KR102318774B1 - Security strip and security document incorporating said strip - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates in particular to a strip intended for incorporation into a secure document, which strip appears on the document surface in the form of a window and, on one or the opposite side thereof, at least three separate superimposed coating layers (51, 52) , 53 ) comprising a transparent or translucent carrier material 4 , in particular an intermediate second layer 52 having a different optical rendering than the first and third layers 51 , 53 ; the intermediate second layer 52 is opaque and has at least two regions 520 that are at least partially uncoated, the two regions 520 each having a different contour; The first 51 and the third coating layer 53 form at least one pattern, wherein a part of the pattern of the first layer 51 is at least partially uncoated and can be seen through one of the two regions. On the other hand, at least a portion of the pattern of the third layer 53 is visible through the other of the two regions that are at least partially uncoated, and the patterns are characterized in that they are different from each other.

Description

SECURITY STRIP AND SECURITY DOCUMENT INCORPORATING SAID STRIP

The present invention relates to a security strip intended to be integrated in part into the structure of a security document, which is at least partially made up of fibers.

The invention also relates to a secure document provided with a secure strip.

In order to prevent counterfeiting of secure documents such as banknotes (including banknotes: banknotes), various security measures such as watermarks, fibers, planchettes, etc. have been previously proposed.

Other techniques not only make counterfeiting difficult, but also make it easier for central banks to determine the authenticity of documents if automatic detection means (eg, electrically conductive or magnetic) are provided, or for so-called primary visual characterization; The introduction of an elongated element made of synthetic material into the security document paper that forms a security strip or thread, which makes it easy for ordinary users, i.e. ordinary people, to ascertain the authenticity.

These threads or strips are incorporated in the manufacture of paper sheets that will ultimately form a secure document.

This integration can be of the "embedded" type, in which case the threads are fully integrated into the paper mass.

It has also been proposed to incorporate the security thread only in the form of a set of windows that can be viewed by reflection.

This means that this thread is sometimes integrated into the paper mass flush with one surface of the banknote, which is why the term "window" is used.

Therefore, the window is made visible by reflection, whereas the embedded part is only visible by transmission. "Reflection" refers to the reflection of an incident ray from its carrier surface.

In fact, with this integration technology, the security thread can only be seen from the top of the paper, and only partially, i.e. in relation to the window. It is an object of the present invention to solve this problem.

It is also an object of the present invention to facilitate the verification of the authenticity, in particular by the public, of the security document into which the strip is incorporated.

Another object of the present invention is to limit the production of strips by unauthorized persons other than fiduciary printers and to make it as complicated as possible, in particular to complicate the production of these strips. The present invention therefore relates, in its first aspect, to a security strip, which is intended to be at least partially integrated into the structure of a security document composed at least in part of fibers, which strip appears in the form of a set of windows on the surface of the document, one comprising a transparent or translucent carrier material on either side or vice versa covered with at least three distinct and superposed coating layers.

According to the present invention, the strip is an intermediate agent having an optical rendering different from the first and third layers, among these three layers respectively designated as first layer, intermediate second layer and third layer. Includes 2nd floor. The intermediate second layer is opaque and has at least two regions that are at least partially uncoated, the two regions each having different outlines, the first and third coatings having at least one pattern. wherein a portion of the pattern of the first layer is visible through one of the two regions that are at least partially uncoated, while at least a portion of the pattern of the third layer is at least partially uncoated. As can be seen through the other of the two regions, the patterns are different.

Thanks to this combination of features, an opaque intermediate layer can be attached to both sides of the additional layers, each visible through the front and back surfaces of the strip. In addition, as long as the intermediate layer has various contours that are partially hollow, the contours constitute another visible security feature, so that the public can easily verify the authenticity of the strip, as well as the counterfeiters. 's counterfeiting will become more complex.

Furthermore, the fact that one of these regions can see part of the pattern of the first layer and the pattern of the third layer can be seen through the other of these regions further complicates the manufacture of the strip. It is even more difficult for a counterfeiter to create a strip.

Therefore, a stencil effect, that is, a filter effect, is obtained. Stated differently, the surface of the pattern is “filtered” by the shape of the regions, providing different information depending on whether the strip is viewed through its front side or through its back side. This stencil effect thus creates different but intrinsically linked information.

Other advantages and non-limiting features of this strip according to the present invention are as follows:

- said different optical renderings are selected from different colors, gloss, opacity/transparency and/or contrast;

- the areas are not coated at all;

- said areas are partially uncoated and have the form of a screen network;

- comprises at least a fourth additional layer;

- the fourth layer is opaque and superimposed on part of the pattern of the third layer; and

- The layer furthest from the carrier is covered with a transparent protective layer, such as a film or varnish.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a secure document, such as a bank note. The document is groundbreaking in that the document incorporates a strip having one or the other of the aforementioned features while revealing the strip in the form of a set of windows on at least one of its visible surfaces.

Preferably, the security document is topically coated with a de-opacifying agent, i.e. a substance that increases the visibility of the strip where it is not exposed on at least one of the visible surfaces of the document. .

Other features and advantages of the present invention are described in greater detail with reference to the following description of several preferred strip embodiments. This description is provided with reference to the accompanying drawings:

1 is a simplified front view of a security document, in this case a banknote, into which the strip is partially integrated, in which the security pattern contained in the strip is not shown:
Fig. 2 is a view showing the reverse side, ie, the rear side, of the document of Fig. 1 ;
3 is a detailed schematic cross-sectional view of a strip according to the invention;
4A is a partially exploded perspective view of three layers incorporated in a strip according to the present invention;
4B and 4C show the respective surfaces, ie the front and back sides of the same strip, which are arranged perpendicular to each other;
5A-5C, 6A-6C, 7A-7C, 8A-8C, 9A-9C are views corresponding to FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C according to another embodiment of a strip.

The secure document 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a banknote.

Although not shown, in one variant, the document may be another type of security document, such as a passport.

This security document is preferably based on cotton paper, cellulose-based paper with or without chemical pulp, or other materials containing fibers of various types and basis weights, including at least some of the synthetic fibers. Hybrid carriers associated with polymer(s) and paper are also available.

As is well known in the art, strip 2 is partially integrated into document 1 and is revealed in the form of a set of windows on its top surface corresponding to the front of banknote 10.

The strip extends through the short cross-section of the banknote. In FIG. 1, the letter P indicates an area that is not completely visible unlike the area of the window F because it is integrated into the banknote mass.

Examining the back side of this same banknote 1 (see FIG. 2 ), it can be seen that strip 2 is present, but completely covered by the fibers of the document, constituting the unit N embedded in the mass through its longitudinal direction.

3 is a cross-sectional view of the structure of a strip according to the invention;

However, this drawing has been prepared for informational purposes only. In particular, the various elements of this strip 2 are not to scale. The layers are not all shown and are represented symbolically with dots.

As shown in the figure, the strip according to the invention comprises a transparent or at least translucent carrier material 4 such as a plastic film.

It is purely, but not limited to, a polyester film having a thickness of, for example, about 10 to 12 µm.

On the underside of this carrier material, i.e. in the direction of the rear side 11, there is an adhesive or adhesive mixture of thickness 3 intended to bond the entire security strip 2 with the fiber material of the document into which it is to be inserted.

On the second side of the carrier material 4, there is a stack of layers 5 stacked on top of each other, which will be described in more detail in the description of the drawings below.

A protective layer 6 made of, for example, a plastic film or varnish covers the entire stack. It is preferably completely transparent.

In a particular embodiment, the same material as carrier 4 may be used.

The purpose of this coating is to protect all the information contained in layers 5 while making these information readable.

Finally, the entire front side is covered by another adhesive layer 7, which preferably has the same properties as the adhesive layer 3, but is not obligatory.

In Fig. 4A, for the purpose of improving readability, only stack 5 of various layers is shown. From bottom to top, these layers 51 , 52 , 53 are superimposed and the first layer 51 is the layer adjacent to the carrier material 4 .

Although only a small portion of strip 2 is intentionally shown in this figure, this strip may be continuous on either side of the elements shown in this figure to constitute a piece long enough to be incorporated within the transverse dimensions of the secure document. This is obvious.

Also, in the case of Figs. 4B and 4C, Fig. 4B shows what is seen when viewed from the front, i.e., seen from the viewing direction located above the layer 53. 4c will symbolically represent what is seen when viewed from the rear of the stack.

According to the invention, this embodiment relates to a stack of three layers 51, 52 and 53. For a clearer understanding, these layers are shown as delimited by perimeter lines forming a rectangle. However, it should be borne in mind that this is only a theoretical view, and only elements to be described as printed or deposited should be considered.

Thus, layer 51 is made of a set of opaque patterns, for example consisting of a black ink printed covering.

The patterns in these figures are printed with curved transverse lines and the letter "FCOF" reversed (where "O" is colored), and the patterns are provided for illustrative purposes only.

The second layer 52, described as the intermediate layer, has a different optical rendering than that of the first layer. "different optical rendering" means that when these two layers are observed with the naked eye, they can be immediately distinguished from each other by their different colors, gloss, opacity/transparency and/or contrast. it means.

A characteristic of the intermediate layer 52 is the fact that it is opaque.

Any truly opaque material can be used, and it is preferable to form this layer by metal deposition, such as ink printing containing metal particles such as gold, silver, copper, or the like. Another variant is to vacuum-deposit a fine layer of metal, such as opaque aluminum or copper, and then partially remove the metal by rinsing with soda or water to create an uncoated area.

This layer 52 is partially covered by the first layer 51 .

In addition, the layer 52 is provided with a plurality of negative regions 520, meaning uncoated, each of which has a different contour.

To be clear, this case relates to a first area 520 consisting of windows forming the number "5" and another area 520 consisting of the number "2014" being written in reverse order.

In this embodiment, there is also a third region 520' formed by the number 5", which will be described in detail below.

On this intermediate layer 52 lies a third layer 53 with a pattern 530 in which on the one hand the letter "O" is stylized and on the other hand there are four squares.

It is advantageous, but not compulsory, that the material used in the pattern of layer 51 and the material used in the pattern of layer 53 be the same.

It can be seen in FIG. 4b that when viewed from the front, the four squares of layer 53 completely occult the region of intermediate layer 52 formed by the number "2014". On the other hand, through the region 520 composed of the first number “5”, it can be seen that there is a basal layer 51 that makes the number “5” recognizable.

Finally, the additional elixirs 520' are not perpendicular to any print on layer 51.

On the other hand, when viewed from the rear side, that is, from under the carrier material 4 ( FIG. 4C ), the presence of the basal layer 53 can be observed through the region 520 with the date “2014”, and to explain this more clearly, the date While the small squares that make up "2014" are readable, the area 520 made up of the number "5" is completely hidden by the "colored O" of the letter "FCOF" printed in black ink.

From this description, the intermediate layer 52 makes it possible to clearly distinguish from each other the layers 51 and 53 as well as the patterns present thereon.

However, there are hollow regions of various shapes in the interlayer that, when viewed from the front or rear, reveal different pieces of information that are essentially connected in their structure but cannot prove the authenticity of the security document provided with these strips. have.

5A-5C, the properties of layers 51 and 52 are reversed. The same is true for floors 52 and 53. Thus, the function of this structure is the same as that shown in Figs. 4a to 4c, but the visual rendering is different.

6a to 6c in this regard relate to five different layers.

That is, it can be seen that the first layer 51 including the pattern 510 exists. In this layer is an opaque interlayer 52 with certain areas 520 uncoated.

Here, too, these regions 520 differ from each other in their outlines.

Attached to this second layer is a third layer 53, which preferably has the same properties as the first layer. A pattern designated 530 is formed on this layer.

An additional layer, which may be described as a fourth layer 54, is superimposed on stack 5 of layers 51, 52 and 53. This layer 54 has the same or different characteristics as those of the second layer 52 .

In this case, they have the same characteristics.

This fourth layer 54 also has a perforated area, since the only area in which occulting material is present is here confined to circle 540.

Finally, the fifth layer 55 covers the entirety. It is desirable to have different characteristics from the first and third layers. In a particularly advantageous manner, this layer 55 consists of an ink having an effect selected from an optically variable effect, an iridescent effect, a liquid crystal effect, creating a color change effect depending on the viewing angle. It is advantageous to pay This layer may be translucent and includes patterns 530 and 510 or pattern 550 vertically aligned with respect to 540 .

In FIG. 6B , when the stack 5 is viewed by reflection from the front, the fifth layer 55 represents the first piece of information produced by the pattern 550 . The opaque coating of layer 54 has a hollow region overlapping with layer 55 and layer 53 reveals another negative message, this time not overlaid by layers 55 and 53, in an advantageous manner as a result.

Coating 53 is only visible through the blank area through the front side of layer 54 . Conversely, coating 53 is only visible through the hollow area of layer 52 from the back side ( FIG. 6c ). Fragments of information obtained from stacks 51, 52, 53, 54 and 55 aligned vertically with respect to the void regions differ from those observed by reflection from either side of these faces and conversely from the other.

In the example of FIGS. 7A-7C , the features of layers 51 and 52 and the features of layers 53 and 55 are reversed in pairs.

The function of this stack is the same as described in the preceding figures, but the visual rendering is different.

The exemplary embodiment of Figures 8a, 8b and 8c relates to a first layer 51 consisting of a coating of black covering ink.

It will also be appreciated that this black layer only occupies part of the strip surface.

This first layer is again deposited with an intermediate second layer 52, which is again formed of an opaque coating, for example of a metallic type, and is an area without a coating.

More specifically, this is the area 520 that together form the number "2014" and is made in the form of a screen network.

This means that there are a plurality of empty regions in these regions, but they are separated by the constituent material of the covering material.

The shape of the dots and lines of the screen and its orientation and its coverage are parameters well known to those skilled in the art. As a non-limiting example, circular dots of 10 μm with 50% coverage and 45° orientation are proposed.

Finally, a third layer is attached to the second layer 52 . It may optionally have the same characteristics as the layer 51, in this case the same characteristics.

Referring to FIG. 8B , when the stack is viewed from the front by reflection, the third layer 53 reveals the first piece of information consisting of the negative pattern 530 .

The metal-type opaque coating of the second layer 52 provides a partially hollow area overlapping the first layer 51 . The coating of layer 51 is only visible from the front side through the partially hollow area of the layer 52, whereas the coating of layer 53 is only visible from the back side through the partially empty area of the second layer 52. The fragments of information obtained from the stack of these three layers 51 to 53 aligned vertically with respect to the partially empty region of layer 52 are thus different from that observed by reflection from one side and vice versa from the other side, Fig. 4a It has a more nuanced and translucent visual rendering than the case of 4c.

Finally, the embodiment of Figs. 9a to 9c relates to the same structure as the figures just described. Only the features of layers 51 and 52 and those of layers 52 and 53 are reversed. Therefore, the function of the created stack is the same, but the visual rendering is different.

In one exemplary embodiment, not shown, the secure document according to the present invention is topically coated with a de-opacifying agent, i.e. a material that enhances the visibility of strip 2 which is not exposed on at least one of the visible surfaces of the document. Thus, it is possible to increase the visibility of pieces of information carried by the first layer 51 of stack 5.

In another exemplary embodiment, not shown, at least one of layers 51, 52, 53, 54 or 55 may comprise a material that is recognizable as authentic when read by an automated machine. These can be magnetic particles that form, for example, codes in the form of continuous bands, blocks, or bits. They may also be conductive, fluorescent, phosphorescent particles that are detected by infrared irradiation, or they may contain specific signals detectable by dedicated devices.

Claims (9)

A security strip (2) intended to be partially integrated into the structure of a security document (1) at least partially composed of fibers, the strip (2) appearing on the document surface in the form of a set of windows (F), a transparent or translucent carrier material (4), on either side or on the opposite side covered by at least three separate superimposed coating layers (51, 52, 53);
Of these three layers, respectively named first layer 51 , intermediate second layer 52 and third layer 53 , intermediate with different optical rendering than first and third layers 51 , 53 . a second layer (52);
the intermediate second layer 52 is opaque and has at least two regions 520 that are at least partially uncoated, the two regions 520 each having a different contour;
The first and third coating layers 51 and 53 are composed of at least one pattern 510 and 530, and a portion of the pattern 510 of the first layer 51 is at least partially uncoated in the two regions. While viewable through one of the two regions 520 , at least a portion of the pattern 530 of the third layer 53 is at least partially uncoated and visible through the other of the two regions 520 . And, the pattern (510, 530) is a security strip that is different from each other. The security strip of claim 1 , wherein the different optical renderings are selected from different colors, gloss, opacity/transparency and/or contrast. 2. The security strip of claim 1, wherein said areas (520) are not coated at all. The security strip of claim 1, wherein the regions (520) are partially uncoated and have the form of a screen network. Security strip according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least a fourth additional layer (54). 6. A security strip according to claim 5, characterized in that the fourth additional layer (54) is opaque and overlaps a portion of the pattern (530) of the third layer (53). Security strip according to claim 1, characterized in that the layer furthest from the carrier (4) is covered with a transparent protective layer (6) such as a film or varnish. 8. A secure document, such as a banknote (1), composed at least partially of fibers, wherein the strip (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 7 is incorporated therein, while the strip comprises: A security document, characterized in that it is exposed in the form of a set of windows (F) on at least one surface of the visible side (10, 11) of the document. 9. Security document according to claim 8, characterized in that it is topically coated with a de-opacifying agent which is a substance which improves the visibility of the strip (2).

Images