RU2530419C2 - Method of manufacturing protective element for secured document - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: printing.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to the field of protective elements for valuable documents or security documents. The method of manufacturing the protective element for a security document and the protective element comprises a substrate defining the first and second opposite sides, and in the substrate a translucent area is formed by applying material which increases the transparency of the substrate, and for forming the said translucent area the method comprises the following steps: the first step - applying the material for obtaining the impermeable substrate in the first area of the first side, and the first area surrounds the second area of the first side which does not comprise the said material creating impermeability, at that the material creating impenetrability prevents impregnating of the substrate in the first area by the material increasing the transparency. The second step - the application of the material increasing the transparency on at least the second area so that to impregnate the substrate and to make it transparent in this area, and the first area and the second area form the first pattern and the second pattern, respectively, which form an image that is viewed from two sides of the substrate.

EFFECT: invention provides creation of the simple and inexpensive protective element that ensures high degree of protection against forgery.

17 cl, 17 dwg

Description

The invention relates to the field of security elements for valuable documents or security documents. In more detail, it is applicable for the manufacture of such a security element that can be seen through, in other words, it is an element that contains an image observed in the translucent region of the substrate of the security element in transmitted light or even in reflected light.

In the field of valuable documents and, in particular, banknotes, it is known that one or more security elements with variable properties can be added to protect these documents from falsification. There are various types of protective elements, in particular including protective elements of the “first level”.

Traditionally, the protective element of the first level is difficult to manufacture, at the same time, it remains easily identifiable by any person who can simply look at it carefully.

The type of security element that can be seen through contains a substrate on which complementary patterns are printed on each side, and they are located approximately in the translucent or even transparent region of the substrate and are positioned relative to each other so as to form the final composition, which can be observed in transmitted light, or even in reflected light, when the area is sufficiently translucent. The translucent area allows for unobstructed visibility, which is often called see-through, and is performed, for example, by means of local changes in the properties of the paper during its manufacture (fiber density, paper grammar, etc.).

In particular, it is known that a translucent region can be formed by applying a preparation that makes the substrate transparent.

In particular, the current state of the art includes a method for producing watermarks, in particular similar to that described in GB 1489084. In this document, a translucent region is formed using a composition that makes the region transparent.

The disadvantage of this technology is that when wet, the substrate acquires a dirty and sticky appearance, which impairs the aesthetics of the protected document even after drying.

The transparency enhancing composition also tends to migrate over the surface of the substrate. This leads to the fact that the translucent area looks deformed and uneven, like an ugly spot.

The aim of the invention is to overcome this drawback using the disclosed method of creating a protective element containing a substrate with an extremely aesthetic translucent region, while remaining very simple and inexpensive in practical use.

In order to achieve this, an object of the invention is a method for manufacturing a security element for a security document, wherein the security element comprises a substrate delimiting the first and second opposite sides, a translucent region being formed in the substrate by applying a material that makes the substrate transparent, characterized in that includes the following steps to form this translucent area:

- the first stage consists in applying a material that makes the substrate impermeable on the first region of the first side surrounding the second region of the first side, which does not have this material, which increases the impermeability, and this impermeable material prevents the substrate from being impregnated with this material, which creates a transparent region in the first peripheral areas then

- the second stage consists in applying a material that creates transparency at least in the second region in such a way as to saturate the substrate and make it translucent in this region. The first and second regions form patterns, respectively, forming an image that can be observed on both sides of the substrate.

The first region forms a peripheral border around the second region, which prevents the substrate from being impregnated with a material that increases its transparency. The term "peripheral" means a region that extends around a second region. “Increasing its transparency” means creating a translucent or even transparent area.

Obviously, the first region may include a more or less complex image arrangement in the second region, with the important requirement that the outline around the entire part of the second region be delimited by the first region.

The contour of the translucent region can then be clearly demarcated due to the presence of the first region that surrounds the translucent region, and thus, due to the previously applied impermeability material, it first prevents the spreading of the transparency enhancing material from spreading outside the second predetermined region, and, in- secondly, it prevents the movement of this transparency enhancing material to those regions of the substrate that are close to the first region. This creates the effect of reducing the vagueness of the appearance of the dye.

The impermeability material is a material that is impervious to liquid for at least a predetermined time. Thus, when a transparency enhancing material is superimposed on a substrate region coated with a liquid impermeable material, then a transparency enhancing material does not penetrate the substrate adjacent to this region for a predetermined time after which the liquid impermeable material’s effectiveness may decrease. Then it is necessary to dry the material that increases transparency before the end of this predetermined time, in order to thereby prevent later impregnation of the substrate with material that increases transparency.

Preferably, the liquid impermeable material is a material that does not transmit light, and thus is a “covering” material.

In both cases, the two areas together form a contrasting image due to the presence of two separate materials: covering and increasing transparency. The image viewed in reflected or transmitted light from the first side contains a dark region corresponding to the first region containing the coating material and a bright region corresponding to the translucent region containing the transparency enhancing material.

This contrast is inverted when the image is viewed from the second side in transmitted or reflected light. The transparency enhancing material impregnates the substrate from the first side to the second side so as to form a second pattern on the second side.

Thus, the second pattern can be easily viewed from the second side in transmitted or reflected light. This second pattern stands out from the homogeneous substrate to a large extent due to its translucent appearance caused by the impregnation of the substrate with a material that increases transparency.

On the other hand, the first pattern is poorly visible from the second side, since the substrate looks more opaque on the second side adjacent to this region, due to the presence of the coating material on the first side, especially when viewed in transmitted light.

An image that can be viewed from the second side, thus corresponds to a negative image that can be viewed when viewing the first side, and thus is clearly visible when viewed in transmitted light.

The result of this is that the first and second regions together determine the contrast of the image, which is inverted, while being a function of the viewing side of the image.

While the image is viewed from the first side (hereinafter referred to as the front), the first pattern is more visible than the second pattern, and this contrast is inverted when viewed from the second side (hereinafter referred to as the back), since the first pattern is almost invisible on this side (due to the opacity of the substrate in this area), while the second pattern is at least as visible as when viewed from the first side (due to impregnation over the entire thickness of the substrate s).

Preferably, the impermeability enhancing material is a printing ink that can be used in offset printing, silk screen printing, flexography, letterpress printing machine, gravure printing and metallography.

Preferably, the impermeability material is a printing ink that is selected from the following options: iridescent ink, ink with a variable optical effect, magnetic ink with a variable optical effect, ink with a metallic effect, such as, for example, silver-based ink, and liquid crystal ink .

Preferably, the transparency enhancing material is a high wetting printing ink, for example containing low surface tension monomers, resins and / or photoinitiators or acrylic ink.

Obviously, the efficiency of impregnation of a substrate with a material depends not only on the properties of the material that increases transparency (its wettability, viscosity, the amount of deposited material and the duration between the application of the material and its drying), but also on the quality of the substrate (the ability of the fiber to impregnate, the grammar of the material, surface calendering, porosity, etc.).

Preferably, the transparency enhancing material contains protective indicator elements, for example, fluorescent particles, particles that respond to a given wavelength, and / or thermochromic particles.

Thus, optical effects and additional protective properties can be obtained due to the presence of such particles.

Preferably, the method comprises the step of drying the material, increasing transparency, by irradiation under light in the ultraviolet or infrared spectra, or by blowing a stream of hot air. Thus, by drying, the transparency enhancing material is fixed to the substrate.

Preferably, the substrate is made of a material containing mainly natural and / or synthetic fiber-based paper, porous paper and / or cardboard.

Furthermore, it is possible, in one embodiment of the invention, the method comprises the step of engraving a metal plate with or without transparent non-penetrating printing ink to form a touch, i.e. felt when touched, the icon in the second area.

This makes it possible to add another effect to the image constituting the first and second drawings, thereby creating a tactile sensitivity effect. Engraving a metal plate with paint can form a more pronounced relief, determined by touching, in contrast to the case in which the substrate is difficult to deform. In the case of using a deformable substrate, the engraving of the metal plate with the absence of paint (currently defined as embossing) may be sufficient to form a pronounced relief, which is detected when touched.

It is preferable that the transparent non-penetrating ink contains protective indicator elements, for example, fluorescent particles, particles that respond to a given wavelength, and / or thermochromic particles.

In a method that is inherently known, the reaction of fluorescent particles to light irradiation in the ultraviolet spectrum is to generate a short-term fluorescence reaction during this irradiation. Traditionally, the color of thermochromic particles changes reversely, as a function of temperature.

Preferably, the transparency enhancing material is superimposed on the substrate using screen printing, flexography, offset printing, metallography, gravure printing machine, and / or gravure printing.

In addition, preferably, the method comprises a step for forming a third image pattern on the second side of the substrate, which is positioned relative to the second region so that it can be viewed from the first side due to the translucence of the second region. Alternatively, the third pattern is optionally formed with fixed positioning, but can be formed with free positioning relative to other patterns.

Preferably, the third pattern completes the first and second patterns to form a final image that can be viewed from both sides in transmitted light, and even also in reflected light.

In addition, in one embodiment of the invention, the third figure comprises an information block encoded on the second side, and the second region contains means for decoding this information capable of opening the encoded information block when viewed from the first side at least in transmitted light.

Preferably, the second inner region is sufficiently translucent to allow viewing in reflected light from one side of the substrate of the third pattern extending to the other from the sides by positioning relative to the inner region.

Thus, the transparency effect may also allow viewing in reflected light. This effect facilitates the verification of the authenticity of a protected document, in particular for those cases in which the people performing the verification do not have the time or the qualifications to verify this authenticity.

Another objective of the invention is a protective element, characterized in that it is obtained using the production method in accordance with the invention.

And finally, the purpose of this invention is a security document, such as a banknote, containing a security element, characterized in that this security element is made in accordance with the invention.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will become more apparent after reading the following description, given the accompanying drawings, in which:

1A and 1B show, respectively, top and bottom views of a security document comprising a security element according to a first embodiment of the invention;

2A and 2B show, respectively, top and bottom views of a security document containing a security element according to a second embodiment of the invention along section 3-3 in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of a security document shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B;

4A and 4B show, respectively, top and bottom views of a security document containing a security element according to a third embodiment of the invention;

5A and 5B show, respectively, top and bottom views of a security document comprising a security element according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;

6A and 6B show, respectively, top and bottom views of a security document containing a security element according to a fifth embodiment of the invention, with a viewing direction perpendicular to the plane of the security document;

figs and 6D show the same views as in figures 6A and 6B, but when viewed at a glide angle;

7-10 show the steps in a method for manufacturing a security document containing a security element according to a sixth embodiment of the invention.

1A and 1B show a security document comprising a security element according to a first embodiment of the invention. This security document is denoted by common reference numeral 10.

The security document 10 comprises a substrate 12 defining opposing first F1 and second F2 sides. In this example, security document 10 is a passport page. Alternatively, the security document may be a banknote or any other valuable document.

This security document 10 comprises a security element 14 formed on a portion of the substrate 12. This security element 14 comprises a first region Z1 forming the first pattern 18 on the first side F1 of the substrate 12. This first pattern 18 is formed by applying a material 20 that increases the impermeability. Preferably, the impermeability material 20 is also opaque to light and is referred to as coating material 20 hereinafter. Obviously, as an option, the material 20, increasing the impermeability, can be more or less opaque or even translucent, without going beyond the scope of the invention.

For example, the coating material 20 is applied to the substrate 12 using screen printing, flexography, offset printing and / or metallography, letterpress printing and / or gravure printing. Thus, the coating material 20 is preferably a printing ink that can be used in offset printing, flexography, silk screen printing, letterpress printing machine, gravure printing and metallography.

In addition, the coating material 20 is preferably a printing ink that is selected from the following options: iridescent ink, ink with a variable optical effect, magnetic ink with a variable optical effect, ink with a metallic effect, such as, for example, silver-based ink, and liquid crystal paint.

In addition, the security element 14 comprises a second region Z2 forming a second pattern 22 and without covering material 20. This region Z2 is translucent, in other words, light can pass through it.

This second region Z2 is formed by applying a material 24 that increases transparency. The transparency enhancing material 24 can be applied outside the second region Z2, partly on the first region Z1.

More specifically, the coating material 20 prevents the substrate 12 from being saturated with the transparency material 24 in the first region Z1.

For example, transparency enhancing material 24 is a high wetting printing ink containing low surface tension monomers, resins and / or photoinitiators, or acrylic ink. For example, a transparency enhancing material may be a suitable material that contains a composition similar to that described in GB 1489084.

Transparency enhancing material 24 is preferably applied by screen printing. Alternatively, transparency enhancing material 24 can be applied using any other known printing technology.

The first region Z1 is called the peripheral region hereinafter, in contrast to the second region Z2, called internal, since the region Z1 surrounds the second region Z2 called internal.

In this first embodiment, the first region Z1 is generally oval and the second region Z2 is generally flower.

In the described example, the security element 14 comprises a third pattern 26, which is printed on the second side F2 of the substrate 12. This third pattern 26 completes the image formed by the first pattern 18 and the second pattern 22. The third pattern 26 is made on the third region Z3 of the substrate 12. This the third figure 26 is printed by positioning from the outside of the first figure 18 and the second figure 22.

The resulting image can be viewed from two sides F1 and F2 of the substrate 12 in transmitted light and at least partially in reflected light.

Preferably, the second region Z2 is sufficiently translucent to allow viewing in reflected light from both sides F1 and F2.

Thus, the inner region Z2 is sufficiently translucent to be able to view the third pattern 26 in reflected light, and not only in transmitted light from the first side F1 (as can be seen in FIG. 2A).

The first figure 18 of the image obtained by applying the coating material 20 can be easily viewed in reflected light from the first side F1, but worse viewed in reflected light from the second side F2.

Thus, the contrast between the region of the substrate 12 free of any material and the region Z1 is relatively small, since the substrate 12 on the outside of the region Z2 is relatively opaque when viewed from the side F2.

The first and second regions Z1 and Z2 determine the contrast between them in the image, i.e. the image is inverted depending on the side F1, F2 from which the image is viewed in transmitted light, and possibly also in reflected light, in the case where the second inner region Z2 is sufficiently translucent.

However, while the contrast is relatively pronounced when viewed with transmitted light from two sides F1 and F2, this contrast is not visible to the extent that the image is viewed from the second side F2 (in other words, from the side F2, which does not exist no covering material) in reflected light.

FIGS. 2A-6B show second to fifth embodiments of a security document 10 comprising a security element 14. In these embodiments, the elements of the first embodiment have similar reference numerals in the figures and description. These various embodiments of the invention increase the security level of a document containing a security element.

In the second embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the first region Z1 also partially extends to the center of the second region Z2. The first region Z1 tracks the contour of the second region Z2.

In addition, in this embodiment, the third pattern 26 is partially imprinted in the second transmission region Z2.

Preferably, the second region Z2 is sufficiently translucent so that it is possible to view the third pattern 26 on the side F2 in reflected light from the side F1, when positioning it outside and inside the second region Z2.

This can be observed in reflected light from two sides F1, F2 of the substrate 12.

Figure 3 shows layers of material superimposed on a substrate 12 to form regions Z1, Z2, and Z3. Thus, region Z1 contains a layer of coating material 20, region Z2 contains a layer of transparency increasing material 24, which impregnates the substrate 12 throughout its thickness, without impregnating the substrate 12 adjacent to region Z1. Finally, region Z3 also contains a layer of material 28, such as printing ink.

In the third embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B, the security document 10 is a banknote. The security element 14 may, for example, have a generally rectangular shape, forming a vertical strip on the banknote 10.

The security element 14 comprises a first peripheral region Z1 generally having a strip shape and a second internal translucent region Z2 bounding the second pattern 22. In the example shown in the drawings, the second pattern 22 contains the double-digit “100” in the back / forward direction and stylized the sun. Region Z3 represents the third figure 26 and contains the number “100” in the right direction, the central digit “0” of this number 100 forms a sun positioned so that it complements the image of the sun on the side F1 of the substrate 12.

In the fourth embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the third figure 26 contains the encoded information block 30 on the second side F2, and the second region Z2 contains means 32 for decoding this information that could show the encoded information block 30 when viewed from the first side F1 at least in transmitted light.

In this example, you can see that the third figure 26 is an encrypted block of information "OA", which is difficult to perceive when viewed in transmitted and / or reflected light from the second side F2 of the substrate 12 with the naked eye. Conversely, when viewing from the first side F1, the information unit 30 is opened in such a way that it becomes visible through through the presence of decoding means in the area Z2.

For example, the information block 30 is encoded using the known steganography technology, which consists of encoding information in the background using isolated changes, for example, using lines modulated at a given frequency. The third figure 26 is preferably made by offset printing.

For example, decoding means 32 comprise lines modulated at a frequency approximately equal to the frequency at which the information block is hidden. Preferably, the lines are printed and / or embossed.

In this illustrated example, decoding means 32 comprise a pattern 31 forming repeating lines with a predetermined height and frequency approximately equal to the frequency used to encode the message. For example, this relief 31 may be performed using conventional stamping technology.

Stamping is performed and positioned relative to the offset printing of the side F2 of the substrate 12 and forms a steganographic decoding pattern capable of opening data hidden on the second side F2 of the substrate 12.

For example, the relief 31 is performed using metallography and a transparent non-penetrating ink to form another touch, touch-sensitive icon in the second area Z2.

The transparent non-penetrating ink preferably contains protective indicator elements, for example, fluorescent particles, particles that respond to a given wavelength and / or thermochromic particles.

6A and 6B show a security document 10 comprising a security element 14 according to a fifth embodiment of the invention.

In this fifth embodiment of the invention, the third figure 26 contains at least a latent image 34 on the first side F1, in particular in the first region Z1. In particular, it can be seen that the letters B and C form the first 34A and second 34B latent images.

The third figure 26 contains a third latent image 34C formed on the second side F2 in the second region Z2. These latent images 34A-34C are formed by deformation with or without printing ink.

Traditionally, a latent image is obtained by printing using metallography, and is visible only at a certain angle of inclination of the document, for example, with a moving viewing angle. Depending on the viewing angle, the image appears with more or less contrast with respect to the background.

In the described example, latent images are made using a relief printing method. The security element 14 comprises a first grid of lines 36 extending along a predetermined direction and a second grid of lines 38 extending along a direction with a different orientation, for example, inclined (as shown in the illustrated example) or perpendicular, thereby forming a sharply defined boundary between the two grids 36 and 38.

For example, the second grid 38 forms a latent image pattern that may contain information (in this example, the information contains the letters B and C), and the first grid 36 forms the background of the latent image.

Thus, as can be seen in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the latent image is invisible in a perpendicular view, but substantially better visible with a sliding viewing angle, as shown in FIGS. 6C and 6D, in which the latent image pattern is clearly visible.

The following is a description of the main steps of a method for generating a security document 10 comprising a security element 14, with reference to FIGS. 7-10.

The drawings of the security element 14 shown in these figures have shapes that differ from the shapes of the drawings in other embodiments of the invention, but the manufacturing method is applicable to create a security element of any of the previously described embodiments of the invention.

The third image pattern 26, bounded by the third region Z3 on the second side F2 of the substrate 12, is formed in the initial stage and optionally, i.e. optionally. This third region Z3 is formed by flexography, metallography, silk screen printing, letterpress printing or gravure printing, but preferably by offset printing.

This third figure 26 represents the sun inscribed inside the star. The third pattern 26 can be printed in multicolor.

Then, during the second step shown in FIG. 8, the region Z1 is formed on the first side F1 of the substrate 12 by applying a coating material 20 to the region Z1. This first region Z1 is oval in shape, limiting the second inner region Z2, free from any covering material within it.

During the third step shown in FIG. 9, transparency increasing material 24 is superimposed on at least the inner region Z2 so as to impregnate the substrate 12 and make it translucent in that region.

The first region Z1 and the second region Z2 form, respectively, a first pattern 18 and a second pattern 22, which are complementary to form an image viewed at least in transmitted light and, preferably, in reflected light from two sides F1 and F2 of the substrate 12.

Since the Z1 region contains a coating material 20 that prevents the substrate 12 from being saturated with the transparency increasing material 24, it is possible to significantly spread to the first Z1 region during this application process, while this spread remains invisible.

During this step, when the transparency enhancing material 24 is impregnated over the entire thickness of the substrate 12, the third pattern 26 appears in transmitted light or even in reflected light when it is viewed from the first side F1.

The method also includes the step of drying the material 24, increasing transparency, when irradiated with light in the ultraviolet or infrared spectrum, or by blowing a stream of hot air.

The fact of applying a transparency material 24 by spreading to the first region Z1 only slightly changes the appearance of the coating material 18 on the first side F1.

A slight change in the golden appearance of the coating material 18 can be observed if the coating material is, for example, an iridescent printing ink.

Thus, it is possible that the application of transparency material 24 to the coating material 20 will slightly discourage its golden appearance. It also provides a means of generating additional new optical effects.

Obviously, the embodiments of the invention that have just been described are in no way limiting, and they can be modified in any way desired without departing from the scope of the invention.

In particular, the use of transparency enhancing material using printing technologies other than those mentioned in the description as preferred should be considered as included in the scope of the invention.

Claims (17)

1. A method of manufacturing a security element for a security document, wherein the security element comprises a substrate defining the first and second opposite sides, and a translucent region is formed in the substrate by applying a material that increases the transparency of the substrate, and the method includes the following steps to form said translucent region:
the first stage is the application of the material to obtain an impermeable substrate in the first region of the first side, the first region surrounding the second region of the first side not containing the specified material, creating impermeability, while the material creating the impermeability prevents the substrate from being impregnated with a material that increases transparency, then
the second stage is the application of a material that increases transparency, at least in the second region so as to impregnate the substrate and make it translucent in this region, while the first region and the second region respectively form the first pattern and the second pattern, forming an image that is viewed on both sides of the substrate. 2. The method according to claim 1, in which the material that creates the impermeability, is opaque to light. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, in which the material that creates the impermeability is a printing ink used in offset printing, flexography, silk screen printing, letterpress printing machine, gravure printing and metallography. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the impermeability material is a printing ink selected from the following materials: iridescent ink, ink with a variable optical effect, magnetic ink with a variable optical effect, ink with a metallic effect and liquid crystal ink. 5. The method according to claim 1, in which the material that increases transparency, is a printing ink with high wetting ability, for example, containing monomers with a low coefficient of surface tension, resin and / or photoinitiators or acrylic ink. 6. The method according to claim 5, in which the material (24), increasing transparency, contains protective indicator elements, for example, fluorescent particles, particles that respond to a given wavelength and / or thermochromic particles. 7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of drying the material (24), increasing transparency, by irradiation with light in the ultraviolet or infrared spectra, or by blowing with a stream of hot air. 8. The method according to claim 1, additionally containing metallography with transparent non-penetrating printing ink or without ink to form a touch-sensitive sign in the second region. 9. The method of claim 8, in which the transparent non-penetrating ink, preferably contains protective indicator elements, for example, fluorescent particles, particles of the reaction type, reacting to a given wavelength and / or thermochromic particles. 10. The method according to claim 1, in which the material that increases transparency, is applied to the substrate using screen printing, flexography, offset printing, metallography, letterpress and / or gravure printing machines. 11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of forming a third image pattern on the second side, wherein the third pattern is positioned relative to the second region so that it is visible from the first side due to the fact that the second region is illuminated. 12. The method according to claim 11, in which the third drawing completes the first and second drawings so as to form a final image that is viewed from both sides. 13. The method according to item 12, in which the third figure contains encoded information on the second side, and the second region contains means for decoding this information, allowing you to open the encoded information when viewed from the first side at least in transmitted light. 14. The method according to claim 1, in which the substrate is made of a material containing mainly natural and / or synthetic fiber-based paper, porous paper and / or cardboard. 15. The method according to claim 1, in which the second region is made sufficiently translucent to allow viewing in reflected light from one of the indicated sides of the third pattern, made on the other side of these sides, when positioning relative to the second region. 16. A protective element, characterized in that it is manufactured using the manufacturing method according to any one of claims 1 to 15. 17. A security document, such as a banknote containing a security element, wherein the security element is made in accordance with paragraph 16.

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