Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
  • B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
  • B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
  • B42D25/40—Manufacture
  • B42D25/45—Associating two or more layers
  • B42D25/465—Associating two or more layers using chemicals or adhesives
  • B42D25/47—Associating two or more layers using chemicals or adhesives using adhesives
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
  • B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
  • B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
  • B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
  • B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
  • B42D25/40—Manufacture
  • B42D25/45—Associating two or more layers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
  • B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
  • B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
  • B42D25/20—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof characterised by a particular use or purpose
  • B42D25/29—Securities; Bank notes
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
  • B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
  • B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
  • B42D25/40—Manufacture
  • B42D25/405—Marking
  • B42D25/415—Marking using chemicals
  • B42D25/42—Marking using chemicals by photographic processes
• • B42D2033/10—
• • B42D2033/20—
• • B42D2033/30—

Definitions

• Security element for documents in general and in particular banknotes, security cards and the like
• the present invention relates to a security element for documents in general and in particular banknotes, security cards and the like.
• a presently very used technique consists in arranging some threads which can be inserted into the mixture of the paper of which the document is made, said threads being wholly inserted or partially fitted-in the paper, that is, having some parts inside and some parts outside of the paper.
• these threads are made of a support layer of flexible and transparent plastic material upon which metallic layers, magnetic elements, microprintings, fluorescent elements, magnetic codes and so on are deposited.
• threads have been developed which allow the immediate and easy determination of the authenticity of the threads, together with the possibility to carry out the control through automatic devices which are suitably arranged for this purpose.
• Another problem is constituted by the fact that in the solution described above, the different graphic signs are obtained by realising a complete removal of the metal, thereby causing in some cases, during the phase of lengthening of the threads which inevitably occurs at the time of its insertion into the paper, a break of the metallic layer around the cut zones which can strongly compromise the metallic continuity of the ensemble.
• Another problem is constituted by the fact that, at the time of the insertion of the thread into the paper, the thread is submitted to an acid environment or anyway aggressive agent which determines some corrosion especially in the zones of the corners which are obtained by demetallizing completely the thread.
• the object of the present invention is to eliminate the formerly described drawbacks, realising a security element for documents in general and in particular banknotes, security cards and the like, which gives the possibility to create an ensemble which is not reproducible with traditional techniques and, consequently, disposable by the possible counterfeiter.
• a particular object of the invention is to manufacture a security element which doe not eliminate the metallic continuity on the whole surface of the support layer, thereby preventing any possible break, for example at the time of lengthening of the thread for the insertion into the paper, thereby maintaining in any condition the metallic continuity which is necessary for the detection of the security element by means of a reading equipment.
• a further object of the present invention is to manufacture a security element which is not subject to damage also in the case in which it is attacked in an acid environment, which is the typical environment at the time of the insertion of the thread into the paper, thereby maintaining constant its integrity in time .
• a further object of the present invention is to manufacture a security element which is applicable externally to the document, thereby creating a feature easily perceptible by the public.
• a security element for documents in general and in particular banknotes, security cards and the like which comprises a flexible support layer having, on at least one of its faces, a layer of metallic material, characterised in that said layer of metallic material comprises at least one zone having a metal thickness lower than 60% of the thickness of the layer of metallic material of the surrounding portions.
• FIG. 1 schematically shows the security element according to the invention
• FIG. 2 represents the security element in an greatly enlarged scale and in cross-section
• FIG. 3 represents the security element according to the invention inserted into a document
• - figure 4 represents the security element applied on the external face of the document.
• the security element for documents in general and in particular banknotes, security cards and the like which is indicated in its entirety with the reference number 1, comprises a flexible support layer 2 which is advantageously obtained by polyester sheets and the like.
• a layer of metallic material 3 is provided, wherein the important peculiarity are zones, indicated with 10, which have a reduced thickness of the metal with respect to the surrounding zones and which is preferably, lower than 70% and greater than 25% of the thickness of the layer of metallic material of the surrounding portions; hence, with a thickness of the layer of
• the zones of reduced thickness must have a thickness comprised between 0.45 and 1.26 Optical Density.
• the metallic layer can be obtained of aluminium being metallized under vacuum or other metal like chrome, nickel, copper or a combination of these materials.
• the partial removal allows to maintain the metallic continuity having as well a different amount of metal among the zones where the partial removal has been effected which allows to keep an element visually verifiable.
• the support layer can be made of a tape, as shown in the specific example, but, obviously, it can assume any other configuration as thread, stamp or any other configuration which is deemed to be suitable.
• the security element manufactured, as disclosed above, can either be wholly inserted into the paper of which the document is made, or partially inserted, that is, having some part that come out of the surface, or directly applied on the surface like schematically illustrated in figure 4.
• the support layer is made of 15, 19 or 23 ⁇ m polyester which is metallized on its side by means of a vacuum metallizer, which deposits an aluminium layer of 1.8 Optical Density.
• a cleaner film can be obtained by plasma treatment which allows a better and more uniform adhesion.
• the speed of application must not be more than 400- 500 metres per minute, and a metallizer should be used having an advancing system for each aluminium thread and a system of automatic detection of metallization, so that a surface with a maximum variation of thickness lower than 3% is obtained.
• the tape treated as disclosed above is inserted into a chemical action demetallization device, possibly with the use of an acid.
• the metallic layer is previously submitted to a corona treatment which allows to simplify the anchoring of an ink which is used.
• a very transparent ink adapted to preserve the aluminium by the attacks of acid substances is printed with normal operations of printing, these inks are, for example, nitrocellulosic inks with the addition of a catalyst or anyway of a hardener with a percentage of 1%.
• Some tanks containing the chemical products for the demetallization of the tape and a subsequent washing and drying system are provided.
• a suitable method implies the metallization of a 23 ⁇ m polyester film with 1.8 Optical Density of aluminium +/- 3%, subsequently a corona treatment is performed on the metallic layer, thereby providing a superficial wettability of 54 +/- 4 dynes, subsequently the metallic layer is printed with an ink for metals, for example nitrocellulosic ink with a thickness of 1.2 - 2 ⁇ m.
• the film is then passed in a tank containing 47-48% phosphoric acid with a temperature of 40 °C +/- 2 for about 40 - 45 seconds.
• the film is washed in a tank using water, and at the exit of the tank, the film is dipped in a tank with a buffer solution made of water and 3/5 % ammonia.
• the treated film is submitted to an abundant rinse, keeping the pH value in each tank constant.
• the film is submitted to a gentle wringing by means of rubber rollers, and then it is passed in a hot air tunnel at the speed of 40 metres per minute and a hood temperature of about 90/100° C; the tunnel has a length of about 6 metres in such way to obtain a permanence time of about 10 seconds .
• the method described above allows to obtain security threads on which the deposited aluminium has been partially removed from 1.8 Optical Density to 0.7 Optical Density in the zones in which the ink has not been applied.
• Another possible solution to obtain the security element according to the invention consists in carrying out the complete demetallization in the zones where the characters, distinctive signs and the like must be printed, which is indicated by 10, and to apply afterwards a thickness of metal with a thickness lower than the thickness of the surrounding zones.
• the film is then washed in a tank using water and afterwards, in another tank, it is dipped into a buffer solution with water and 3/5 % ammonia.
• the film is submitted to spraying and drying like in the previous example.
• the film is subsequently submitted again to a full bottom metallization operation preferably with a thickness of 0.7 Optical Density.
• the metallic layer can be possibly applied also on the opposite face.
• the invention reaches the proposed objects, and in particular it has been pointed out that a security element is provided which maintains a superficial metallic continuity which renders very complex counterfeiting, in addition to improving the mechanical and chemical characteristics of the ensemble by the fact that the metallic continuity prevents, in particular in the zones where the signs and distinctive characters are defined, successive breaks from occuring during the treatment phases.
• the metallic layer 3 may be made of a noble metal, aluminium, chrome, nickel, copper or a combination thereof.
• the noble metal is gold.

Landscapes

• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Toxicology (AREA)
• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
• Finance (AREA)
• Credit Cards Or The Like (AREA)
• Laminated Bodies (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=30130924

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Cited By (10)

Citations (2)

• 2002
  • 2002-04-10 UA UAA200500287A patent/UA81253C2/uk unknown
  • 2002-07-24 IT IT2002MI001640A patent/ITMI20021640A1/it unknown
  • 2002-10-04 AU AU2002342803A patent/AU2002342803A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-10-04 EP EP02779465.0A patent/EP1532003B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2002-10-04 KR KR1020057000615A patent/KR20050044892A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2002-10-04 RU RU2005101199/12A patent/RU2293028C2/ru active
  • 2002-10-04 WO PCT/EP2002/011177 patent/WO2004014665A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation

Patent Citations (2)

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