which can be made substantially opaque by penetration by a varnish, a surface of said receiving layer and And / or an image provided therein, a cured pattern of the varnish provided in the receiving layer provided with the image, and a surface of the receiving layer provided with the image and the cured pattern of the varnish. Alternatively, if the lacquer cannot make the receiving layer opaque, a cured layer of lacquer provided on and / or into the surface of the receiving layer given the image and the cured pattern of the varnish An information carrier comprising the varnish making the portion of the receiving layer in contact therewith substantially opaque and the cured pattern of the lacquer forming a substantially opaque watermark. It is realized by the information carrier to be.

The purpose of the present invention is also
(1) A bilayer assembly comprising (i) a rigid sheet or web support, optionally preprinted with protective printing, and (ii) a porous opaque receiving layer comprising a pigment and a binder. Prepare the body (assemblage)
(2) printing digitally stored information on the porous receiving layer,
(3) applying a varnish curable in a predetermined pattern on the top of the layer by printing, spraying or spraying,
(4) curing the applied varnish, thereby leaving the portion of the receiving layer under the predetermined pattern non-transparent;
(5) covering the assemblage obtained in this way entirely with a curable lacquer, by coating, printing, spraying or spraying, so that all the receiving layers are not covered by the varnish pattern. And the non-transparent pattern resulting from the application of the varnish forms an opaque watermark,
(6) It can also be realized by a method for producing an information carrier, which comprises a step of applying the aggregate thus obtained to a second curing step in the stated order.

The purpose of the present invention is also
(1 ') a bilayer comprising (i) a rigid sheet or web support optionally preprinted with protective printing and (ii) a porous opaque receiving layer comprising a pigment and a binder. Prepare the assembly,
(2 ′) printing digitally stored information on the porous receiving layer,
(3 ') applying a varnish curable in a predetermined pattern to the top of the receiving layer by printing, spraying or spraying, whereby the varnish penetrates the receiving layer, thereby creating a transparent pattern And
(4 ′) After infiltration, the aggregate thus obtained is subjected to a curing step,
(5 ′) the aggregate obtained in this way is entirely coated with a curable lacquer by coating, printing, spraying or spraying,
(6 ′) subjecting the assemblage thus obtained to a second curing stage, thereby leaving the varnish-infiltrated pattern transparent and forming a substantially transparent watermark, and other components of the image carrier. It is also achieved by a method of manufacturing an information carrier comprising the steps of leaving the parts opaque in the order described.

The object of the invention is also
A two-layer assembly comprising (I) (i) a rigid sheet or web support, optionally preprinted with protective printing, and (ii) a porous transparent receiving layer comprising a pigment and a binder. Prepare your body,
(II) printing information stored digitally on the porous receiving layer;
(III) applying by printing, spraying or jetting a varnish curable in a predetermined pattern on top of said receiving layer,
(IV) curing the applied varnish, thereby leaving the portion of the receiving layer below the predetermined pattern transparent;
(V) the assemblage obtained in this way is entirely coated, by coating, printing, spraying or spraying, with a curable lacquer, whereby the lacquer is all of the receiving layer which is not covered by a varnish pattern And makes them substantially opaque, and the transparent pattern resulting from the application of the varnish forms a transparent watermark,
(VI) It is also realized by a method for producing an information carrier, comprising the steps of subjecting the aggregate thus obtained to a second curing step in the stated order.

The object of the invention is also
(I ') a bilayer comprising (i) a rigid sheet or web support optionally pre-printed with protective printing and (ii) a porous transparent receiving layer comprising a pigment and a binder. Prepare the assembly,
(II ′) printing digitally stored information on the porous receiving layer,
(III ') applying a varnish curable in a predetermined pattern to the top of the receiving layer by printing, spraying or jetting, whereby the varnish penetrates the receiving layer and thereby becomes substantially opaque Create a pattern,
(IV ′) after infiltration, subjecting the aggregate thus obtained to a curing step,
(V ′) the assembly obtained in this way is entirely coated with a curable lacquer by coating, printing, spraying or spraying,
(VI ') subjecting the assemblage thus obtained to a second curing step, thereby leaving the varnish-infiltrated pattern opaque and forming an opaque watermark, and removing the other parts of the image carrier. It is also realized by a method of manufacturing an information carrier, comprising the steps of keeping it transparent in the stated order.

Other advantages and embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the description below.
Definitions In the context of the present disclosure, the term “opaque” or “non-transparent” layer refers to a layer that allows less than 10% of incident visible light to pass through the layer. In a "substantially transparent" layer, at least 50%, preferably 65% and particularly preferably more than 75% of the incident visible light passes through the layer.

We define the index of refraction as the average of the range of possible refractive indices when a range of refractive indices is present for a particular material (eg, 1.51 for polyvinyl alcohol having a refractive index range of 1.49 to 1.53). ) Is defined as a specific number.

In the present disclosure, the terms “on,” “onto,” and “in” have a very precise meaning for a layer, and “on” refers to the penetration of the layer. "On or off" means at least 90% of the top, i.e. there is no substantial penetration into the layer, and "on" Means that penetration into each layer or layers occurs. In printing digitally stored information "on" the porous receiving layer, we understand that an image is provided "on and / or in" the receiving layer. In the case of ink jet printing, if the ink remains on top of the receiving layer, the image has been provided "on the surface" of this receiving layer. If the ink penetrates into this porous receiving layer, it is "in" the layer. The same terms are used for varnishes and lacquers. For example, "before substantial penetration of the varnish into the receiving layer" means that < 10% of the varnish is "in" the receiving layer.

The curable varnish and lacquer compositions used in the present invention have similar compositions. To avoid confusion, the term "varnish" is thus used in the present invention to indicate a curable composition applied in a pattern, and the term "lacquer" refers to the composition as a whole applied. Used to indicate. Lacquers do not necessarily have to contain cellulose derivatives.

用語 The term watermark as used in disclosing the present invention means localized modification of the structure and opacity of the layer, so that the pattern or design can be seen when the information carrier is exposed to light.

The term protective printing as used in disclosing the present invention is a specific recognizable design, or an abstract of a mono- or multi-color pattern that is periodically repeated, or imitation due to the gradual change in tone and / or color density. It means a difficult gradually changing color pattern. The protective print further includes, for example, the logo, name or abbreviation of the issuing agency of the information carrier.
Information Carrier In a preferred embodiment, digitally stored information is printed on the surface of the porous receiving layer by ink jet printing.

In another preferred embodiment, the application of the printed information and the hardened watermark is repeated several times on the area of the information carrier according to a certain pattern, and finally the completed assembly is stored on a plurality of identification (ID) cards. Cut into sets.

We next describe in more detail the specific layer arrangement and components of the information carrier according to the invention.
Sheet or web support The support for use in the present invention may be transparent, translucent or opaque, and may be selected from paper and polymer type supports known from the photographic art. Paper types include plain paper, cast coated paper, polyethylene coated paper and polypropylene coated paper. Polymer supports are cellulose acetate propionate or cellulose acetate butyrate, polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene naphthalate, polyamides, polycarbonates, polyimides, polyolefins, poly (vinyl acetal) s, polyethers and And polysulfonamides. Useful high quality polymer supports for the present invention include opaque white polyesters and extruded blends of polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene. Polyester film supports and especially poly (ethylene terephthalate) are preferred because of their excellent dimensional stability properties. When such a polyester is used as a support material, a subbing layer can be used to improve the bonding of the ink-receiving layer to the support. Subbing layers useful for this purpose are known in the photographic art and are, for example, polymers of vinylidene chloride, such as vinylidene chloride / acrylonitrile / acrylic acid terpolymer or vinylidene chloride / methyl acrylate / itaconic acid terpolymer. Copolymers. In the most preferred embodiment of the present invention, the support is colored or whitened polyvinyl chloride or polyethylene terephthalate.
Receiving Layer It is essential to the invention that the receiving layer is porous and contains a binder and a pigment.

Binders include hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxyethylmethylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, hydroxybutylmethylcellulose, methylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylhydroxyethylcellulose, water-soluble ethylhydroxyethylcellulose, cellulose sulfate, polyvinyl alcohol, and vinyl alcohol. Polymer, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl acetal, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyacrylamide, acrylamide / acrylic acid copolymer, polystyrene, styrene copolymer, acrylic or methacrylic polymer, styrene / acrylic copolymer, ethylene-acetic acid Vinyl copolymer, vinyl methyl ether / maleic acid copolymer Coalescence, poly (2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid), poly (diethylenetriamine-co-adipic acid), polyvinylpyridine, polyvinylimidazole, modified polyethyleneimine epichlorohydrin, ethoxylated polyethyleneimine, polyethylene oxide, polyurethane Melamine resin, gelatin, carrageenan, dextran, gum arabic, casein, pectin, albumin, starch, collagen derivatives, collodion and agar can be selected from a list of compounds known in the art.

Preferred binders for the practice of the present invention are polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), vinyl alcohol copolymer or modified polyvinyl alcohol. Most preferably, the polyvinyl alcohol is a silanol modified polyvinyl alcohol. The most useful commercially available silanol-modified polyvinyl alcohols are found in the POVAL® polymer series under the trade name of Kuraray Corporation in Japan. This R-polymer series includes the grades R-1130, R-2150, R-2130, R-3109, which differ primarily in the viscosity of their respective aqueous solutions. Silanol groups are reactive with inorganic substances such as silica or alumina. R-polymers can be easily cross-linked by changing the pH of their aqueous solutions or by mixing with organic materials and can form aqueous films.

Pigments are inorganic pigments known in the art, such as silica, talc, clay, hydrotalcite, kaolin, diatomaceous earth, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, basic magnesium carbonate, aluminosilicate, aluminum trihydroxide, aluminum oxide ( (Alumina), titanium oxide, zinc oxide, barium sulfate, calcium sulfate, zinc sulfide, satin white, boehmite (hydrated alumina), zirconium oxide or mixed oxides. In a preferred embodiment, the primary pigment is selected from silica, aluminosilicate, alumina, calcium carbonate, hydrated alumina, and aluminum trihydroxide.

The use of aluminum oxide (alumina) in the receiving layer has been described in several patents, for example, US Pat. No. 5,041,328, US Pat. No. 5,182,175, US Pat. No. 5,266,383, It is disclosed in EP 218,566, EP 835,762 and EP 927,650.

Commercial types of aluminum oxide (alumina) are α-Al ₂ O ₃ types, such as NORTON E700, γ-, available from Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc. Al ₂ O ₃ types, such as ALUMINUM OXID C from Degussa, other aluminum oxide grades, such as BAIKALOX CR15 and CR30 from Baikowski Chemie, and DURAX grades from Bikofurki Hemi, XULAI grade from Bikofurki Hemi, etc. BAIKALOX CR80, CR140, CR125, B105CR, Cabot (Cab) from Hemi CAB-O-SPERSE PG003 trademark from t), CATALOX from Sasol GRADES and CATAPAL GRADES, e.g. PLURALOX HP14 / 150, ALUMINASOL 100 from colloidal _Al 2 _{O 3} types, such as Nissan Chemical Industries, ALUMINASOL 200, ALUMINASOL 220 , ALUMINASOL 300, and ALUMINASOL 520® or NALCO 8676® from ONDEO Nalco.

A useful type of alumina hydrate is gamma-AlO (OH), also referred to as boehmite, such as DISPERAL, DISPERAL @ HP14 and DISPERAL @ 40 from Sasol in powder form, MARTOXIN from Martinswerk @ GmbH. VP2000-2 and GL-3, liquid boehmite alumina based such as DISPAL @ 23N4-20, DISPAL @ 14N-25, DISPAL @ AL25 from Sasol. Patents relating to alumina hydrate include EP 500021, EP 634286, US Pat. No. 5,624,428, EP 742108, US Pat. No. 6,238,047, and EP 622244. And EP 810101.

Useful aluminum trihydroxides are bayerite or α-Al (OH) ₃ , for example, PLURAL BT available from Sasol, and gibbsite or γ-Al (OH) ₃ , for example, the MARTINAL grade from Martinsberg GmbH, Martins MARTIFIN grades from Berg GmbH, such as MARTIFIN OL104, MARTIFIN OL107 and MARTIFIN OL111, MICRAL grades from JM Huber company, such as MICRAL 1440, MICRAL 1500, MICRAL 632, MICRAL 925, MICRAL 855, MICRAL 855, MICRAL 925, MICRAL 925, MICRAL 925 , MICRAL 932CM, MICRAL 9400, HIGILI from Showa Denka Co., Ltd. TE grades, such as HIGILITE H42 or HIGILITE H43M, HYDRAL GRADES from Alcoa Industrial Chemicals, such as HYDRAL COAT 2, HYDRAL COAT 5 and HYDRAL COAT 7, HYDRAL COAT 7, HYDRAL COAT R, and HYDRAL COAT R.

Zirconium oxide Another useful type, _ZrO 2, ZR20 / 20 is acetate stabilized from NALCO OOSS008 registered trademark of ONDEO Nalco, Nyacol Nano Technologies (Nyacol Nano Technologies), ZR50 / 20, ZR100 / 20 and ZRYS4. Useful mixed oxides are SIRAL grade from Sasol, colloidal metal oxides from Nalco, such as Nalco 1056, Nalco TX10496, Nalco TX11678.

Silica as a pigment in the receiving element has been used in many old and recent patents, such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,892,591, U.S. Pat. No. 4,902,568, EP 373573, EP 423829, It is disclosed in EP 487350, EP 493100, EP 514633 and the like. Various types of silica, such as crystalline silica, amorphous silica, precipitated silica, gel silica, fumed silica, spherical and non-spherical silica, such as calcium carbonate as disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,281,467. Mixed silicas, as well as silicas with internal porosity as described, for example, in WO 00/02734, can be used. The use of calcium carbonate in the receiving layer is described, for example, in German Patent No. 2,925,695 and US Pat. No. 5,185,213. The use of aluminosilicates is described, for example, in DE-A-2 925 769.

混合 Mixtures of various pigments can be used.

In another embodiment, the primary pigment can be selected from organic particles such as polystyrene, polymethyl methacrylate, silicones, melamine-formaldehyde condensation polymers, urea-formaldehyde condensation polymers, polyesters and polyamides. Mixtures of inorganic and organic pigments can be used. However, most preferably the pigment is an inorganic pigment.

The pigment should be present at a coverage sufficient to render the receiving layer sufficiently opaque and porous. The lower limit of the weight ratio of binder to total pigment in the receiving layer is preferably about 1:50, most preferably 1:20, while the upper limit is about 2: 1, most preferably 1: 1. If the amount of the pigment exceeds the upper limit, the strength of the receiving layer itself is reduced, and the resulting image tends to deteriorate rub resistance and the like. On the other hand, if the binder-to-pigment ratio is too high, the resulting ink absorbing capacity of the receiving layer will be reduced and, as a result, the image formed may possibly be degraded.

Furthermore, preferably, the refractive indices of the UV-curable composition penetrating the pigment on the one hand and the opaque porous receiving layer on the other hand (see below) should match as closely as possible to each other. The closer the refractive index match, the better the transparency that would be obtained after impregnation of the receiving layer with the photopolymerizable composition.

Inorganic pigments having a refractive index in the range from 1.45 to 1.55 are preferred. The most preferred pigments are of the silica type, more particularly amorphous silicas having an average particle size in the range from 1 μm to 15 μm, most preferably from 2 to 10 μm. The most useful commercial compound is amorphous precipitated silica type SIPERNAT 570, a trade name from Degussa Company. It is preferably present in an amount in the range of ^5g / ^{m 2 ~30g} / m 2 in the receiving layer. It has the following properties:
- specific surface area _{(N 2} absorption): 750m ² / g
Average particle size (Multisizer, 100 μm capillary): 6.7 μm
-DBP adsorption: 175-320 g / 100 g
-Refractive index: 1.45 to 1.47.

Since the index of refraction of a typical UV curable lacquer composition is about 1.47 to 1.49, it will match well with the index of refraction of this particular silica type and will provide good transparency. May not be obtained if another component is present.

{Other usable precipitated silica types include SIPERNAT # 310, 350 and 500, AEROSIL grade (registered trademark of Degussa-Hurs AG), and SYLOID type (registered trademark from Grace Co.).

A receiving layer containing a porous alumina pigment, for example MARTINOX @ GL-1, is impregnated with a typical UV-curable composition having a refractive index of 1.47 to 1.49, with a refractive index of 1.6. Therefore, it is not substantially transparent. However, UV curable compositions having a higher refractive index, for example comprising N-vinylcarbazole as a comonomer, are possible. Furthermore, upon impregnation with a UV-curable composition, the layer with the pigment shows a strong improvement in the adhesion between the support and the ink-jet receiving layer.

Binders can also affect the opacity of the receiving layer. If the weight ratio of binder to total pigment in the receiving layer approaches the above upper limit of 2: 1 and under conditions where there is a good match between the refractive index of the binder and the refractive index of the pigment, the binder will It will make the receiving layer more transparent. On the other hand, the combination of the above silica pigment SIPERNAT # 570 with polyvinyl alcohol (refractive index 1.49 to 1.53) produces an opaque layer due to the poor match between the refractive indices. It was surprising to find that the receiving layer containing this silica pigment SIPERNAT # 570 and polyvinyl alcohol could be made lacquer transparent even at a binder to total pigment weight ratio of 0.14 in the receiving layer.

To define a "boundary" for a good match between the indices of refraction in the case of the range of indices that exist for a particular material, we define a specific number that is the average of the possible indices of refraction (eg, SIPERNAT 570). 1.46 for poly (vinyl alcohol), 1.51 for polyvinyl alcohol, and 1.48 for the typical UV curable lacquer described above having a refractive index range of 1.47 to 1.49. Define the rate. The refractive index difference between SIPERNAT 570 and polyvinyl alcohol is 0.05, while the refractive index difference between SIPERNAT 570 and a typical UV-curable lacquer is only 0.02. Thus, the opaque receiving layer containing the pigment and the binder is substantially more lacquer-free if the difference in the refractive index of the pigment and the lacquer is not more than 0.04, and more preferably not more than 0.02. Can be made transparent. However, it should be noted that the binder can also affect the opacity of the receiving layer. This leads to the following possible situations:
The opaque receiving layer of the information carrier is bound when the refractive index of the pigment and the refractive index of the lacquer in the receiving layer do not differ by more than 0.04 and when the weight ratio of binder to total pigment is greater than 0.14 If the refractive index of the lacquer and the refractive index of the lacquer are not more than 0.04, the lacquer can be made more transparent.
The opaque receiving layer of the information carrier remains opaque if the refractive index of the pigment and the lacquer in the receiving layer do not differ by more than 0.04;
A transparent receiving layer of the information carrier in which the refractive index of the binder and the refractive index of the pigment do not differ by more than 0.04, the refractive index of the pigment in the receiving layer and the refractive index of the lacquer penetrating into the receiving layer being 0. If it differs by more than 04, it can be made opaque by the lacquer.
A transparent receiving layer of the information carrier in which the refractive index of the binder and the refractive index of the pigment do not differ by more than 0.04, the refractive index of the pigment in the receiving layer and the refractive index of the lacquer penetrating into the receiving layer being 0. If it does not differ by more than 04, it may remain transparent due to the lacquer.

カ チ オ ン In addition to the above essential components, a cationic substance acting as a mordant can be present in the receiving layer. Such materials increase the ability of the layer to fix and retain the dye of the ink droplet. A particularly suitable compound is poly (diallyldimethylammonium chloride), or poly (DADMAC) for short. These compounds are commercially available from several companies, such as Aldrich, Nalco, Ciba, Nitto Boseki, Clariant, BASF and EKA Chemicals.

Other useful cationic compounds are DADMAC copolymers, such as copolymers with acrylamide, such as NALCO 1470® from Ondeo Narco, or PAS-J-81, a registered trademark of Nitto Boseki, such as DADMAC. copolymers of acrylates, such as registered trademark of ONDEO Nalco Nalco 8190, a copolymer of DADMAC and SO _2, PAS-a-1 or PAS-92 is a registered trademark of example Nitto Boseki Co., DADMAC And maleic acid, such as PAS-410, a registered trademark of Nitto Boseki Co., Ltd., and a copolymer of DADMAC and diallyl (3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl) amine hydrochloride, for example, a registered trademark of Nitto Boseki Trademark PAS-880 and dimethylamine-epichlorohydrin Other POLYFIX grades that may be used, including, for example, Nalco 7135, a registered trademark of Ondeo Narco, or POLYDIZ 700, a trade name of Showa Polymer Co., Ltd., are POLYFIX, a trade name of Nikka Chemical Co. 601; POLYFIX 301; POLYFIX 301A; POLYFIX 250WS; and POLYFIX 3000, NEOFIX E-117, a trade name of Nikka Chemical Co., Ltd., and polyoxyalkylene polyamine dicyanodiamine, and REDILOC, a trade name of EKA Chemicals 150 MADAME (methacrylate dimethylaminoethyl = dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) or MADQUAT (methacryloxyethyltrimethylammonium chloride) D) Modified polymers such as ROHAGIT KL280, ROHAGIT 210, ROHAGIT SL144, PLEX 4739L, PLEX 3073 from Roehm, DIAFLOC KP155 from Diafloc Co. and other DIAFLOC products, and EAFLOC. BMB 1305 and other BMB products from Chemicals, cationic epichlorohydrin adducts such as POLYCUP 171 and POLYCUP 172, trade names from Hercules Co., from Cytec industries CYPRO products such as CYPRO 514/515/516, SUPERFLOC 507/521/567 Cationic acrylic polymers, for example a registered trademark of Ciba ALCOSTAT 567, cationic cellulose derivatives, for example, Starch and Chemical Company (Starch & Chemical Co. CELQUAT L-200, H-100, SC-240C, SC-230M, and QUATRISOFT LM200, UCARE polymer JR125, JR400, LR400, JR30M, LR30M and UCARE polymer LK, Chukyo Europe ( PALSET JK-512, PALSET JK512L, PALSET JK-182, PALSET JK-220, WSC-173, WSC-173L, PALSET JK-320, PALSET JK-320L, and PALSET which are fixing agents from Chukyo Europe. Polyethyleneimines and copolymers such as LUPASOL, a trade name of BASF AG, triethanolamine-titanium-chelates, such as DuPont Campani TYZOR, a trade name of (Du Pont Co.), a copolymer of vinylpyrrolidone, for example, VIVIPINT 111, a trade name of ISP, methacrylamidopropyldimethylamine copolymer, dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, for example, ISP Trade names COPOLYMER 845 and COPOLYMER 937, those with vinylimidazole, for example, LUVIQUAT CARE, LUVITEC 73W, LUVITEC VPI55 K18P, LUVITEC VP155 K72W, LUVIQUAT UVAQ UFCAUTU FC ULUQAT UFCULU FC5 HP56, polyamidoamines such as those of Bayer AG Recording a trademark RETAMINOL and NADAVIN, for example phosphonium compounds such as disclosed in EP 609,930, and other cationic polymers, also NEOFIX RD-5 is a registered trademark of example Nikka Chemical Co., Ltd. include.

The receiving layer can further contain known conventional components such as surfactants, hardeners, plasticizers, whitening agents and matting agents which act as coating aids.

The surfactant can be any of cationic, anionic, amphoteric, and nonionic as described in JP-A-62-280068 (1987). Examples of surfactants include N-alkyl amino acid salts, alkyl ether carboxylates, acylated peptides, alkyl sulfonates, alkyl benzene and alkyl naphthalene sulfonates, sulfosuccinates, α-olefin sulfonates. , N-acyl sulfonates, sulfonated oils, alkyl sulfonates, alkyl ether sulfonates, alkyl allyl ether sulfonates, alkyl amide sulfonates, alkyl phosphates, alkyl ether phosphates, alkyl allyl ethers Phosphates, alkyl and alkyl allyl polyoxyethylene ethers, alkyl allyl formaldehyde condensates, alkyl allyl ether sulfonates, alkyl amide sulfonates, alkyl phosphates, alkyl phosphates Ether phosphates, alkyl allyl ether phosphates, alkyl and alkyl allyl polyoxyethylene ethers, alkyl allyl formaldehyde condensed polyoxyethylene ethers, block polymers having polyoxypropylene, polyoxyethylene polyoxypropyl-alkyl ethers, Polyoxyethylene ethers of glycoesters, polyoxyethylene ethers of sorbitan esters, polyoxyethylene ethers of sorbitol esters, polyethylene glycol fatty acid esters, glycerol esters, sorbitan esters, propylene glycol esters, sugar esters , fluoro _C 2 _{-C 10} alkyl - carboxylic acids, N- perfluorooctane sulfonyl glutamic acid disodium, - (fluoro _-C 6 _{-C 11} - alkyloxy) _-1-C 3 -C ₄ sodium alkyl sulfonate, 3- (.omega.-fluoro _-C 6 -C ₈ alkanoyl -N- ethylamino) -1-propanesulfonic sodium acid, N-[3- (perfluorooctane sulfonamide) - propyl] -N, N-dimethyl -N- carboxy - methylene ammonium betaine, fluoro _-C 11 _{-C 20} alkyl carboxylic acids, perfluoro _-C 7 _{-C 13} - alkyl - carboxylic acids, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid diethanolamide, perfluoro _-C 4 _{-C 12} - alkyl sulfonic acid Li, K and Na, N-propyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl) perfluorooctane sulfonamide, perfluoro -C ₆ -C ₁₀ - alkyl sulfonic Amide - propyl - sulfonyl - glycine salts, bis - is betaine - (N-perfluorooctyl sulfonyl -N- ethanol aminoethyl) phosphonate salts, mono - perfluoro C ₆ -C ₁₆ alkyl - ethylphosphonic acid salts and perfluoroalkyl .

Useful cationic surfactants include N-alkyldimethylammonium chloride, palmityltrimethylammonium chloride, dodecyldimethylamine, tetradecyldimethylamine, ethoxylated alkylguanidine-amine conjugate, oleamine hydroxypropylbistrimonium chloride, oleylimidazoline , Stearyl imidazoline, cocamine acetate, palmitamine, dihydroxyethylcocamine, cocotrimonium chloride, alkyl polyglycol ether ammonium sulfate, ethoxylated oleamine, lauryl pyridinium chloride, N-oleyl-1,3-diaminopropane, stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine lactate, coconut fatty amide, oleyl hydroxyethyl imidazoline, isosteary Including ethyl imide ethosulfate, lauramidopropyl PEG- dimonium chloride phosphate, palmityl trimethylammonium chloride, and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide.

Fluorocarbon surfactants, for example, US Pat _F as described in No. _{4,781,985 (CF 2) 4-9 CH 2} CH 2 SCH 2 CH 2 N + R 3 X - [ wherein, R Hydrogen or an alkyl group], and CF ₃ (CF ₂ ) _m CH ₂ CH ₂ O (CH ₂ CH ₂ O) _n as described in US Pat. No. 5,084,340. Those having a structure of R [where m is 2 to 10, n is 1 to 18, and R is hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms] are particularly useful. These surfactants are commercially available from DuPont and 3M. The concentration of the surfactant component in the receiving layer is typically in the range of 0.1 to 2%, preferably in the range of 0.4 to 1.5%, based on the total dry weight of the layer, and Most preferably, it is 0.75% by weight.

The receiving layer can also be cross-linked to provide desired characteristics such as, for example, water resistance and non-bulking properties. Crosslinking is also useful in providing abrasion resistance and fingerprinting resistance on the element as a result of handling. There are a large number of known cross-linking agents (also known as hardeners) that cross-link films to form binders. Hardeners can be used individually or in combination and in free or bulk form. Numerous hardeners useful in the present invention are known and include formaldehyde and free dialdehydes such as succinaldehyde and glutaraldehyde, blocked dialdehydes, active esters, sulfonic esters, active Halogen compounds, isocyanates or blocked isocyanates, polyfunctional isocyanates, melamine derivatives, s-triazines and diazines, epoxides, activated olefins having two or more active bonds, carbodiimides, zirconium Complexes, such as BACOTE® 20, ZIRMEL® 1000, a registered trademark of MEL Chemicals or zirconium acetate, titanium complexes, eg, TYZOR grade from Dupont, 3-position substituted Isoxazolium salts, esters of 2-alkoxy-N-carboxy-dihydroquinoline, N-carbamoylpyridinium salts, hardeners of mixed function, such as halogen-substituted aldehyde acids (e.g. mucochloric acid and mucobromic acid) , Onium-substituted acroleins and vinyl sulfones, and polymeric hardeners, such as dialdehyde starch and copoly (acrolein methacrylic acid), and oxazoline-functional polymers, such as EPOCROS @ WS-500 and EPOCROS @ K-1000 series And maleic anhydride copolymers, such as GANTREZ @ AN119.

The receiving layer and optional auxiliary layer of the present invention may comprise a plasticizer such as ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, glycerol monomethyl ether, glycerol monochlorohydrin, ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, tetrachlorophthalic anhydride, It can also comprise tetrabromophthalic anhydride, urea phosphate, triphenyl phosphate, glycerol monostearate, propylene glycol monostearate, tetramethylene sulfone, n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, n-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone. .

The receiving layer and optional additional layers of the present invention may contain components for improving the lightfastness of the printed image, such as antioxidants, UV absorbers, peroxide scavengers, singlet oxygen scavengers, e.g., Hindered amine light stabilizers, (HALS compounds), and the like. Stilbene compounds are a preferred type of UV absorber.
Curable varnish and lacquer compositions The curable varnish and lacquer compositions used in the information carrier according to the invention can have similar compositions. However, to avoid confusion, we have somewhat arbitrarily designated the term "varnish" to a curable composition applied in a pattern-wise manner in the present invention and referred to the term "lacquer" as a globally applied composition. Specify the thing. The lacquer need not necessarily contain a substantial amount of the cellulose derivative.

Varnishes and lacquers are in principle heat-curable or electron-beam curable compositions, but most preferably they are both photopolymerizable compositions which are cured by ultraviolet light after application.

The essential components of a typical UV-curable photopolymerizable composition applied to the top of the receiving layer are monomers and a photoinitiator.

A wide range of photopolymerizable and photocrosslinkable compounds can be used in the present invention. Suitable monomers are the monomers disclosed in DE-A-400 52 231, 35 16 256, 35 16 257, 336 32 657 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,676, unsaturated polyols and Esters, especially such esters of α-methylene carboxylic acids, such as ethylene diacrylate, glycerol tri (meth) acrylate, diethylene glycol di (meth) acrylate, 1,3-propanediol di (meth) acrylate, 1,2,4-butanetriol tri (meth) acrylate, 1,4-cyclohexanediol di (meth) acrylate, 1,4-benzenediol di (meth) acrylate, pentaerythritol tetra (meth) acrylate, Pentaerythritol triacrylate, dipentae pentaacrylate Tritol, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, 1,5-pentanediol di (meth) acrylate, bis-acrylates and bis-methacrylates of polyethylene glycols having a molecular weight of 200-500, unsaturated amides, Particularly those of α-methylene carboxylic acids, and especially those of α, ω-diamines and oxygen-interrupted ω-diamines, such as bis-acrylamide, methylenebis-methacrylamide, 1,6-hexamethylenebis-acrylamide, diethylenetriaminetris Methacrylamide, bis (γ-methacrylamidopropoxy) ethane, β-methacrylamidoethyl methacrylate, N- (β-hydroxyethyl) -β- (methacrylamido) ethyl acrylate, and N, N-bis (β- Methacryloylo Xylethyl) acrylamides, vinyl esters such as divinyl succinate, divinyl adipate, divinyl phthalate, divinyl butane-1,4-disulfonic acid, and unsaturated aldehydes such as sorbaldehyde (hexane dienal).

The photopolymerizable composition comprises polymers and / or oligomers comprising two or more polymerizable functional groups, such as acrylated epoxides, polyester acrylates, urethane acrylates. It can be.

Monofunctional (meth) acrylates can also be used as monomers as long as they are not volatile and do not diffuse unwanted odors. Suitable compounds include n-octyl acrylate, decyl acrylate, decyl methacrylate, stearyl acrylate, stearyl methacrylate, cyclohexyl acrylate, cyclohexyl methacrylate, phenylethyl acrylate, phenylethyl methacrylate.

O Most preferred compounds comprise one or more (meth) acrylate functional groups.

他 Another class of photopolymerizable compounds containing one or more (meth) acrylate groups is a reactive polyfunctional monomer as disclosed in EP 502562. Suitable photoinitiators are a wide range of compounds or combinations of compounds known for this purpose. Examples are benzoin ethers, benzyl ketals, polycyclic quinones, benzophenone derivatives, triarylimidazolyl dimers, photosensitive trihalomethyl compounds, such as trichloromethyl-s-triazines. Preference is given to 2,3-bisarylquinoxalines and 2-aryl-4,6-bistrichloromethyl-s-triazines as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,765,898. The amount of photoinitiator or photoinitiator combination is generally between 1 and 25% by weight, preferably between 5 and 15% by weight. UV curable compositions may also contain small amounts of thermal polymerization inhibitors to prevent premature polymerization prior to the UV curing step. Examples of such inhibitors are p-methoxyphenol, hydroquinone, aryl- or alkyl-substituted hydroquinone, t-butylcatechol, pyrogallol, copper (I) chloride, phenothiazine, chloranil, naphthylamine, α-naphthol, 2, 6-di-t-butyl-p-cresol and the like. A preferred polymerization inhibitor is 2-methylhydroquinone. Thermal polymerization inhibitors are preferably used in amounts of 0.001 to 5 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of monomer. Optionally, the composition can also contain small amounts of organic solvents, for example, ethyl acetate.

The following commercial compounds (chemical and commercial names) (but not exhaustive) can be used to provide good results in curable compositions in accordance with the present invention.
Photopolymerizable monomers / oligomers:
(Chemical name, type, seller)
-Pentaerythritol triacrylate, SR-444 (Sartomer)
-Trimethylolpropane triacrylate, SR-351 (Saltomer)
-Dipropylene glycol diacrylate, SR-508 (Saltomer)
-Amine-modified polyether acrylate oligomer, CN-501 (Saltomer)
-Isobornyl acrylate, SR-506 (Saltomer)
-Diethylene glycol divinyl ether, RAPI-CURE DVE-2 (ISP)
-Triethylene glycol divinyl ether, RAPI-CURE DVE-3 (ISP)
-Urethane acrylate (SR-256) blended with 2 (2-ethoxyethoxy) ethyl acrylate, CN-966H90 (Saltomer)
-Polybutadiene dimethyl acrylate, CN-301 (Saltomer)
-Low viscosity oligomer, CN-135 (Saltomer)
-Low viscosity oligomer, CN-137 (Saltomer)
Photoinitiator:
-IRGACURE 907 (from Ciba-Geigy Company)
-NOVOPOL PI3000 (from Rahn Co.)
-GENOCURE DEAP (from Learn Company)
-IRGACURE 184 (from Ciba-Geigy Company)
-EZACURE KK (from Fratelli Lamberti Co.)
-IRGACURE 500 (from Ciba-Geigy Company)
-IRGACURE 819 (from Ciba-Geigy Company)
Thermal initiator:
AIBN-dicumyl peroxide-benzoyl peroxide-t-butyl peroxide-VAZO compound (from DuPont Company), such as VAZO 52-LUPEROX (from Atofina Co.), such as 233, 10, 11, 231 , 101, -hydroperoxides and peresters.

The varnish and lacquer compositions can also contain a coloring agent, which can be a soluble dye or pigment.
Having described the key components, we will now discuss the various steps of the present invention in further detail.

According to a first aspect, the method for producing an information carrier comprises, in the order described,
(1) A bilayer assembly comprising (i) a rigid sheet or web support, optionally preprinted with protective printing, and (ii) a porous opaque receiving layer comprising a pigment and a binder. Prepare your body,
(2) printing the digitally stored information on this porous receiving layer,
(3) applying a varnish curable in a predetermined pattern on top of this layer by printing, spraying or spraying;
(4) curing the applied varnish, thereby leaving the portion of the receiving layer below the predetermined pattern non-transparent;
(5) The thus obtained assemblage is entirely coated with a curable lacquer by coating, printing, spraying or spraying, so that the lacquer is not covered by the varnish pattern of the receiving layer. Penetrating all areas and making them substantially transparent, and the non-transparent pattern obtained by application of the varnish forms a substantially transparent watermark,
(6) a step of subjecting the aggregate thus obtained to a second curing step.

硬 質 As explained above, the rigid sheet or web support may optionally be preprinted with so-called protective printing. The spectral characteristics of the protective printing inks are preferably selected such that they are difficult to copy on a commercial color copier. This protective printing can be applied by any known printing technique, such as letterpress printing, lithographic printing, gravure printing, silk screen printing, and the like. A preferred technique is driographic printing, which is an anhydrous variant of lithographic printing, whereby the fountain solution is not applied to the printing press.

If the information carrier is subsequently to be cut into a plurality of identification cards, the protective printing is applied repeatedly on a plurality of areas of the web or sheet, so that the repeating process gives a plurality of identical products. These multiple identical products are distributed on a support according to a certain pattern, for example a rectangular grid.

Next, the top of the optionally preprinted sheet or web support is coated with a layer whose composition is described in detail above. The receiving layer can be coated on the support by any conventional coating technique, such as dip coating, knife coating, extrusion coating, spin coating, slide hopper coating and curtain coating.

According to the invention, it is particularly preferred to print the set of information digitally stored in this layer, for example by ink jet printing. However, other printing techniques using toner particles can also be used.

In the most preferred embodiment, the digitally stored information is different personal information for each individual product present on the information carrier. For example, this personal information may be a unique individual card number assigned to the future holder of the card, or the effective expiration date of the card, or personal data of the future holder, such as birthdays and / or photos. sell. Again, if the information carrier is to be cut into a plurality of ID cards, the ink jet printing step is repeated using a protective printing pattern if present in a plurality of areas of the support in the recording machine, whereby each product Give different personal information.

If ink jet printing is used, it can be done by any technique known in the art. In the first type of method, a continuous droplet stream is created by applying a pressure wave pattern. This method is known as continuous ink jet printing. In a first aspect, a stream of droplets is charged, charged and deflected and recollected, and droplets that remain uncharged, their orientation remains undeflected and forms an image. And split into Alternatively, the charged deflected stream forms an image and the uncharged undeflected jet is recollected. In this variant of continuous ink jet printing, several jets are deflected at different angles and consequently record the image (multi-deflection @ system).

According to the second method, the ink droplets can be created “on demand” (“DOD” or “drop on demand” method), whereby the printing device can generate the droplets Jet onto the receiver only when they are used on the receiving layer, thereby avoiding the complexity of droplet charging, deflection hardware, and ink recollection. In drop-on-demand, ink droplets are created by pressure waves created by the mechanical actuation of a piezoelectric transducer (the so-called "piezo method") or by a separate thermal stimulus (the so-called "bubble jet" or "heat jet" method). Can be created.

Ink jet ink compositions typically include the following components: dyes or pigments, water and / or organic solvents, wetting agents such as glycols, detergents, thickeners, polymeric binders, preservatives. Agents and the like. It will be readily appreciated that the optimal composition of such an ink will depend on the ink jetting method used and the nature of the substrate to be printed. Ink compositions can be roughly classified as follows:
-Water based, drying mechanisms include absorption, infiltration and evaporation,
Oil-based, drying mechanisms include absorption and penetration,
-Solvent based, drying mechanism mainly involves evaporation,
-Hot melt or phase change, the ink excipient is liquid at jetting temperature but solid at room temperature, drying is replaced by solidification,
UV curing, drying is replaced by polymerization.

The colorants present in the ink jet ink are dyes that are molecularly soluble in the ink fluid, such as acid dyes bound by a cationic mordant in the ink receiver, or they are finely divided in the ink fluid. May be a pigment dispersed in the pigment.

According to steps (3) and (4) of the first embodiment, a curable, preferably UV-curable, Wise composition as described above for the receiving layer imaged in a predetermined pattern. Applied to the top, and preferably cured by UV light, leaving the layer under the predetermined pattern non-transparent. One way to obtain opacity under the pattern is by curing the varnish composition before it substantially penetrates into the receiving layer. Another method is to select a varnish that can penetrate the receiving layer but has a refractive index sufficiently different from that of the pigment to render the receiving layer transparent.

Again, if the information carrier is to be cut into a plurality of ID cards, the application and curing of the varnish is carried out on a plurality of areas of the information carrier in a recorder, possibly with a plurality of pre-existing security prints and personal information. Is repeated with different products.

According to step (5), the assemblage thus obtained is entirely coated, coated, printed, sprayed or jetted with a curable lacquer composition, preferably one which is UV-curable as described above. I do. According to a first embodiment, the lacquer can penetrate all areas of the receiving layer that are not covered by a predetermined pattern of varnish. These areas gradually become transparent upon penetration by the lacquer. As explained previously, the better the refractive index match of the lacquer composition and the pigment in the receiver, the better the transparency. As a result, the predetermined pattern of the varnish forms a non-transparent watermark on a transparent background. The watermark can have any form, such as a concrete design or alphanumeric, or a geometric shape, or an abstract design. Finally, in step (6), the assemblage thus obtained is subjected to a second curing step, preferably UV curing.

In a preferred embodiment, the method includes an additional step (5 bis) performed between steps (5) and (6) of laminating a protective foil on top of the assembly before the final curing step. Become.

Equipment for UV curing is known to those skilled in the art and is commercially available. For example, curing proceeds using a medium pressure mercury vapor lamp with or without electrodes or a pulsed xenon lamp. These ultraviolet light sources are usually equipped with a cooling device, which is a device for removing the ozone produced and optionally the nitrogen stream and for removing air from the surface of the product to be cured during the irradiation process. Intensities of 40-240 W / cm in the region of 200-400 nm are commonly used. An example of a commercially available UV medium pressure electrodeless mercury vapor lamp is the Model VPS / I600 curing system from Fusion UV Systems Limited, UK. Pulsed xenon flash lamps are commercially available from IST Strahlentechnik GmbH, Nürtingen, Germany. The use of the fusion model also has the potential to use metal halide dosed Hg vapor or XeCl excimer lamps, each with its specific ultraviolet emission spectrum. This allows for greater freedom in formulating the cured composition, and more efficient curing is possible with lamps having the most suitable spectral properties.

As a result of the curing, the adhesion of the receiving layer and the adhesion between the receiving layer and the support are strongly improved, which makes the information carrier strongly resistant to mechanical and chemical influences. Protected against fraud.

Substantial non-penetration of the receptor by the varnish and sufficient penetration by the lacquer can be achieved by adjusting the penetration time and / or the viscosity of the composition. In the first case, the time between application of the varnish and its curing is selected to be short enough that the varnish cannot substantially penetrate, but that the lacquer has sufficient time to penetrate. Such a difference in penetration rate between the varnish and the lacquer could be realized, for example, by using a varnish having a viscosity significantly higher than that of the lacquer used. The affinity of the particle ink type used also plays a role in the penetration rate. For example, inks based on hydrophobic oils will penetrate slower and more distinctly into hydrophilic receiving layers, such as those containing silica, than aqueous hydrophilic inks.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, a negative image is obtained as compared with the first embodiment. According to this second aspect, in the order given,
(1 ') a bilayer comprising (i) a rigid sheet or web support optionally preprinted with protective printing and (ii) a porous opaque receiving layer comprising a pigment and a binder. Prepare the assembly,
(2 ′) printing the digitally stored information on this porous receiving layer,
(3 ') Applying a varnish curable in a predetermined pattern on top of the receiving layer by printing, spraying or spraying, whereby the varnish penetrates the receiving layer, thereby forming a transparent pattern make,
(4 ′) After infiltration, the aggregate thus obtained is subjected to a curing step,
(5 ′) the aggregate obtained in this way is entirely coated with a curable lacquer by coating, printing, spraying or spraying,
(6 ') subjecting the assemblage thus obtained to a second curing stage, thereby leaving the varnish-penetrated pattern transparent and forming a substantially transparent watermark, and other components of the image carrier. There is provided a method of manufacturing a carrier of information comprising the step of leaving the portion opaque.

As can be seen, in this embodiment a transparent watermark is obtained on an opaque background, which is the opposite of that obtained in the first embodiment, ie an opaque watermark on a transparent background.

An opaque background is achieved by selecting a lacquer that can penetrate into the receiving layer, but cannot make the receiving layer transparent because it has a refractive index much different from that of the pigment.

Another way to keep the background opaque is by curing the lacquer composition before it can substantially penetrate into the receiving layer. The osmotic action of each of the varnish and lacquer is reversed compared to the first embodiment. This effect is also regulated by the varnish and lacquer viscosity and hydrophilicity.

Findings similar to those relating to the first aspect can all be repeated with one another for a plurality of products, all in a recorder, according to certain patterns of protective printing, personal information and watermark patterns that may be present. In this preferred embodiment, the method preferably comprises an additional step of cutting the completed assembly into a plurality of sets of ID cards each having a protective print, a watermark and personal information (7) by known cutting means. ) Or (7 ′). Most types of ID cards currently have standard dimensions of 85.6 mm x 54.0 mm x 0.76 mm. This final thickness can be obtained by thermal lamination of one or more polymer foils, for example, PVC foil. The completed ID card can function as an identification card, security card, driver's license card, social security card, bank card, membership card, time recording card, payment card, and credit card.

と Apart from the above features, the completed ID card may comprise additional security elements or information carriers, for example holograms, magnetic strips or chips (“smart cards”).

In another embodiment, the receiving layer is transparent and can be made substantially opaque by varnish penetration or by lacquer penetration, ensuring that the lacquer or varnish respectively does not affect the transparency of the receiving layer. are doing. The same considerations apply in these embodiments as to the refractive index of the components.

The present invention will now be described by way of the following examples, but is not limited thereto.

The following ingredients:
-18.7 g of silica, SIPERNAT570 (Degussa Company)
-2.7 g of silanol-modified polyvinyl alcohol, POVAL R-3109 (Kuraray Co., Ltd.)
-1.7 g of CAT-FLOC T2 (Calgon Europe NV)
Dispersion A was made by mixing -0.03% biocide -0.03% citric acid -55.14 g water.

Using this dispersion, the following ink receiver composition:
-9.4 g of water-9.9 g of copoly (ethylene-vinyl acetate) latex VINNAPAS EP1 (Air Products and Chemistry), 50% dispersion in water-0.4 g of poly (diallyldimethylammonium chloride) CAT FLOC-T2 (Calgon Europe NV)
-78.3 g of dispersion A
-2 g of surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide was prepared.

The ink receiver composition thus produced is coated on white, transparent polyvinyl chloride having a thickness of 165 μm, which has been preprinted by driographic printing in a gradually changing color pattern which serves as a protective print. Coated. The wet coating thickness of this ink receiving layer was 60 μm. After drying, a digitally stored set of personal information such as photos, names, addresses, birthdays, birthplaces, and identification numbers were printed on the ink receiving layer with an EPSON STYLS COLOR 900 ink jet printer. The resulting image-containing aggregate is then locally, in a predetermined pattern, for example in the form of a design, Akzo Nobel UV screen varnish UV000100-03 (viscosity at 20 ° C. 650 mPa.s). ) Were printed twice by screen printing technique in a recorder having A 120 mesh / cm NBC monofilament polyester screen was used. Immediately after the local printing of the pattern, the assemblage was exposed to ultraviolet light before the varnish could substantially penetrate the ink receiving layer, thereby curing the areas of the pattern. Curing was performed by DRSE-120 equipped with a VPS / 1600 UV lamp (240 W / cm-speed 20 cm / s). In the next stage, the aggregate is made up of the following composition
CRAYNOR 501 (= CN501), a 34.4% amino-modified polyester acrylate oligomer (from Sultomer Company)
-51.6% dipropylene glycol diacrylate (DPGDA) (SR-5508 from Sultomer Company)
-2% ethyl acetate-2% methylhydroquinone 10% solution in CN501 / SR-508 40/60-10% photoinitiator IRGACURE 907 (Ciba-Geigy Company)
With a coating knife with a UV-curable lacquer having

Only where no pre-UV screen varnish was printed, the fully coated UV-curable lacquer could penetrate into the opaque ink-receiving layer and made it clear within about 1 minute of application . Next, a transparent protective polyethylene terephthalate (PET) foil was laminated on top of the assembly. Global UV curing was performed on a DRSE-120 conveyor equipped with a VPS / 1600 UV lamp (240 W / cm-speed 20 cm / s).

ド The underlying driographic protective print was only evident in the absence of the varnish that was UV screen printed in a pattern. The non-transparent design made by the cured varnish gave rise to the watermark.

A white transparent polyvinyl chloride having a thickness of 165 μm, pre-printed by driographic printing in a gradually changing color pattern to serve as a protective print, as described in Example 1 with an ink receiving layer composition Coated. The wet coating thickness of this ink receiving layer was 60 μm. After drying, a digitally stored set of personal information (photo, name and address, birthday and birth place, identification number, etc.) was printed on the ink receiving layer by an EPSON STYLUS COLOR 900 ink jet printer.

The assemblage containing the resulting image was then overprinted five times with a UV curable ink jettable varnish in a recorder in a pattern to obtain a sufficiently thick varnish layer. Composition of UV-curable ink jettable varnish:
CRAYNOR 501 (= CN501), a 34.4% amino-modified polyester acrylate oligomer (from Sultomer Company)
-51.6% dipropylene glycol diacrylate (DPGDA) (SR-5508 from Sultomer Company)
-2.00% ethyl acetate-2.00% methylhydroquinone 10% solution in CN501 / SR-508 40 / 60-10% photoinitiator IRGACURE 907 (Ciba-Geigy Company).

{The varnish composition has a viscosity of 17 mPa.s at 20 ° C. s. A Spectra {256} UV piezoelectric print head (92 dpi-head voltage 155 V-jetting frequency 2 kHz) was used for continuous printing of a UV curable varnish image on the ink receiver composition. The jetted UV varnish was able to penetrate into the opaque ink receiving layer and made it transparent in a pattern.

Two minutes after the UV-curable varnish was sprayed onto the ink jet receiver in a pattern, the assembly was exposed to UV light by DRSE-120 equipped with a VPS / 1600 UV lamp (240 W / cm-speed 20 cm / s). I was hit.

In the next step, the assembly is integrally coated with a Akzo Novell Ink UVF00106-405 UV curable flexo lacquer (viscosity at 20 ° C. 220 mPa.s) with a coating knife at a coating thickness of 60 μm and immediately a transparent protection PET-foil (100 μm thick) was laminated on top of a UV-curable lacquer layer. Immediately after lamination, the obtained layer assembly was cured in the same manner as described above. Two runs were required to obtain complete cure. The time lapse between the coating stage and the UV curing stage was up to about 15 seconds.

イ ン キ The ink-receiving layer was made transparent only where the UV-curable varnish was previously sprayed.

ド The underlying driographic protective print was apparent only in those areas where there was a pattern-inked UV curable varnish, thereby creating a watermark.

Having described the invention in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (8)

A rigid sheet or web support, an opaque porous receiving layer comprising a pigment and a binder, which can be made substantially transparent by penetration by a lacquer, an image provided on and / or in the receiving layer; Curing of the varnish supplied to and / or into the surface of the receiving layer provided with the image or if the varnish cannot render the receiving layer transparent An information carrier comprising the patterned lacquer and the cured layer of the lacquer provided on the receiving layer provided with the cured pattern of the image and the varnish, wherein the lacquer is in contact therewith. An information carrier wherein said portion of said receiving layer is substantially transparent and said cured pattern of said varnish forms an opaque watermark. A rigid sheet or web support, an opaque porous receiving layer comprising a pigment and a binder, which can be rendered substantially transparent by penetration with a varnish, an image provided on and / or in the receiving layer; A cured pattern of the varnish provided in the receiving layer provided with the image, and a lacquer on the surface of the receiving layer provided with the cured pattern of the image and the varnish or the lacquer makes the receiving layer transparent. An information carrier comprising a cured layer of lacquer provided on and / or in the surface of said receiving layer provided with said image and said cured pattern of said varnish, if not possible, An information carrier wherein the varnish renders the portion of the receiving layer in contact with it substantially transparent and the cured pattern of the lacquer forms a substantially transparent watermark. A rigid sheet or web support, a transparent porous receiving layer comprising a pigment and a binder, which can be made substantially opaque by penetration by a lacquer, an image provided on and / or in the receiving layer; Curing of the varnish supplied on and / or into the surface of the receiving layer provided with the image or if the varnish cannot render the receiving layer opaque An information carrier comprising the patterned lacquer and the cured layer of the lacquer provided on the receiving layer provided with the cured pattern of the image and the varnish, wherein the lacquer is in contact therewith. An information carrier wherein the portion of the receiving layer is substantially opaque and the cured pattern of the varnish forms a transparent watermark. A rigid sheet or web support, a transparent porous receiving layer comprising a pigment and a binder, which can be rendered substantially opaque by penetration by a varnish, an image provided on and / or in the receiving layer; A cured pattern of the varnish provided in the receiving layer provided with the image, and a lacquer on the surface of the receiving layer provided with the image and the cured pattern of the varnish or the lacquer attaches the receiving layer. An information carrier comprising a cured layer of lacquer which is provided on and / or in the surface of said receiving layer provided with said cured pattern of said image and said varnish, if not opaque, An information carrier wherein the varnish renders the portion of the receiving layer in contact with it substantially opaque and the cured pattern of the lacquer forms a substantially opaque watermark. (1) A bilayer assembly comprising (i) a rigid sheet or web support, optionally preprinted with protective printing, and (ii) a porous opaque receiving layer comprising a pigment and a binder. Prepare your body,
(2) printing information stored digitally on the porous receiving layer;
(3) applying a varnish curable in a predetermined pattern to the top of the layer by printing, spraying or spraying,
(4) curing the applied varnish, thereby leaving the portion of the receiving layer under the predetermined pattern non-transparent;
(5) covering the assemblage obtained in this way entirely with a curable lacquer, by coating, printing, spraying or spraying, so that all the receiving layers are not covered by the varnish pattern. And making them substantially transparent, and the non-transparent pattern obtained by applying the varnish forms a substantially opaque watermark,
(6) A method for producing an information carrier, comprising the steps of subjecting the aggregate thus obtained to a second curing step in the stated order. (1 ') a bilayer comprising (i) a rigid sheet or web support optionally preprinted with protective printing and (ii) a porous opaque receiving layer comprising a pigment and a binder. Prepare the assembly,
(2 ′) printing digitally stored information on the porous receiving layer,
(3 ') applying a varnish curable in a predetermined pattern to the top of the receiving layer by printing, spraying or spraying, whereby the varnish penetrates the receiving layer, thereby creating a transparent pattern And
(4 ′) After infiltration, the aggregate thus obtained is subjected to a curing step,
(5 ′) the aggregate obtained in this way is entirely coated with a curable lacquer by coating, printing, spraying or spraying,
(6 ′) subjecting the assemblage thus obtained to a second curing stage, thereby leaving the varnish-infiltrated pattern transparent and forming a substantially transparent watermark, and other components of the image carrier. A method of making an information carrier comprising the steps of leaving parts opaque in the order described. A two-layer assembly comprising (I) (i) a rigid sheet or web support, optionally preprinted with protective printing, and (ii) a porous transparent receiving layer comprising a pigment and a binder. Prepare your body,
(II) printing information stored digitally on the porous receiving layer;
(III) applying by printing, spraying or jetting a varnish curable in a predetermined pattern on top of said receiving layer,
(IV) curing the applied varnish, thereby leaving the portion of the receiving layer below the predetermined pattern transparent;
(V) the assemblage obtained in this way is entirely coated, by coating, printing, spraying or spraying, with a curable lacquer, whereby the lacquer is all of the receiving layer which is not covered by a varnish pattern And makes them substantially opaque, and the transparent pattern resulting from the application of the varnish forms a transparent watermark,
(VI) A method for producing an information carrier comprising the steps of subjecting the aggregate thus obtained to a second curing step in the order described. (I ') a bilayer comprising (i) a rigid sheet or web support optionally pre-printed with protective printing and (ii) a porous transparent receiving layer comprising a pigment and a binder. Prepare the assembly,
(II ′) printing digitally stored information on the porous receiving layer,
(III ') applying a varnish curable in a predetermined pattern to the top of the receiving layer by printing, spraying or jetting, whereby the varnish penetrates the receiving layer and thereby becomes substantially opaque Create a pattern,
(IV ′) after infiltration, subjecting the aggregate thus obtained to a curing step,
(V ′) the assembly obtained in this way is entirely coated with a curable lacquer by coating, printing, spraying or spraying,
(VI ') subjecting the assemblage thus obtained to a second curing step, thereby leaving the varnish-infiltrated pattern opaque and forming an opaque watermark, and removing the other parts of the image carrier. A method of manufacturing an information carrier comprising the steps of leaving transparent in the order described.