WO2004024511A1

WO2004024511A1 - Method for producing high security number plates, high security number plate and device for carrying out said method

Info

Publication number: WO2004024511A1
Application number: PCT/DE2003/002710
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stephan Wüstefeld
Original assignee: Erich Utsch Ag
Priority date: 2002-09-06
Filing date: 2003-08-11
Publication date: 2004-03-25
Also published as: AU2003258482A1; DE10241803A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing high security number plates comprising a carrier plate (2) which comprises a stamped caption. Said method comprises the following steps: a) stamping the carrier plate (2) with a caption (4) in a stamping step, b) producing an individualisation (8) in a stamping film (5) in an individualisation step, comprising a stamping film (6) and a decorative layer (7), c) colouring the stamped area of the stamped carrier plate in a colouring step by at least partially applying the decorative layer (7) of the stamping film to the carrier plate (2), whereby the individualisation is at least partially transferred therewith. The invention also relates to an individualised high security number plate and a device for carrying out said method. The aim of the invention is to increase protection against forgery by applying said individualisation.

Description

Name: Manufacturing process for high security license plates, high security license plate and device for carrying out the method

The present invention relates to a production method for high-security license plates, a device for carrying out the method and a high-security license plate produced according to the method. In particular, the invention relates to license plates for motor vehicles.

Embossed license plates are known from the prior art, which have been used, for example, in Germany as motor vehicle license plates for many years. These embossed license plates consist of an embossable carrier plate, which generally consists of an aluminum or steel sheet. A legend is embossed into this carrier plate in a mechanical stamping process. The legend generally consists of alphanumeric characters that, for example, indicate the place of registration of the motor vehicle in Germany and represent an individual numbering. In order to make the legend of the embossed license plate visible, the raised areas of the embossed license plate are colored. In its simplest version, color is applied to the raised area of the embossed license plates, for example by rolling with a dyeing roller. In the context of modern manufacturing processes, the application of a liquid color is replaced by a color transfer from an embossing film which consists of a carrier film which is detachably connected to a colored decorative layer. During ink transfer, the carrier film is brought into mechanical contact with the raised areas of the embossed license plate, and the decorative layer is transferred to the raised areas of the embossed license plate, for example using local heat. The embossed license plates stained by means of such an embossing process have the advantage of a significantly increased durability of the applied color layer.

In order to increase the recognizability of the embossed license plates, the carrier plate is often covered over the entire surface with a contrast-colored, in particular retroreflective, film. In the case of the vehicle license plates common in Germany, the carrier plates are laminated on the front with a white, strongly retroreflective film before the embossing process is carried out. The label blanks produced in this way are then provided with the legend in the subsequent embossing step.

The embossed license plates have proven themselves exceptionally well, particularly in the area of motor vehicle license plates, since their embossed legend makes them very easy to recognize under the most varied of visibility conditions. In addition, they are already realizing the first security features, since the production of an embossed license plate involves significantly more effort than non-embossed license plates. Since the embossing can easily be seen with the naked eye, the embossing of a license plate with a legend is referred to as a "macro security feature".

Because of the increased security requirements of the public, there has been a need for some time to increase the security against forgery of license plates, in particular of motor vehicles. For this purpose, it is known from the prior art, for example, to provide the retroreflective film laminated on the surface of the support plate of a license plate with additional “microsafety features”. Such microsafety features can consist, for example, of small structures that are colored or in the form of a changed reflectivity of the retroreflective film are trained and their size is such that the micro- Security features are not easily visible to the naked eye. Micro-security features in the form of laser embossing are also known and can only be recognized under certain viewing angles.

Proceeding from this, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new type of high-security license plate with increased protection against forgery, to specify an advantageous production method for such a high-security license plate, and also to provide a device which is suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention.

This object is achieved by high-security license plates according to independent claims 15 and 16, a manufacturing method with the features of claim 1, and a device with the features of independent claim 21.

The high security license plate according to the invention has a carrier plate which is provided with an embossed legend. It is essential for this carrier plate that it can be stamped, which is the case, for example, with all types of metallic carrier plates and with many plastic plates. The carrier plate can advantageously be laminated on the front surface with a retroreflective film, as is already known from the prior art. In particular, this carrier film can have a large number of micro security features, for example in the form of laser embossing. A layer of paint is applied to the raised area of the embossed carrier plate. It is not essential to the invention whether the legend of the high-security license plate is raised or deeply embossed. According to the invention, uncolored or differently colored areas are now formed within the color layer, which represent individualization. The high-security license plates according to the invention thus have, on the one hand, a legend as is customary for motor vehicle license plates, for example in Germany. This legend is generated by mechanical stamping of the carrier plate and is used for individual identification of, for example, a motor vehicle. The legend is therefore an individual macro identification of the license plate, which can be formed, for example, from alphanumeric characters. In Germany, for example, a legend of the type "approval location + letter code + number code" is common, with each legend being assigned only once. The individual characters of the legend can be provided on the top with an ink layer, which is produced in particular by rolling off the legend with an ink roller Alternatively, it is also possible to emboss the characters of the legend and then the non-recessed areas (which can therefore also be regarded as raised) using the above-mentioned methods can be provided with a layer of paint.

In addition to this embossed legend known from the prior art, a high security license plate according to the invention now has an additional individualization which is carried out in the color layer in the form of an uncolored area.

In the context of this application, the legend of the label is to be understood as an individual macro identification of the license plate (above all alphanumeric characters) which is produced by embossing the carrier plate and which is provided with a color layer on the top.

On the other hand, individualization means an individual micro-identification (alphanumeric characters, symbols, national coat of arms, etc.) in the color layer on the legend. In an alternative embodiment, differently colored areas are formed within the color layer, which represent the individualization.

By providing an additional individualization within the color layer applied to the raised areas of the license plates according to the invention, which can either be in the form of a missing color application, a transparent application or a differently colored application, an additional microsecurity feature is created, which significantly improves the security against forgery of the label elevated.

In addition to the increased security against counterfeiting, the additional individualization of the high-security number plates according to the invention gives the possibility of accommodating further information, in particular also in coded form, on the number plate, which can be evaluated, for example, for monitoring purposes. For example, it is possible to encrypt the characters of the legend using a secret encryption algorithm and to use the result of this encryption as individualization. As part of a police check, it can then be determined, for example, whether the application of the secret encryption algorithm to the characters of the legend of the number plate of the controlled vehicle gives the characters of individualization.

A further increase in security results if the individualization is used to provide security-relevant data, for example about the holder of the motor vehicle or about the motor vehicle itself, in coded form for control purposes. The encoding removes the partially sensitive personal data from public access. As part of a police conference trolls can then be decoded and evaluated using suitable devices.

Alternatively, it is also possible to include additional micro-security features in the individualization, such as national coats of arms or other emblems that are not easily recognizable with the naked eye.

The manufacturing method according to the invention for high security license plates with an embossed legend has the following method steps:

a) embossing a carrier plate with a legend in an embossing step, b) generating an individualization in an embossing film in an individualization step, the embossing film having a carrier film and a decorative layer, and c) coloring the raised areas of the embossed carrier plate in a staining step by at least partial transfer the decorative layer from the embossing film to the carrier plate, the individualization being at least partially transferred.

The manufacturing method according to the invention accordingly expands the method for creating embossed license plates known from the prior art by an individualization step in which the embossing foil with an individualization, i.e. individualizing characters or other microsecurity features. The individualization is carried out in those areas of the carrier film which are at least partially transferred to the raised areas of the embossed carrier plate in the subsequent staining step.

The method according to the invention can therefore be used to produce high-security license plates which, on the one hand, have the macro security feature have an embossed legend and on the other hand have the micro-security feature of additional individualization, for example within the coloring of the raised embossed characters of the legend. The introduction of this additional microsecurity feature significantly increases the security against forgery of the number plate, since the technical effort for producing such a number plate is significantly increased. In addition, the introduction of additional individualization creates the possibility of accommodating further security-relevant data - for example, also in coded form - on the high-security license plate and thus improving the options for checking by police forces.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the individualization is only generated in those areas of the decorative layer which are transferred to the carrier plate in the dyeing step. For this purpose, a targeted arrangement of the individualization on the embossing film and, in the subsequent staining step, a precise positioning of the embossing film provided with the individualization above the characters of the embossed license plate legend is required. With a corresponding adjustment of the size relationships between the character size of the license plate legend and the character size of the individualization, the relative positioning accuracy required for this is, however, relatively low. A positioning accuracy that is in the range of millimeters can already be sufficient.

In a preferred development of the method according to the invention, the individualization of the stamping film is generated in the individualization step by locally removing the decorative layer of the stamping film. This can be done in particular by locally transferring the decorative layer to a slave foil and thus removing it from the carrier foil of the stamping foil. A corresponding method is known, for example, from European Patent 0 883 499 Dl from Leonhard Kurz GmbH & Co. KG, 90763 Fürth. If an appropriately individualized embossing foil is used to color the raised areas of an embossed license plate, there are gaps in the color application that represent the individualization. The background color of the label holder is visible through these gaps. It is particularly advantageous here if the carrier plate of the license plate is coated with a retroreflective film which is colored in a contrasting color.

As an alternative to the method known from EP 0 883 944 D 1, in which parts of the decorative layer of the stamping film are transferred to a slave film, it is also possible to remove the decorative layer of the stamping film locally by locally punching the stamping film. The signs of individualization can be generated, for example, by punctiform punching of the stamping foil. If such a stamped embossing foil is used for the color transfer to the raised area of the embossed carrier plate, the color transfer in the area of the punching is missing, and the color of the carrier plate is therefore also visible here.

In a further embodiment of this method, the stamping foil is irradiated locally with laser light in order to generate the individualization. With a suitable process control, it is possible to locally vaporize and thus remove the decorative layer, which is colored and thus strongly absorbing in certain wavelength ranges, by means of laser radiation. Here, too, areas of the stamping foil are created in which the colored decorative layer has gaps.

Instead of local evaporation of the colored decorative layer by laser radiation, it is possible to chemically change the decorative layer by means of laser radiation in such a way that its solution behavior in certain solvents changes compared to the unirradiated decorative layer. In this way, a solubility contrast in the decorative layer in suitable solvents can be be produced so that the irradiated area can be selectively washed out by washing the stamping foil with this solvent. In this way too, gaps can be created in the colored decorative layer of the embossing film, which can be used to create the individualization.

An alternative approach does not follow the local removal of the decorative layer of the stamping film before the staining step, but rather pursues the goal of specifically changing areas of the decorative layer of the stamping film by means of suitable measures such that these areas adhere so strongly to the carrier film of the stamping film that they adhere to the Staining step can not be transferred to the carrier plate of the license plate. In the sense of such increased adhesion to the backing film, the formulation used in the corresponding subclaim is to be understood as "insoluble". Such an "inseparable connection" between certain areas of the decorative layer with the backing film can be achieved, for example, by locally welding the decorative layer to the backing film. Such welding can advantageously be achieved using laser radiation with a suitable wavelength.

In the previous embodiments of the method according to the invention, the aim was always to create an individualization by only partially transferring the decorative layer to the raised area of the license plate in the dyeing step. This was achieved by local removal or local fixation of the decorative layer on its carrier film. In an alternative approach, the color impression of the colored decorative layer of the stamping foil is specifically changed locally, so that this change creates the individualization in the stamping foil. Such a change in the color effect can be produced, for example, by the action of intense laser radiation on the color pigment contained in the decorative layer, the color pigments being destroyed (bleaching effect) or being chemically changed (color change). In a particularly advantageous further development of the manufacturing method according to the invention for high security license plates, an additional encryption step is added to the method according to the invention, in which the individualization is generated by means of an encryption algorithm. This encryption algorithm can be applied directly to the characters of the legend, for example. It is particularly advantageous if the encryption algorithm used is secret. As part of a police check of a high-security license plate, there is the possibility of using suitable devices to apply the encryption algorithm to the individual characters of the license plate legend and to compare the encryption result thus obtained with the individualization present in the license plate to be checked. If it is possible to keep the underlying encryption algorithm secret, this results in a highly effective way of identifying fake license plates.

Furthermore, as already mentioned, the individualization provided on the high-security license plate according to the invention can be used very advantageously to encode security-relevant data, for example about the holder of a motor vehicle or about the motor vehicle itself, so that these partially sensitive personal data cannot be read easily. Here there is the possibility of encoding the data mentioned by using suitable encryption algorithms and using the code obtained in this way as individualization of a label.

Another object of the present application is a device for the production of high security labels, such a device: a) an embossing device for mechanical embossing of a license plate, b) an individualization device for generating an individualization in the decorative layer of an embossing film, and c) a transfer device for partial transfer of the decorative layer of an individualized embossing film to a license plate

includes. Such a device is particularly suitable for executing the method according to the invention, by means of which high security license plates according to the invention can be created.

In a particularly preferred further development of the device according to the invention, it furthermore comprises an encryption device which is intended to generate a character string, for example, based on a predetermined encryption algorithm from predetermined data, for example the characters of the license plate legend or personal information about the holder of the motor vehicle, which then is used as individualization.

Further advantages and features of the device, the method according to the invention and the high security characteristics according to the invention result from the subclaims and the following exemplary embodiments, which are not to be understood as restrictive and are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. In this show:

Fig. La: A view of a sign of the legend of an embossed license plate,

Fig. Lb: a section through the character of Fig. La along the line AA, 2: a plan view of the embossed carrier plate of a license plate,

3a: a plan view of a section of an embossing film,

3b: a detail from the embossing film from FIG. 3a after it has been provided with an individualization,

3c: a section through the embossing film from FIG. 3a,

4a: a top view of a license plate according to the invention with an embossed legend as well as individualization and additional microsafety features,

4b: an enlarged detail from FIG. 4a, which shows a first embodiment of the individualization,

4c: the enlarged detail from FIG. 4b, a second embodiment of the individualization being shown, and

Fig. 5: a schematic representation of an apparatus for performing the method.

The basic structure of a high-security license plate results from the section from FIG. 1b, which is carried out by the carrier plate 2 of the license plate 1 by a symbol 21 of the license plate legend 4. The license plate 1 is based on a metallic carrier plate 2, for example made of aluminum, on the front surface of which a retroreflective film 3, as is known from the prior art, is laminated. After the retroreflective film 3 has been laminated on, the carrier plate 2 of the license plate 1 is subjected to an embossing process in which the individual characters 21 of the legend 4 are generated. Such a symbol 21 can be seen from the top in FIG. In Fig. La, the contour of the embossed character 21 is designated with "19".

As can be seen from FIGS. 1 a and 1 b, an ink layer 10, which was produced by means of ink transfer from an embossing film 5, is applied to the upper cover surface of the embossed symbol 21. It can be seen from FIG. 1 a that uncolored regions 11 or regions 12 of a different color are formed within the color layer 10 on the upper cover surface of the character 21 shown, which regions represent the letter “S” here Customization 8 to realize.

Fig. 2 shows a high security license plate according to the invention after the execution of the embossing step, but before the execution of the staining step. The carrier plate 2 can be seen, in which a raised border 20 is embodied, within the circumference of which a plurality of characters 21 are embossed, which in their entirety represent the identification legend 4. The contour of the individual characters 21 is designated by “19”.

3a shows a section of an embossing film 5, the basic structure of which can be seen in FIG. 3c. The embossing film 5 consists of a carrier film 6 on which a colored decorative layer 7 is removably arranged. Such an embossing film 5 is already known from the prior art, for example it can be found in the aforementioned European patent application 0 883 499. FIG. 3a shows such a section of the embossing film 5, which is provided for the execution of the staining step on the license plate 1 shown in FIG. 2. The contour 19 of the characters 21 of the license plate legend 4 is indicated by dots. However, this contour 19 is only shown for clarification, it is actually not in the Korlage 7 of the stamping film 5 is provided.

3b now shows an enlarged detail from the embossing film 5, on which the individualization 8 according to the invention was already generated in an individualization step. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the individualization 8 resumes the identification legend 4 in an identical form. The characters of the individualization 8 are completely arranged within the contour 19 of the characters 21 of the legend 4, i.e. in the case of a color transfer from the embossing film 5 to the raised areas of the embossed carrier plate 2, the colored areas located within the dotted outline lines are transferred to the top surfaces of the characters 21 of the license plate legend 4. The characters of the individualization 8 will be completely transferred from the embossing film 5 to the carrier plate 2.

4a shows a license plate 1 according to the invention, which was transferred to the raised areas of the carrier plate 2 by partial transfer of the decorative layer 7 of the embossing film 5, which can be seen from FIGS. 3a and 3b. In comparison to FIG. 2 it can be seen that the border 20 and the individual characters 21 of the legend 4 have been provided with a color layer 10 on their upper cover surfaces. Within this color layer 10, 4 character strings are arranged on the characters of the legend, which represent the individualization 8 according to the invention. FIG. 4b shows such a character string, which is arranged on a character 21 of the license plate 1 from FIG. 4a, in an enlarged representation. As can be seen, the individual alphanumeric characters of the character string which the individualization 8 represents are represented by points. These points represent holes in the color layer 10, which were generated by either partially removing the decorative layer 7 or fixing the decorative layer 7 on the carrier film 6 at the corresponding locations in the decorative layer 7 of the embossing film 5 Has. As already explained above, the distance can be by means of punching or by means of partial ink transfer to a slave film 9. The local fixation of the decorative layer 7 on the carrier film 6 can be generated, for example, by spot welding using laser light.

On the other hand, the alphanumeric characters of the individualization 8, which can be seen from FIG. 4c, are not composed of points, but are designed over the whole area. Such characters can only be produced unfavorably by stamping the stamping foil 5. Rather, a partial transfer of the decorative layer 7 to a slave film 9 or another partial detachment of the decorative layer 7 is advantageous for generating such characters. Alternatively, local fixation of the decorative layer 7 on the carrier film 6 of the embossing film 5 is again possible here, for example by means of an optically induced welding.

In both exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 4b and 4c of the individualization 8, the characters of the individualization 8 can not only be generated in that a partial color transfer from the decorative layer 7 to the raised areas of the embossed carrier plate 2 takes place, the gaps in the color transfer being precise the characters to be displayed result, but it is also possible to change the color effect of the decorative layer 7 of the embossing film 5 by suitable treatment so that regions 12 of a different color form instead of uncolored regions 11 within the color layer 10 to be transferred. Here it is primarily a question of the color pigments used in the decorative layer 7, which change in the color effect can be produced, for example, by a strong local heat effect due to laser radiation.

The license plate 1 according to the invention, which can be seen in FIG. 4a, thus combines the previously known macro security feature of the embossed license plate legend 4, the likewise known microsecurity features of Laser embossments 14 visible only from certain viewing angles and an individualization 8, which consists of an alphanumeric character string which receives the characters of the identification legend 4 in an identical form, this character sequence being executed multiple times within the color layer 10, on the raised areas of the embossed identification legend 4. The license plate 1 shown in FIG. 4a therefore has a significantly higher level of security against counterfeiting than the embossed license plates known from the prior art.

5 shows a device for executing the method according to the invention in a schematic representation. The device consists of an embossing device 15, which embosses the characters of the license plate legend 4 into the carrier plate 2 of the license plate 1 with the aid of an embossing tool 22. The direction of movement of the carrier plate 2 of the license plate 1 during the embossing process is indicated by the arrow.

Furthermore, FIG. 5 shows an individualization device by means of which the embossing foil 5 supplied can be provided with the individualization 8 to be provided according to the invention. The individualization 8 is already positioned on the embossing film 5 in such a way that it is preferably arranged entirely within the ink layer 10 transferred during the dyeing step.

Finally, FIG. 5 shows a transfer device 17 on which the embossing film 5 provided with the individualization 8 and the embossed carrier plate 2 of the license plate 1 are brought together. The transfer device 17 carries out the staining step according to the invention, in which the areas of the decorative layer 7 of the embossing film 5 lying within the dotted contour lines are transferred to the top surfaces of the embossed license plate legend 4 and the border 20. there the individualization 8 generated in these areas is also transmitted.

Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment shown, a computer 24 is provided, which is set up to control the embossing device 15, the individualization device 16 and the transmission device 17 in order to allow the method steps of the method according to the invention to take place in a coordinated manner. In particular, the embossing device 15, the individualization device 16 and the transmission device 17 can be combined to form a co-operating production system for producing individual license plates, for example for motor vehicles, which is controlled by means of a central controller that is executed on the computer 24.

Furthermore, the computer 24 is set up to generate a coded character string based on the characters of the legend 4 based on a predetermined encryption algorithm, which can also be used as individualization 8. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 5, in the individualization step, which is carried out by the individualization device 16, the character string “QRVlsf” displayed on the screen 23 of the computer 24 is used as individualization 8, which in the coloring step, which is carried out by the transmission device, into the Color layer 10 is transferred to the cover surface of the characters of the legend 4.

Claims

Description: Manufacturing process for high security license plates, high security license plate and device for carrying out the process

1. Production method for high security license plates (1) with a carrier plate (2) which has an embossed legend (4), comprising the following method steps: a) embossing a carrier plate (2) with a legend (4) in one stamping step, b ) Creating an individualization in an embossing film (5) in an individualization step, the embossing film (5) having a carrier film (6) and a decorative layer (7), and c) staining the raised areas of the embossed carrier plate (2) in a staining step at least partial transfer of the decorative layer (7) from the embossing film (5) to the carrier plate (2), the individualization (8) being at least partially transferred.

2. Manufacturing method for high security license plates (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the individualization (8) is generated only in those areas of the decorative layer (7) that are transferred to the carrier plate (2) in the staining step.

3. Manufacturing method for high security license plates (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that in the individualization step, the decorative layer (7) of the embossing film (5) is locally removed.

4. The manufacturing method for high security license plates (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the decorative layer (7) of the embossing film (5) is locally removed by local transfer of the decorative layer (7) to a slave film (9).

5. Manufacturing method for high security license plates (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the decorative layer (7) of the stamping film (5) is removed by local stamping of the stamping film (5).

6. Manufacturing method for high security license plates (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that to remove the decorative layer (7), the embossing film (5) is irradiated locally with laser light.

7. The manufacturing method for high security license plates (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the irradiated areas of the decorative layer (7) are washed off using a suitable solvent.

8. The manufacturing method for high security license plates (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that in the individualization step, the decorative layer (7) is locally non-detachably connected to the carrier film (6).

9. The manufacturing method for high security license plates (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the permanent connection between the decorative layer (7) and the carrier film (6) is generated by means of local irradiation of the carrier film (6) with laser light.

10. Manufacturing method for high security license plates (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that in the individualization The color effect of the decorative layer (7) is changed locally.

11. The manufacturing method for high security license plates (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the color effect of the decorative layer (7) is changed by means of local irradiation of the carrier film (6) with laser light.

12. Manufacturing method for high security license plates (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the individualization (8) is generated in an encryption step by means of an encryption algorithm.

13. Manufacturing method for high security license plates (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that the encryption algorithm is applied to characters of the legend (4).

14. The manufacturing method for high security license plates (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that the encryption algorithm is applied to information that designates a person or a motor vehicle.

15. High security license plate for example for a motor vehicle, having the following features: a) a carrier plate (2) which is provided with an embossed legend (4), b) a color layer (10) on the raised areas of the embossed carrier plate (2 ), characterized in that c) uncolored areas (11) are formed within the color layer (10), which represent an individualization (8).

16. High security license plate for example for a motor vehicle, having the following features: a) a carrier plate (2) which is provided with an embossed legend (4), b) a color layer (10) on the raised areas of the embossed carrier plate (2 ), characterized in that c) different colored areas (12) are formed within the color layer (10), which represent an individualization (8).

17. License plate according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the individualization (8) comprises the characters of the legend (4).

18. License plate according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the individualization (8) comprises microsecurity features (14).

19. License plate according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the individualization (8) comprises the characters of the legend (4) in encrypted form.

20. License plate according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the individualization (8) includes information about a person or a motor vehicle in encrypted form.

21. Device for producing high-security identification plates with: a) an embossing device (15) for mechanical embossing of a license plate (1), b) an individualization device (16) for generating an individualization (8) in the decorative layer (7) of an embossing film ( 5), and c) a transfer device (17) for the partial transfer of the decorative layer (7) of an embossing film (5) to a license plate (1).

22. The device according to claim 20, characterized in that an encryption device (18) for generating the individualization (8) is also provided on the basis of an encryption algorithm.