WO2011120917A1 - Value document having respectively matt and glossy protective layers - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a value document, which consists of a support sheet (1), at least one face (10) of which comprises, over at least part of its surface, a transparent or translucent protective layer (2), called "first layer", of matt visual appearance, this layer being partially covered with a second protective layer (3) also transparent or translucent, but of glossy visual appearance.

Description

 Value document, with matte and glossy protective layers

The present invention relates to a valuable document carrying two layers of protection.

 In the particular field of banknotes arises the problem of their wear due in particular to their high level of soiling, following the many manipulations to which they are subjected. This makes them sticky and unrecognizable.

 This wear is increased when the note is in fiduciary paper but attenuated when it is made of a material based on plastic. In the latter case, it is often the impressions that fade. In any event, to slow down this wear and to avoid, as far as possible, that the document does not get dirty quickly, it is known to preferentially coat both sides of the bill with a transparent, or even translucent, layer of protection. the form of a varnish with a dull visual appearance revealing the impressions that are affixed to it.

 Document DE 199 32 517 discloses a method of manufacturing a film carrying matt and gloss varnishes to protect chip cards against wear problems due to friction phenomena.

 The object of the present invention is to improve this state of the art, by making use of this protective layer, as a support for an additional security means, at least of first level, that is to say detectable at the first level. naked eye, by an observer.

 Another object of this invention is, in the event that the document itself carries a security element, to further improve the visual appearance of this security element, while making its reproduction particularly difficult by unauthorized persons. .

Thus, the present invention relates to a document of value, which consists of a support sheet, at least one side of which comprises, at least on a part of its surface, a transparent or translucent protective layer called "first layer ", of dull visual appearance, this layer being partially coated with a second protective layer, also transparent or translucent, of bright visual appearance, characterized in that it consists of a banknote. Thus, the second impression of bright visual appearance will be all the more visible that it is deposited on a matte varnish, so that the contrast between the two is reinforced.

 The contrast between the first matte layer and the second (glossy) layer is visible thanks to their difference in brightness (ie the luminous intensity reflected by direct reflection in specular reflection). However, the set created by these two layers remains transparent, the underlying impressions not being visually impaired.

 According to other advantageous features of this document:

 said first layer is continuous, while the second layer is formed of at least two zones that are distinct from one another;

 said distinct areas are in the form of letters; it comprises a security element consisting of a deformation of said sheet and this element comprises two contiguous regions of different textures, which respectively give these areas a matt appearance and a glossy aspect in specular reflection;

 said deformation is performed by the dry stamp technique; the difference in roughness between said regions is clear and frank, or progressive;

 said second protective layer is at least partially, preferentially wholly in register with said region with a shiny appearance;

 it lacks a first protective layer in registering the glossy region of said security element;

 one or the other of the first and second layers of protection incorporates at least one of the following second level security means:

 . fluorescent or phosphorescent organic or inorganic pigments, visible under infrared, or a combination thereof;

 . liquid crystals, for example of the nematic or cholesteric type; . thermochromic / photochromic or photothermochromic compounds; . organic or mineral tracers.

 one and / or the other of said first and second protective layers consists of a varnish, for example deposited by flexography;

said second layer is deposited in the form of an impression guilloche type or microtext, for example iridescent. Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the detailed description of a preferred embodiment.

 This description will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

 - Figure 1 is a top view of a bank note according to the present invention;

 - Figure 2 is a diagram explaining how is treated an area of the ticket of Figure 1 made by the technique called "dry stamp" and forming security element;

 - Figures 3 and 4 are simplified sectional views of the security element of Figure 2 under specular reflection.

 As indicated above, the bill 1 of FIG. 1 comprises two large opposite faces 10 and 11, of which only one, in this case the face 10, is visible here. Of course, only what is visible on the face 10 will be described below. However, this description also applies to face 11, which may be similar to face 10 from the point of view of the printing methods used.

 This note is for example made of fiduciary paper, based on cotton fibers or, according to another embodiment, a thin sheet of plastic material such as polypropylene, polyamide, etc.

 Whatever the material used, it may be as monolayer as consisting of several layers of paper or plastic, or both materials simultaneously.

 As is known per se, this bill can integrate within or on its surface one or more well-known security means, such as a watermark, a security thread, offset funds with guilloches, iridescent size prints, strip or patch holograms, etc.

 In this case, the ticket shown has a bottom filled for example with offset impressions not shown here.

 By the intaglio printing technique is printed the portrait 101 of a character.

 This note has a face value of one hundred currency units, this face value being referenced 102, itself printed in intaglio.

Furthermore, in the upper left corner of the face 10, the ticket comprises a security element 4 to which we will return later. In a manner well known per se, the face 10 (and preferably the face 11) is coated with a protective layer 2 transparent or translucent, called "first layer".

 It is a varnish with a dull visual aspect, for example:

 - based on water of esters and fatty alcohols;

 the ultraviolet radiation drying type, composed of acrylates, oligomer-monomers and photoinitiators, preferably deposited on both sides by the well-known printing technique known as flexography.

 It is preferably an impression in the form of a continuous solid surface, completely covering the faces 10 and 11.

 However, it can however be envisaged that this varnish covers only a portion of the ticket surface.

 In a different embodiment not shown, this impression could be in the form of a microtext, that is to say giving, to the naked eye, the illusion of a continuous coating while, seen by magnification this impression consists of a juxtaposition of letters and / or signs distinct from each other. This is true if the printing is done in "negative", the texts being done hollow.

 According to the invention, the first layer 2 is partially coated with a second layer 3 which also constitutes a protective layer, which is also transparent or even translucent, but which has a bright visual appearance. This is for example a varnish based on acrylates, oligomers - monomers and photoinitiators.

 In this case, this second protective layer 3 consists here of the initials formed by the letters "B" and "N", bearing on the figures the reference numerals 30 and 31.

 This motif is repeated several times on the note.

 Contrary to what may be thought of in Figure 1, this second layer makes perfectly visible what is placed below, in this case, the portrait 101 or the background filled with offset printing.

Such overprint "gloss on mat" allows the holder of the ticket to make sure of itself simply and with little effort of the authenticity of the document (security of first level), the glossy aspect being reinforced by the contrast resulting from the first impression. As indicated above, the note has, in this preferred embodiment, a security element 4 which consists of a stamping on the surface of the sheet constituting the ticket.

 As is clearly visible in FIG. 2, this element 4 comprises two contiguous zones 40 and 41, of different textures, which respectively give these zones a matt aspect respectively glossy in specular reflection.

 In this case, in this case, the number "100", referenced 40, is formed by the technique of "dry stamp", so as to give it a smooth surface state. The paper inside the "100" value is calendered.

 This face value is integrated within a band-shaped pattern 41 which has the particularity of having a textured profile, rough, also achieved by the ink-free printing technique called "dry stamp". The texture of the pattern 41 is also modulated, the darkest areas being the roughest.

 The band 41 may also be formed by a succession of intaglio inked areas. The engraving depth may vary so that the amount of ink, and thus the hue, is changed.

 These differentiated treatments of zones 40 and 41 give them glossy and matte aspects respectively.

 In a first embodiment of the invention, represented in FIGS. 2 and 3, the entirety of this security element 4 is covered by said matte protection layer, whereas only the region directly above the zone 40 Smooth surface condition is coated with the second glossy protective layer 3.

 In other words, and as shown in these figures, since an observer will stop his gaze on the area in the form of a strip 41 of matte aspect and rugged, rough texture, the combined parameters of the embossed region and the varnish 2 are added.

 On the other hand, because in line with the zone 40, the two layers of lacquer 2 and 3 are superimposed, only the glossy aspects of the zone 40 and the second protective layer 3 are perceived by the eye and add in specular reflection.

Thus, the matte or glossy appearance of this security element 4 is further enhanced. In Figure 4 is shown a particular embodiment in which only the rough area 41 is coated with the matte protective layer 2, while facing the glossy area 40 is present only the second glossy appearance varnish 3.

 In conclusion, the dull and glossy contrasts observed in grazing inspection are significantly improved compared to the state of the art existing thanks to the collaborative action of the dry stamp and varnishes.

 According to other aspects of the invention, the dry stamp can accommodate a simple, double latent image of the type "SEAL by Oberthur Technologies" (registered trademark) or a special engraving as described in French patent application No. 0951376 in the name of the present applicant.

 It is also possible to play on the progressivity and the transition of textures obtained by the dry stamp to obtain sharp contrasts or panache between the matt and glossy zones. In addition, if a smooth, texture-free surface condition is progressively changed to a textured surface state, the reproduction of such a pattern by an unauthorized person is made even more difficult.

 Furthermore, it can be provided that the protective layer has a mat / gloss type security of which at least one zone has a tactile tactility detectable.

 To achieve a second level of security, it can be envisaged that one or other of the first layers of protection incorporate at least one of the following security means:

 one or more inorganic organic pigments of fluorescent or phosphorescent type, visible under infrared radiation, or even a combination of the two types of pigments;

 liquid crystals, for example of the nematic or cholesteric type;

 thermochromic / photochromic or photothermochromic compounds;

 an organic or mineral tracer.

It is also conceivable to incorporate a print rich in finesse type guilloche or microtext in the dry stamp or, as already said before, in one or the other varnish. This impression can be iridescent. In a particular embodiment, the second layer of gloss varnish is offset from the offset printing 101 that the ticket comprises. This means that this layer is not in exact registration with them, that is to say that it occupies a smaller surface, larger than these or is placed elsewhere than on these prints.

 Of course, this applies only to prints other than those made for the making of the security element 4, for which it is carried out by deformation of the sheet.

 It is also possible, in a preferred embodiment, to identify an offset printing with the printing of matt / gloss varnish, which makes it possible to combine effects, in particular fluorescence and / or phosphorescence effects. However, in the case of a dark-colored printing, it is preferable that the matt / gloss varnish is not exactly in registering thereof, except to lose visibility (the matte / gloss contrast is less).

 It is also possible, in another preferred embodiment not shown, to achieve a combination of matt / gloss varnish in which the matte varnish contains a perforated area. The glossy varnish, which covers this openwork area, therefore appears of a different hue and at a lower height.

Claims

1. Document of value, which consists of a support sheet (1), of which at least one face (10) comprises, at least over part of its surface, a transparent or translucent protective layer (2) called " first layer ", of matt visual appearance, this layer being partially coated with a second layer (3) of protection, also transparent or translucent, of shiny visual appearance, characterized in that it consists of a banknote .

 2. Document according to claim 1, characterized in that said first layer is continuous (2), while the second layer (3) is formed of at least two zones (30, 31) distinct from one of the other.

 3. Document according to claim 2, characterized in that said distinct areas (30, 31) are in the form of letters.

 4. Document according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a security element (4) consisting of a deformation of said sheet and that this element (4) comprises two contiguous regions (40, 41) of different textures, which give respectively these areas a matte appearance and a glossy aspect in specular reflection.

 5. Document according to claim 4, characterized in that said deformation is performed by the technique of dry stamp.

 6. Document according to one of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the difference in roughness between said regions (40, 41) is clean and frank, or progressive.

 7. Document according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that said second protective layer (3) is at least partially, preferably totally in register with said region (40) bright appearance.

 8. Document according to claim 7, characterized in that it lacks a first layer (2) of protection in registering the bright-aspect region (40) of said security element (4).

 9. Document according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or the other of the first (2) and second layers (3) of protection incorporates at least one of the following second level security means :

organic or inorganic pigments of fluorescent or phosphorescent type, visible under infrared, or a combination thereof; liquid crystals, for example of the nematic or cholesteric type;

thermochromic / photochromic or photothermochromic compounds;

- organic or mineral tracers.

 10. Document according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one and / or the other of said first (2) and second (3) protective layers consists of a varnish, for example deposited by flexography .

 11. Document according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second layer is deposited in the form of a guilloche type printing or microtext, for example iridescent.