WO2004082951A2

WO2004082951A2 - Document, protected against falsification and forgery, and process of manufacturing such document

Info

Publication number: WO2004082951A2
Application number: PCT/SI2004/000013
Authority: WO
Inventors: Barbara Susin
Original assignee: Cetis, Graficno Podjetje, D.D.
Priority date: 2003-03-21
Filing date: 2004-03-01
Publication date: 2004-09-30
Also published as: EP1620272A2; WO2004082951B1; SI21551A; WO2004082951A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a document, which is protected against falsification and/or forgery and in which one of the protective elements is the so-called hidden image (4), which can be easily manufactured and is visible when illuminated either by natural or artificial light under appropriate angle and is moreover protected against damages during the use of the document, and when desired also at least optionally tangible by fingers, while due to manufacturing the said hidden image as such also the whole document data-carrying page (1) which is previously equipped with all required data as well as with any other protective elements, is protected against damages and falsification. Such document consists of at least one page (1), which is on at least one of its surfaces (11) equipped with printed and/or other protective elements and above which a transparent multi-layer coating (2) is placed in a non-removable manner. The said coating (2) comprises at least one transparent adhesive layer (20), which is placed on a surface faced towards the protected document (1), and furthermore at least one transparent coating layer (21, 22) with incorporated hidden image (4) in its regular or inverted appearance, and also at least one protective lacquer layer (23).

Description

DOCUMENT, PROTECTED AGAINST FALSIFICATION AND FORGERY, AND PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING SUCH DOCUMENT

The invention relates to manufacturing of printed documents, in particular to manufacturing of papers, identification and other documents, which are protected against falsification and/or forgery as much as possible.

By this, the invention is based on a problem, how to realize a document, which should be protected against falsification and/or forgery and by which one of the applied protective elements is the so-called hidden image, which needs to be easily manufactured and sufficiently visible when illuminated either by natural or artificial light under appropriate angle and moreover protected against damages during the use of the document, and when desired at least optionally tangible by fingers, and moreover, that due to manufacturing of the said hidden image as such also the complete data-carrying page of the document, which is previously equipped with the required data as well as with any other protective elements, should be protected against damages and falsification.

One of the possible solutions in course of protecting documents against falsification may be providing such documents with optically variable graphic elements. Accordingly, WO 93/22146 i.e. PCT/US93/03697 (TRAPLETTI, Claude) describes a method of printing and protection of document, which is on its surface equipped with an optically variable image. In such method, use of in the so-called intaglio printing technique is foreseen, which enables achieving a very precisely print, while the concept of optically variable image as such enables visibility of the image exclusively in the case, when it is illuminated under certain angle. When being illuminated in orthogonal direction with respect to the plane of the document, the image is namely invisible. Such a protection may be efficient by preventing misuse or falsification by means of photocopying, since the said protective element is invisible under the illumination angle, which is normally used by photocopying, so that the protective element simply disappears on the copy.

A further type of optically variable image may be in accordance with WO 00/76784 i.e. PCT/AU00/00629 (SECURENCY PTY. LTD.) obtained in such a way, that a high- reflective layer is placed over appropriate substrate, above which then in certain areas a relatively thick layer of adequate printing ink is applied by means of intaglio printing process. In such a case, when the document is illuminated under various angles, the color of printed document is changing, which may also be used by protection the document against falsification by means of photocopying.

European patent application EP 0 540 455 Al (Gili Picoy, Palmira) discloses a method of preparing printed matter with optical effects. In the first step, one surface of the paper page is printed in ordinary manner, whereupon in the second step such printed page is coated by appropriate resin, thermoplastic lacquer or any other transparent material, in order to ensure to impregnation of the said paper. During the third step, at least a particular area of the previously treated surface is then equipped with appropriate relief by means of increased temperature and pressure, which enables achieving desired optical effects. After that, the paper is cut into appropriate parts. The said resin may also be polymerized by means of UN-rays, which takes place promptly after finishing the said relief. The process enables manufacturing various protective elements, but not also a hidden image. Still further, WO 90/12694 i.e. PCT/AU90/00167 (COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA; Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade) describes manufacturing of a hidden image, in which a desired image is formed by means of printing onto a layer of a high-temperature adhesive, which is applied onto another layer, consisting of a transparent media. The printing process is carried out by means of compounds on the basis of carbon, which should not flow when being in contact with the adhesive layer. A composition of transparent media, high-temperature adhesive and the image is then attached to the substrate by means of increasing temperature, so that a laminate is obtained, which consists of transparent media and substrate. Since it is possible to exclude any damages of the image during the adhesion, the image is then visible through the transparent media. The said transparent media is either polyester resin or also a layer, which consists of glass particles dispersed into an adhesive. When the said composition needs to be reinforced, at least one additional layer may be attached to the said substrate. The said method is based on transfer of the coating ink from the transparent media covered with adhesive onto the substrate, by which the high-temperature adhesive is used, which is melted during adhesion. In the areas, in which the ink is coated over the adhesive layer, adhesiveness is questionable, so that at least local decomposition among layers is possible. In addition, by applying the ink onto certain surface by sufficient high temperature and appropriate pressure there often exists a possibility of migration, i.e. a phenomena, that certain parts of colorant migrate towards the areas, which are not foreseen for such purpose. The consequences are visible in form of spots or pure sharpness of the obtained image. Consequently, a hidden image, by which appropriate high preciseness is required, can obviously not be formed by means of such process.

In addition, WO 93/22147 i.e. PCT/JP93/00596 (HITACHI MAXELL, LTD.) describes a carrier of a hidden image together with process of manufacturing thereof, as well as the reading unit for recognizing the said hidden image. By this, the hidden image is formed on the carrier and consists of phosphorus particles, which are dispersed and placed into the substrate. By illuminating with the light of the corresponding wavelength, luminescence of the said phosphorus particles is at least 20%, through which the said hidden image becomes visible. As mentioned, the hidden image may be identified exclusively by means of a very special kind of light, which requires use of special requisites. Such a requirement related to illuminating by special light means an essential deficiency with respect to the previously specified technical problem.

Still further, WO 95/23698 i.e. PCT/NL95/00080 (SALLMETAL B.V.) describes a process of laminating a multi-layer transparent film, which is printed by means of the so- called inkfet technique, i.e. by means of splashing the ink onto appropriate carrier. Described is also a laminate, which is obtained in such a process. The solution is based on avoiding transfer of the image, namely a transfer thereof from an intermediate layer i.e. a siliconized paper to appropriate carrier, which is capable for receiving the colorant i.e. the ink, so that upon removing this intermediate layer the printed carrier is attached by means of adhesion to a protecting foil, by which the image is placed between the said carrier and the protecting foil. Due to elimination of transferring the image, the quality of the image may be better, and moreover, the process should be simplified. According to the proposed solution, the laminate consists of a carrying layer, an image, an adhesive layer as well as of a transparent covering foil, through which the image is visible. The process should be carried out in such a way, that a transparent covering foil should be prepared in the first step, above which the adhesive layer should be placed, and above this last also an ink absorbing layer. Upon that, an image is formed onto the last mentioned layer by means of an inkjet printer, i.e. by splashing the ink, where the image is inverted i.e. mirrored with respect to the carrying layer. After that, a carrier is prepared, which consists of paper or plastics in form of a foil or a rigid plate, whereupon the covering foil, on which the image is formed, is attached to the carrying layer by means of the adhesive layer, so that the image is placed between the carrying layer and the covering foil. Attaching the covering foil onto the carrying layer is preferably achieved by means of pressing between the rollers, by which due to appropriate increased temperature and pressure the adhesive is activated. When the carrier consists of a transparent material, the obtained laminate may then also be transparent. The carrier may also be a wooden or plastic plate, being 10 or 20 mm thick, where the thickness of the coating layer may be approximately 100 μm, while thickness of adhesive layer and ink-absorption layer may be several μm. Adhesion of the covering foil and the carrier may also in this case be carried out by means of the adhesive layer, which is however coated with the ink-absorption layer and also with the ink in the area of image. Accordingly, the contact between the adhesive layer and the carrier is also in this case interfered by presence of other substances, which may have more or less negative consequences with respect to adhesiveness as such. As thicker the ink-absorption layer is, more negative is then the influence of such layer with respect to adhesion process. On the contrary, each thinning the said layer may lead to reduction of absorption of the ink, which decreases sharpness of the image and multiplies the possibility of migration of the ink due to increased temperature and pressure. According to such concept it is obviously quite impossible to fulfill conditions, which are present by manufacturing a hidden image on a document, which has to be protected against falsification or forgery.

The present invention relates to a document, which is protected against falsification and forgery and consists of at least one page, which is on at least one of its surfaces equipped with printed and/or other protective elements and above which a transparent multi-layer coating is placed in a non-removable manner.

Previously specified technical problem is solved in accordance with the invention in such a way, that the said multi-layer coating comprises at least one transparent adhesive layer, which is placed on a surface faced towards the protected document, at least one protective lacquer layer, and furthermore the first transparent coating layer and the second transparent coating layer with included, e.g. by means of silk-screen printing technique formed hidden image in its regular or inverted appearance.

According to the first embodiment, the said coating, which is placed on the corresponding surface of the protected page, consists of a transparent adhesive layer, which is available on the said surface of the page, and further of a protective lacquer layer, which is placed above the said adhesive layer, still further of the second transparent coating layer, which is placed above the said protective lacquer layer, and still further of the first transparent coating layer, by which the said second transparent coating layer includes a hidden image, which is faced towards the said first transparent coating layer. Accordingly, the said multilayer coating is attachable by means of increased temperature and pressure in a nonremovable manner onto a corresponding surface of the protected page from the removable carrying foil, which is equipped wit a silicone layer, onto which the first transparent coating layer is placed, above which the second transparent coating layer is arranged, including thereby a hidden image faced towards the previously mentioned layer, and above which then the protective lacquer layer is placed, which is then covered by appropriate adhesive layer, which is foreseen for a non-removable attachment of the coating onto the protected page.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the coating, which is placed on the corresponding surface of the protected page, consists of a transparent adhesive layer, which is available on the said surface of the protected page, further of the second transparent coating layer, which is placed above the said adhesive layer, still further of a protective lacquer layer, which is placed above the said second transparent coating layer, as well as of the first transparent coating layer, by which said second transparent coating layer includes a hidden image, which is faced towards the said first transparent coating layer. The said multi-layer coating is attachable by means of increased temperature and pressure in a non-removable manner onto a corresponding surface of the protected page from the removable carrying foil, which is equipped with a silicone layer, onto which the first transparent coating layer is placed, above which the protective lacquer layer is placed, and above which then the second transparent coating layer is arranged, which includes a hidden image being faced towards the previously mentioned layer, and which is then covered by appropriate adhesive layer, which is foreseen for a non-removable attachment of the coating onto the protected page. The said adhesive layer consists of a transparent thermo-reactive adhesive, which is solid in a room temperature and may then be melted by means of increasing temperature in order to obtain a required adhesiveness against each corresponding surface, which is brought in contact therewith. The first transparent coating layer consists of a transparent lacquer or any other transparent coating means having a sufficient adhesiveness against the belonging silicone layer of the carrying foil to hold the multi-layer coating on the said foil unless the coating is placed onto the belonging data- carrying page, and also with corresponding surface constraint i.e. interfacial tension, which enables uniform spreading of the coating onto a siliconized surface. Furthermore, at least in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the second transparent coating layer consists of a transparent lacquer or any other transparent coating means, which may be applied by means of a silk-screen printing technique, and moreover, that this second transparent coating layer comprises an inverted mirrored print of the hidden image, which is placed on its surface, which is faced towards the first transparent coating layer. Both these embodiments are preferred, when the hidden image has to be protected against damages in an especially efficient manner.

The third embodiment of the invention is characterized by enhanced contrast and therefore better visibility of the hidden image under appropriate illumination, and simultaneously also by possibility of identifying the hidden image in a tangible manner. In such a- case, the coating comprises at least a transparent adhesive layer, which is arranged on its surface facing towards the belonging protected page, the first transparent coating layer bearing a hidden image, and the second transparent coating layer, as well as at least one transparent protective lacquer layer. The coating, which is attached on the corresponding surface of the protected page, consists of an adhesive layer, which is placed on the said surface of the said page, further of a protective lacquer layer placed above the said adhesive layer, still further of the second transparent coating layer placed above the said protective lacquer layer, and also of the first transparent coating layer bearing a hidden image on its outer surface, by which the surface of the said layer is shining in the area of the hidden image and non-shining outside of this area. It is also possible, that the coating, which is attached on the corresponding surface of the protected page, consists of an adhesive layer, which is placed on the said surface of the said page, further of the second coating layer placed above the said adhesive layer, still further of the protective lacquer layer placed above the said second transparent coating layer, and also of the first transparent coating layer bearing a hidden image on its outer surface, by which the surface of the said layer is shining in the area of the hidden image and non-shining outside of this area, respectively. In addition, the said multi-layer coating is attachable by means of increased temperature and pressure in a non-removable manner onto a corresponding surface of the protected page from the removable carrying foil, which is equipped with a silicone layer, consisting of a non-shining siliconized layer as well as of a shining siliconized layer with included appearance of the hidden image, above which the first transparent coating layer is placed, which is intended for receipt of elements of the hidden image and above which then the second transparent coating layer is placed, above which the protective lacquer layer is placed, and above this last the adhesive layer is placed, which serves for non-removable attachment of the said coating onto the belonging protected page of the document. The said multi-layer coating is attachable by means of increased temperature and pressure in a non-removable manner onto a corresponding surface of the protected page from the removable carrying foil, which is equipped with a silicone layer consisting of a non-shining siliconized layer as well as of a shining siliconized layer with included appearance of the hidden image, above which the first transparent coating layer is placed, which is intended for receipt of elements of the hidden image and above which then the protective lacquer layer is placed, above which the second transparent coating layer is arranged, and above this last the adhesive layer is placed, which serves for a non-removable attachment of the said coating onto the belonging protected page of the document. The said silicone layer consists of a non- shining layer as well as of a shining layer, in which the elements of the hidden image are included. The silicone layer consists of a mat i.e. non-shining layer, which is placed on the carrying foil, as well as of a shining siliconized layer, which is faced towards the transparent coating layer and includes the elements of the hidden image, where the adhesiveness between the aforementioned layers is higher than the adhesiveness of each of them against the belonging surfaces of the adjacent layers. The first transparent coating layer includes a mirrored i.e. inverted print of the hidden image on its surface, which is faced towards the removable carrying foil i.e. the silicone layer.

Process of manufacturing a document, protected against falsification and forgery, comprises at least the following steps:

Formation of a multi-layer coating onto a siliconized carrying foil, where at least one layer of the said coating is foreseen for receipt of relief elements of inverted hidden image, which are printed by means of a silk-screen technique, while the outmost layer is a thermo-reactive adhesive layer;

Placing the said multi layer coating, formed on the carrying foil, above each corresponding page of the document, intended for protection, so that the adhesive layer of the coating is faced towards the said page, and exposing the coating together with the carrying foil as well as the page, intended for protection, to appropriate temperature and pressure, which are sufficient for activation of the adhesive layer, which is then followed by releasing pressure and decreasing temperature; and

Removing the carrying foil from the said multi-layer coating, which includes a hidden image and is attached to the protected page in a non-removable manner.

A preferable variation of process of manufacturing a document, protected against falsification and forgery, includes

A step of preparing a carrying foil, which is at least on the one side siliconized i.e. coated with silicone layer, as well as of

A step of preparing a transparent multi-layer coating, which is at the beginning formed on the said foil and then placed on the surface of the corresponding page of the protected document in a non-removable manner, whereupon the said foil is removed there-from together with the belonging silicone layer, by which the said step of preparing the coating includes

Formation of the first transparent coating layer on the silicone layer of the carrying foil;

Formation of the second transparent layer above the said first transparent coating layer together with simultaneously forming, preferably by means of a silk-screen technique, an inverted i.e. mirrored relief print hidden image on the surface of the second transparent coating layer, which is faced towards the first transparent coating layer;

Formation of the protective lacquer layer above the said second transparent coating layer; and

Placing the adhesive layer above the said protective lacquer layer.

Alternative variation of the process of manufacturing a document according to the invention comprises at least the following steps: Preparing a carrying foil, which is at least on the one side siliconized i.e. coated with silicone layer, as well as of preparing a transparent multi-layer coating, which is at the beginning formed on the said foil and then placed on the surface of the corresponding page of the protected document in a non-removable manner, whereupon the said foil is removed there-from together with the belonging silicone layer, by which the said step of preparing the coating includes

Formation of the first transparent coating layer above the silicone layer of the carrying foil;

Placing the protective lacquer layer above the first transparent coating layer;

Formation of the second transparent layer above the said together with simultaneously forming, preferably by means of a silk-screen technique, an inverted i.e. mirrored relief print hidden image on the surface of the second transparent coating layer (22), which is faced towards the first transparent coating layer; and

Placing the adhesive layer above the said second transparent layer.

In both previously described variations of the process, a non-removable attachment of the multi-layer coating, which is formed on the siliconized carrying foil and equipped with a print of the hidden image on the second transparent coating layer thereof, onto appropriate surface of the corresponding page of the document, intended for protection, is achieved by means of lamination, where the foil or appropriate part thereof in each desired dimensions, is placed above each corresponding page of the document, intended for protection, whereupon the coating with adhesive layer faced towards the said page is exposed together with the foil and the page to sufficiently increased temperature and pressure, so that on the basis of activation of the adhesive layer the coating is attached to the said page, whereupon the temperature is decreased and the pressure released. A further variation of process of manufacturing a document, protected against falsification and forgery, by which the hidden image may also be identified in a tangible manner, comprises at least the steps of

Formation a multi-layer coating on a siliconized carrying foil, which comprises a non-shining silicone layer as well as a shining silicone layer with included print of a hidden image, where the first transparent coating layer of the said coating, which is placed adjacent to the said shining silicone layer, is intended for receipt of appropriate printed elements for forming the said hidden image, and where the outmost layer in the coating is a thermo-reactive adhesive layer;

Placing the said multi-layer coating, as formed on the carrying foil, onto corresponding page of the document, intended for protection, so that the adhesive layer of the coating is faced towards the said page, whereupon the coating is exposed together with the foil and the page of the document to sufficiently increased temperature and pressure, so that the adhesive layer is activated, whereupon the temperature is decreased and the pressure released; and

Removing the carrying foil from the said multi-layer coating, which then includes the hidden image and remains attached on the page of the protected document in a nonremovable manner.

Now the invention will be explained in more detail on the basis of the embodiments as shown in the attached drawing, where

Fig. 1 schematically presents the first embodiment of a document according to the invention, by which also a sequence of the required steps in the process of manufacturing such documents is visible from the left towards the right side;

Fig. 2 schematically presents the second embodiment of a document according to the invention, where again a sequence of the required steps of the process of manufacturing such documents is visible; and Fig. 3 is the third embodiment of the invention, which is also schematically shown.

In Fig. 1 to 3 a document is partially shown on the right side. The said document comprises at least one page 1, which is intended for protection, e.g. a data-carrying page of the document, which may be previously printed and/or provided with other protective elements 10, which are in the drawings either just schematically shown or not shown at all. A multi-layer coating 2 is placed over the said surface 11 on the page 1, consisting of an adhesive layer 20, a first transparent coating layer 21 as well as of the second transparent coating layer 22.

The first embodiment of a document according to the invention is shown in Fig. 1, where the said multi-layer coating 2 is conceived in a such manner, that it is attached onto the page 1 of the document, which is foreseen for protection, by means of its outmost - when observed in the direction towards the document - adhesive layer 20, above which a layer 23 of a protective lacquer is placed. Above the last mentioned layer, the second transparent coating layer 22 is placed, which comprises a hidden image 4, and above it the first transparent coating layer 21 is placed. Before placing onto the belonging page 1, the said layers 20, 21, 22, 23 are brought onto a siliconized carrying foil, which may be removed as soon as the coating 2 is attached onto the page 1, intended for protection. The said carrying foil 3 is shown in Fig. 1 in the left and is covered by a silicone layer 31 on the one side 30. After that, the first transparent coating layer 21 is spread above the previously mentioned layer, and then also the second transparent coating layer 22 with incorporated hidden image 4, whereupon above this second layer 22 also the layer 23 of the protective lacquer is placed and then also the adhesive layer 20. As already mentioned, the said layers 20, 21, 22, 23 form the multi-layer coating 2, which is at the one hand by means of the adhesive layer 20 attached onto the page 1, which intended for protection, while on the other hand the said carrying foil 3 may be removed there-from thanks to the silicone layer 31.

Forming the said layers 20, 21, 22, 23 and also the silicone layer 31 takes place in appropriate manner during carrying-out a process, comprising appropriate steps, which are specified below.

During the first step, a carrying foil 3 is to be prepared, which is siliconized on at least one of its sides, i.e. covered by appropriate silicone layer 31, namely by layer consisting of a desired substance, which belongs to compounds on the basis of silicones, which fulfill the requirements, which are described below. The carrying foil may e.g. be a polyester foil having thickness approx. 30 to 100 μm, above which a silicone layer 31 is placed, having thickness approx. 3 μm. The said silicone layer 31 is intended for temporary placing the other layers above it, which may however later be easily removed there-from. The same or similar foils with siliconized layer are used e.g. as carriers of self-adhesive labels or similar products, which may be removed from the said carrier without damaging thereof.

During the subsequent steps of the process appropriate coating 2, which is intended for laminating, is formed on the carrying foil 3, more precisely above the siliconized layer 31, which is carried out in such a way, that during the second step above the siliconized layer 31 of the carrying foil 3 the first transparent coating layer 21 is placed, whereupon above this first layer 21 the second transparent coating layer 22 is spread, by which a mirrored hidden image 4 is printed onto this second layer 22 preferably by means of silk-screen printing process, so that the inverted i.e. mirrored relief of the hidden image 4 faces towards the said first transparent coating layer 21, whereupon the layer 23od a protective lacquer is applied above the second layer 22, and than also the adhesive layer 20. The said adhesive is an appropriate thermo-reactive adhesive, which is solid in a room temperature, and can be melt in a higher temperature, showing thereby an increased adhesiveness with respect to each desired surface, which is intended for attaching. After conclusion of the said steps, the multi-layer coating 2 is placed onto the carrying foil 3 and prepared for lamination. The step of lamination is carried out in such a way, that the foil 3 or at least a part thereof, which has been previously cut to appropriate dimensions (as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 by means of vertically extending dotted line below the left edge of the page 1 of the document), is applied, together with the multi-layer coating 2 placed thereon, above the each corresponding surface of the said page 1 of the document, whereupon all these components, i.e. the carrying foil 3 together with the coating 2 and also the said page 1 of the documents, are exposed to increased temperature and sufficient pressure, so that by activation of the adhesive layer 20 the said coating 2 is attached to the said data-carrying page 1, which is then followed by releasing the pressure as well as appropriate cooling-off

The final step of such process includes removing the carrying foil with the belonging silicone layer 31 from the laminated multi-layer coating 2, which then remains attached onto the page 1 of the document in a non-removable manner.

In order to enable realization of a document according to the invention, and also carrying out the process according to the invention, the material used for preparing the first transparent coating layer 21 should be appropriate transparent coating, e.g. appropriate lacquer, which excels by sufficient adhesiveness against the siliconized layer 31 on the carrying foil 3, and moreover also by surface constraint i.e. interfacial tension, which enables printing on such surface. From the same point of view, the material of the second transparent coating layer 22 may be an appropriate lacquer or any other transparent coating, which may be used in a silk-screen printing process, by which however a required preciseness of printing has to be ensured, where the thickness of lines should be e.g. approx. 0,08 mm, and moreover also appropriate relief of the printed surface has, to be taken into account, which is a consequence of relatively large thickness of prints, which are required by formation a hidden image 4. Still from the same point of view, the adhesive layer 20 may consist of the so-called thermo-reactive adhesive, which should be spread along each desired surface in form of a relatively thin layer, and which is solid and transparent in a room temperature, while it is activated by melting i.e. by means of increasing temperature, so that by applying a sufficient pressure it enables achieving a mutual attachment of both surfaces, between which it is placed.

Regarding the second embodiment of the document according to the invention, which is shown in Fig. 2, the said laminated multi-layer coating 2 is carried out in such a way, that it is attached onto the page 1 of the protected document by means of the outmost - when observing in a direction towards the document - adhesive layer 20, above which the second transparent coating layer 22 is placed, which includes a hidden image 4, above which there is a layer 23 of the protective lacquer, and above it also the first transparent coating layer 21 is applied.

The carrying foil 3, which is shown in Fig. 2 in the left side, has a silicone layer 31 on the one of its surfaces. The first transparent coating layer 21 is applied above the previously mentioned layer, and then also a layer 23 of the protective lacquer. Above this layer 23 the second transparent coating layer 22 is applied, which includes a hidden image 4, and the adhesive layer 20 is placed above this second transparent coating layer 22. Also in this embodiment, the said layers 20, 21, 22, 23 form a multi-layer coating 2, which is by means of the adhesive layer 20 attached to the page 1 of the protected document, while simultaneously the said carrying foil 3 is removable there-from thanks to its siliconized layer 31. Placing the said layers 20, 21, 22, 23 is also by this embodiment of the invention carried out by means of an alternative variation of the process according to the invention, which comprises the following steps:

In the first step, the carrying foil 3 is prepared, which can be practically the same like those used in the previous variation of the process according to the invention, and is therefore equipped with the silicone layer 31.

In subsequent steps, the coating 2, which is foreseen for lamination, is formed on the silicone layer 31 of the foil 3, which is carried out in such a way, that during the second step the first transparent coating layer 21 is placed above the silicone layer 31 of the foul, whereupon the protective lacquer layer 23 is spread above the said first transparent coating layer 21, upon which the second transparent coating layer 22 is placed above the said protective lacquer layer 23, in which the hidden image 4 is formed preferably by means of silk-screen printing onto the said second transparent coating layer 22, so that the inverted i.e. mirrored relief of the hidden image 4 is faced towards the first transparent coating layer 21.

After that, the adhesive layer 20 is applied above the second transparent coating layer 22. The said adhesive is an appropriate thermo-reactive adhesive, which meets the same requirements like in the previously described embodiment of the document according to the invention. In such a manner, after realization the said steps, a multi-layer coating 2 is available on the said carrying foil 3 and may then be laminated. The subsequent step of lamination is again carried out in such a manner, that the foil 3, equipped with the multilayer coating 2 applied thereon, is placed onto the corresponding page 1 of the protected document, whereupon all these parts, i.e. the carrying foil 3 with the coating 2 and the data-carrying page 1 of the documents, are exposed to the increased temperature and corresponding pressure, so that due to activation the adhesive layer 20 the coating 2 is attached to the said data-carrying page 1, whereupon the pressure is released and the temperature decreased. During the final step, the carrying foil 3 together with the belonging silicone layer 31 is then removed from the said multi-layer laminated coating 2, which remains non-removable attached to the belonging page 1 of the document.

During realization of both variations of the process i.e. during lamination by means of increased temperature and pressure, due to relief configuration of the second transparent coating layer 22 in the area of hidden image 4, the first transparent coating layer 21 exposed to sufficient deformation and modified in a corresponding manner, by which the required optical effect of the hidden image 4 is established. Since the hidden image 4 is inverted by printing thereof onto the second transparent coating layer 22, its appearance on the page 1 of the document is then available in the correct orientation. The image is then visible when being illuminated under certain angle with respect to the surface 11 of the protected page 1 either by natural sunlight or artificial light, however only when being illuminated; otherwise the image is not visible.

By this, it is also important, that the said multi-layer coating 2 is attached to the protected page 1 of the document in a non-removable manner, which means that any removing the said multi-layer coating 2 or even attempt of such removing in each case results in damages, which are obvious and may be easily identified. It will is therefore obvious for those skilled in the art, that in such a way a document may be realized, which is protected against falsification and forgery, by which the hidden image 4 is applied as one of the protective elements, which is then visible by observing it under certain angle by means of natural illumination incl. the sunlight or artificial illumination, and may be easily and precisely manufactured in a simple manner and is moreover protected against damages and other influences during the use of the document. At the same time, thanks to the said concept of realization of the hidden image 4, also the page 1 of the document, which is previously equipped with all required data and any other protective elements, is firmly secured against falsification and forgery.

The third embodiment of the invention may be preferable in all the cases, when excellent visibility of the hidden image 4 under appropriate illumination should be ensured, and especially, when also a tangible identification of the said hidden image 4 has to be ensured. In such case the siliconized layer 31, which is applied on the surface 30, which is faced towards the document, consists of two layers 311, 312, namely of a non-shining silicone layer 312 as well as of a shining silicone layer 311, in which the elements of the hidden image 4 are incorporated. The said shining silicone layer 311 is faced towards the first transparent coating layer 21, above which the second transparent coating layer 22 and protective lacquer layer 23 are applied, above which the adhesive layer 20 is placed, which is intended for attaching the formed coating 2 onto each belonging page 1 of the document. The said silicone layers 311, 312 excel in sufficient mutual adhesiveness, which is higher than the adhesiveness against the other neighboring surfaces of the adjacent elements 3, 21. The said silicone layers 311, 312 may be after lamination removed together with the foil 3 from the page 1 of the document, by which different prints are formed on the surface of the transparent coating layer 21 in the area of hidden image 4, and in the remaining surface outside of this area of the hidden image 4, respectively. Since the hidden image 4 is placed within the shining silicone layer 311 on the foil 3, the corresponding print thereof on the surface of the transparent coating layer 21 in the area of hidden image 4 is then also shining. On the contrary, the surface of the transparent coating layer 21 is due to previous contact with a non-shining silicone layer 312 after removing the foil together with the belonging silicone layers 311, 312 also non- shining, dull i.e. mat. As a consequence of such contrast between the shining and non- shining surfaces in the area of the hidden image 4 and outside of this area, the visibility of such hidden image 4 is essentially improved, however only by appropriate illumination thereof. On the other hand, the hidden image 4 is placed on the outer surface of the transparent coating layer 21, and may also be tangible identified by fingers, which no doubt results in introduction a still further protective element by the same document.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Document, which is protected against falsification and forgery and consists of at least one page (1), which is on at least one of its surfaces (11) equipped with printed and/or other protective elements and above which a transparent multi-layer coating (2) is placed in a non-removable manner, characterized in, that the coating (2) comprises at least one transparent adhesive layer (20), which is placed on a surface faced towards the protected document (1), and furthermore at least one transparent coating layer (21, 22) with incorporated hidden image (4) in its regular or inverted appearance, and also at least one protective lacquer layer (23).

2. Document according to Claim 1, characterized in that the coating (2) comprises at least a transparent adhesive layer (20), which is placed on the surface faced towards the protected document (1), the first transparent coating layer (21), the second transparent coating layer (22) with incorporated hidden image (4), as well as at least one transparent protective lacquer layer (23).

3. Document according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the coating (2) comprises, at least a transparent adhesive layer (20), which is placed on the surface faced towards the protected document (1), the first transparent coating layer (21), the second transparent coating layer (22) with silk-screen printed hidden image (4) in regular or inverted appearance, if desired, as well as at least one transparent protective lacquer layer (23).

4. Document according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the coating (2), which is placed on the corresponding surface (11) of the protected page (1) consists of a transparent adhesive layer (20), which is available on the said surface (11) of the page (1), further of a protective lacquer layer (23), which is placed above the said adhesive layer (20), still further of the second transparent coating layer (22), which is placed above the said protective lacquer layer (23), and still further of the first transparent coating layer (21), by which the said second transparent coating layer (22) includes a hidden image (4), which is faced towards the said first transparent coating layer (21).

5. Document according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the coating (2), which is placed on the corresponding surface (11) of the protected page (1) consists of a transparent adhesive layer (20), which is available on the said surface (11) of the protected page (1), further of the second transparent coating layer (22), which is placed above the said adhesive layer (20), still further of a protective lacquer layer (23), which is placed above the said second transparent coating layer (22), as well as of the first transparent coating layer (21), by which said second transparent coating layer (22) includes a hidden image (4), which is faced towards the said first transparent coating layer (21).

6. Document according to Claim 4, characterized in that the multi-layer coating (2) is attachable by means of increased temperature and pressure in a non-removable manner onto a corresponding surface (11) of the protected page (1) from the removable carrying foil (3), which is equipped wit a silicone layer (31), onto which the first transparent coating layer (21) is placed, above which the second transparent coating layer (22) is placed, including thereby a hidden image (4) faced towards the previously mentioned layer (21), and above which then the protective lacquer layer (23) is placed, which is then covered by appropriate adhesive layer (20), which is foreseen for a non-removable attachment of the coating (2) onto the protected page (1).

7. Document according to Claim 5, characterized in that the multi-layer coating (2) is attachable by means of increased temperature and pressure in a non-removable manner onto a corresponding surface (11) of the protected page (1) from the removable carrying foil (3), which is equipped wit a silicone layer (31), onto which the first transparent coating layer (21) is placed, above which the protective lacquer layer (23) is placed, and above which then the second transparent coating layer (22) is placed, which includes a hidden image (4) being faced towards the previously mentioned layer (21), and which is then covered by appropriate adhesive layer (20), which is foreseen for a non-removable attachment of the coating (2) onto the protected page (1).

8. Document according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the second transparent coating layer (22) consists of a transparent lacquer or any other transparent coating means, which may be applied by means of a silk-screen printing technique.

9. Document according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the second transparent coating layer (22) comprises an inverted mirrored print of the hidden image (4), which is placed on its surface, which is faced towards the first transparent coating layer (21).

10. Document according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the first transparent coating layer (21) consists of a transparent lacquer or any other transparent coating means having a sufficient adhesiveness against the belonging silicone layer (31) of the carrying foil (3) to hold the multi-layer coating (2) on the said foil (3) unless the coating (2) is placed onto the belonging data-carrying page (1), and also with corresponding surface constraint i.e. interfacial tension, which enables uniform spreading of the coating onto a siliconized surface.

11. Document according to Claim 1, characterized in that the coating (2) comprises at least a transparent adhesive layer (20), which is arranged on its surface facing towards the belonging protected page (1), the first transparent coating layer (21) bearing a hidden image (4), and the second transparent coating layer (22), as well as at least one transparent protective lacquer layer (23).

12. Document according to Claim 11, characterized in that the coating (2), which is attached on the corresponding surface (11) of the protected page (1), consists of an adhesive layer (20), which is placed on the said surface (11) of the said page (1), further of a protective lacquer layer (23) placed above the said adhesive layer (20), still further of the second transparent coating layer (22) placed above the said protective lacquer layer (23), and also of the first transparent coating layer (21) bearing a hidden image (4) on its outer surface, by which the surface of the said layer (21) is shining in the area of the hidden image (4) and non-shining outside of this area.

13. Document according to Claim 11, characterized in that the coating (2), which is attached on the corresponding surface (11) of the protected page (1), consists of an adhesive layer (20), which is placed on the said surface (11) of the said page (1), further of the second coating layer (22) placed above the said adhesive layer (20), still further of the protective lacquer layer (23) placed above the said second transparent coating layer (22), and also of the first transparent coating layer (21) bearing a hidden image (4) on its outer surface, by which the surface of the said layer (21) is shining in the area of the hidden image (4) and non-shining outside of this area, respectively.

14. Document according to Claim 12, characterized in that the multi-layer coating (2) is attachable by means of increased temperature and pressure in a non-removable manner onto a corresponding surface (11) of the protected page (1) from the removable carrying foil (3), which is equipped with a silicone layer (31) consisting of a non-shining siliconized layer (312) as well as of a shining siliconized layer (311) with included appearance of the hidden image (4), above which the first transparent coating layer (21) is placed, which is intended for receipt of elements of the hidden image (4) and above which then the second transparent coating layer (22) is placed, above which the protective lacquer layer (23) is placed, and above this last the adhesive layer (20) is placed, which serves for non-removable attachment of the said coating (2) onto the belonging protected page (1) of the document.

15. Document according to Claim 13, characterized in that the multi-layer coating (2) is attachable by means of increased temperature and pressure in a non-removable manner onto a corresponding surface (11) of the protected page (1) from the removable carrying foil (3), which is equipped with a silicone layer (31) consisting of a non-shining siliconized layer (312) as well as of a shining siliconized layer (311) with included appearance of the hidden image (4), above which the first transparent coating layer (21) is placed, which is intended for receipt of elements of the hidden image (4) and above which then the protective lacquer layer (23) is placed, above which the second transparent coating layer (22) is placed, and above this last the adhesive layer (20) is placed, which serves for non-removable attachment of the said coating (2) onto the belonging protected page (1) of the document.

16. Document according to one of Claims 14 and 15, characterized in that the silicone layer (31) consists of a non-shining layer (312) as well as of a shining layer (311), in which the elements of the hidden image (4) are included.

17. Document according to one of Claims 11 to 16, characterized in that the silicone layer (31) consists of a mat i.e. non-shining layer (312), which is placed on the carrying foil (3), as well as of a shining siliconized layer (311), which is faced towards the transparent coating layer (21) and includes the elements of the hidden image (4), where the adhesiveness between the aforementioned layers (311, 312) is higher than the adhesiveness of each of them against the belonging surfaces of the adjacent layers (3, 21).

18. Document according to one of Claims 11 to 17, characterized in that the first transparent coating layer (21) includes a mirrored i.e. inverted print of the hidden image (4) on its surface, which is faced towards the removable carrying foil (3) i.e. the silicone layer (31).

19. Document according to one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the adhesive layer (20) consists of a transparent thermo-reactive adhesive, which is solid in a room temperature and may then be melted by means of increasing temperature in order to obtain a required adhesiveness against each corresponding surface, which is brought in contact therewith.

20. Process of manufacturing a document, protected against falsification and forgery, comprising at least a step of formation of a multi-layer coating (2) onto a siliconized carrying foil (3), where at least one layer (20, 21, 22, 23) of the said coating (2) is foreseen for receipt of printed elements of a hidden image (4), while the outmost layer is a thermo-reactive adhesive layer (20); a step of placing the said multi layer coating (2), formed on the carrying foil (3), above each corresponding page (1) of the document, intended for protection, so that the adhesive layer (20) of the coating (2) is faced towards the said page (1), and exposing the coating (2) together with the carrying foil (3) as well as the page (1), intended for protection, to appropriate temperature and pressure, which are sufficient for activation of the adhesive layer (20), which is then followed by releasing pressure and decreasing temperature; and a step of removing the carrying foil (3) from the said multi-layer coating (2), which includes a hidden image (4) and is attached to the protected page (1) in a non-removable manner.

21. Process according to Claim 20, comprising at least a step of formation of a multi-layer coating (2) on a carrying foil (3), where at least one of the layers (20, 21, 22, 23) of the said coating (2) is a layer (22), which includes an inverted i.e. mirrored and preferably silk-screen relief print of a hidden image (4), and where the outmost layer of the coating (2) is the adhesive layer (20); a step of placing the said multi-layer coating (2), as formed on the carrying foil (3), above each corresponding page (1) of a document, intended for protection, so that the coating (20) is faced with its adhesive layer (20) towards the said page (1), and the coating (2) is exposed together with the carrying foil (3) and the page (1), intended to protection, to increased temperature and pressure, which are sufficient for activation the adhesive layer (20), which is then followed by releasing pressure and decreasing temperature; and a step of removing the carrying foil (3) from the said multi-layer coating (2), which includes a hidden image (4) and is attached to the protected page (1) in a non-removable manner.

22. Process according to Claim 21, comprising at least a step of preparing a carrying foil (3), which is at least on the one side siliconized i.e. coated with silicone layer (31), as well as of preparing a transparent multi-layer coating (2), which is at the beginning formed on the said foil (3) and then placed on the surface (11) of the corresponding page (1) of the protected document in a non-removable manner, whereupon the said foil (3) is removed there-from together with the belonging silicone layer (31), by which the said step of preparing the coating (2) includes formation of the first transparent coating layer (21) on the silicone layer (31) of the carrying foil (3); formation of the second transparent layer (22) above the said first transparent coating layer (21) together with simultaneously forming, preferably by means of a silk- screen technique, an inverted i.e. mirrored relief print hidden image (4) on the surface of the second transparent coating layer (22), which is faced towards the first transparent coating layer (21); formation of the protective lacquer layer (23) above the said second transparent coating layer (22); and placing the adhesive layer above the said protective lacquer layer (23).

23. Process according to Claim 21 , comprising at least a step of preparing a carrying foil (3), which is at least on the one side siliconized i.e. coated with silicone layer (31), as well as of preparing a transparent multi-layer coating (2), which is at the beginning formed on the said foil (3) and then placed on the surface (11) of the corresponding page (1) of the protected document in a non-removable manner, whereupon the said foil (3) is removed there-from together with the belonging silicone layer (31), by which the said step of preparing the coating (2) includes formation of the first transparent coating layer (21) above the silicone layer (31) of the carrying foil; placing the protective lacquer layer (23) above the first transparent coating layer

(21); formation of the second transparent layer (22) above the said (23) together with simultaneously forming, preferably by means of a silk-screen technique, an inverted i.e. mirrored relief print hidden image (4) on the surface of the second transparent coating i layer (22), which is faced towards the first transparent coating layer (21); and placing the adhesive layer above the said second transparent layer (22).

24. Process according to one of the preceding Claims 20 to 23, characterized in that a non-removable attachment of the multi-layer coating (2), which is formed on the siliconized carrying foil (3) and equipped with a print of the hidden image (4) on the second transparent coating layer (22) thereof, onto appropriate surface (11) of the corresponding page of the document, intended for protection, is achieved by means of lamination, where the foil (3) or appropriate part thereof in each desired dimensions, is placed above each corresponding page (1) of the document, intended for protection, whereupon the coating (2) with adhesive layer (20) faced towards the said page (1) is exposed together with the foil (3) and the page (1) to sufficiently increased temperature and pressure, so that on the basis of activation of the adhesive layer (20) the coating (2) is attached to the said page, whereupon the temperature is decreased and the pressure released.

25. Process of manufacturing a document, protected against falsification and forgery, comprising at least a step of formation a multi-layer coating (2) on a siliconized carrying foil (3) comprising a non-shining silicone layer (312) as well as a shining silicone layer (311) with included print of a hidden image (4), where the first transparent coating layer (21) of the said coating (2), which is placed adjacent to the said shining silicone layer (311), is intended for receipt of appropriate printed elements for forming the said hidden image (4), and where the outmost layer in the coating (2) is a thermo-reactive adhesive layer (20); a step of placing the said multi-layer coating (2), as formed on the carrying foil (3), onto corresponding page (1) of the document, intended for protection, so that the adhesive layer (20) of the coating (2) is faced towards the said page (1), whereupon the coating (2) is exposed together with the foil (3) and the page (1) of the document to sufficiently increased temperature and pressure, so that the adhesive layer (20) is activated, whereupon the temperature is decreased and the pressure released; and a step of removing the carrying foil (3) from the said multi-layer coating (2), which includes a hidden image (4) and remains attached on the page (1) of the protected document in a non-removable manner.