WO2019016823A1

WO2019016823A1 - Security fibers for detecting authenticity of tender documents used in security applications

Info

Publication number: WO2019016823A1
Application number: PCT/IN2017/050592
Authority: WO
Inventors: Raj Prehar
Original assignee: Raj Prehar
Priority date: 2017-07-19
Filing date: 2017-12-13
Publication date: 2019-01-24

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of fibers and method of manufacturing fibers which can be used in numerous validating and/or security applications. More specifically, the present invention provides a fiber having multi-chromatic properties which allow the fiber to exhibit different colors when viewed under special viewing conditions. The principal application of the fiber of the present invention is use as a security feature in tenders such as currency notes, passports, fiduciary documents, and the like.

Description

SECURITY FIBERS FOR DETECTING AUTHENTICITY OF TENDER DOCUMENTS USED IN SECURITY APPLICATIONS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of security fibers and method manufacturing a security fiber which can be used in numerous validating and/or security applications.

The subject matter is related to general engineering more particular to physics related subject.

Definition, terminology used in the description

The terminologies used herein the description is known in the industry of subject of security fiber or textile industry. To harmonies the terminologies so that the same understanding by a person skilled in the art, the various terminologies explained herein.

Filament means a thin thread of something.

Strand means at least one or more filaments twisted around each other to make a string or rope.

Braid means: interlace three or more strands of (thin, flexible material) to form a length.

Plait, also called a braid, and intertwined strands. Plait mean a single length of thread made up of three or more interlaced strands, or to join three or more pieces of stringlike material by putting them over each other in a special pattern.

Twine means strong thread or string consisting of two or more strands of hemp or cotton twisted together, to twist strands together to form twine, a strong string of two or more strands twisted together, to form by twisting, intertwining, or interlacing: Daylight visible means visible by eyes in ordinary light or natural light only.

Daylight invisible means visible by eyes by use of special sources like UV light or IR light or other means.

Machine detectable/ readable property means material having properties which can be read, detect or sense by means of tools like machine or handheld tools. A read or detect or sense output may be in the form of audio, picture, image, visible to eyes or other means. Like magnetic properties. Chromatic means to do with the scientific aspects of color and light, a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect; "a white color is made up of many different wavelengths of light". BACKGROUND OF THE INVETION

With advent of the digital technology, the devices such as the computers, photocopiers and similar systems are becoming both indispensable and powerful. These devices, which are easily available and quite straight forward to use, are being misused in counterfeiting of currency notes, important documents such as passports and identification cards, which may lead to serious security breaches.

Attempts are being made to add additional validating or security features to in the above-mentioned documents and the currency notes, which include features that cannot be reproduced using the devices mentioned herein above. Inclusion of such features would be helpful in prevention of production of counterfeit of such documents and/or currency notes.

The features that are included for validating and securing involve use fibers that have varying chromatic properties, i.e., the fibers change their color when viewed under special conditions, e.g., under ultraviolet light. However, it is easily possible for the counterfeiters to manufacture fake tenders and apply the relevant chemicals on the fake tenders to provide the varying chromatic properties to the fake tender.

Earlier and even now, there are mainly following type of security fiber or security threads used in the industry.

A fiber made from natural or synthetic materials such as polyamide, polyester, acrylic, viscose, cotton, various types of rayon's etc materials. The fiber having only one strand. The strand may contain one or more filaments secured together. The strand has single daylight visible color or one color visible only under UV or IR lights on a single strand. The strand exhibit single color in daylight visible light and different color in daylight invisible light. The lengths of cut fiber varies of from 2m.m. to 6m.m.and 4 to 30 dtex.

Fiber as described above is a mono chromatic fiber and was easily duplicated or forged eg., a counterfeiter would make a fake bank note or fiduciary paper and by merely using a pen with inks of the same chemical composition as the fiber, make marking on the note imitating the original. The markings emitted the same color under the same light conditions as the original fiber.

The above problem was overcome by using fiber as described in second type of fiber as under.

Thus, there exists a need for providing a security fiber with additional validating and security features, which overcome the aforementioned drawbacks. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

Some of the objects of the presently disclosed invention, of which at the minimum one embodiment herein fulfills, are as follows:

An object of the present invention is to solve one or more deficiencies encountered in the prior art or to at the minimum deliver a beneficial substitute;

Another object of the present invention is to provide a security fiber with one or more validating and/or security features; Another object of the present invention is to provide security fibers for authentication, identification as a measure of anti-counterfeiting or anti-falsification protection against forgery;

Another object of the present invention is to provide a Use in fiduciary/bank note / passport / and other security papers / documents.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a security fiber that is multi- chromatic properties. Other objects and benefits of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to bind the scope of the present invention.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is related to an invention in the field of a security fiber, more precisely related to a multi chromatic (Color) fiber. The claimed fiber having at least two or more strands. Each strand has at least one or more filaments. The plurality of strands either twisted or braided together. The twisted or braided strands laid in parallel or un-paralleled alignment. Each composing strands is different in color and /or having machine detectable elements. The colors of strands are daylight visible color or non- visible colors. Non-visible color is visible by eyes through application use UV or IR light source.

The different combination of visible and non-visible color and machine detectable elements makes security fiber which is impossible to replicate or make counterfeit products. The security fiber in accordance to the present disclosure and invention is the multi-colored intricate design of fiber. The fiber used in cut pieces in an area of length 2 to 5 mm length and up to 35 dtex in width.

The present invention envisages a security fiber for use in detecting authenticity of tenders. The security fiber comprises at least two strands having different chromatic properties, wherein the at least two strands are securely coupled together to form the security fiber. The different chromatic properties facilitate exhibition of different colors under specific viewing conditions.

The novelty of the claimed security fibers of invention according to this disclosure, a multi chromatic and consists of different strands, each having a different color or machine detectable element, twisted or braided together or laid together in alignment resulting in a fiber having an intricate multi chromatic (daylight or UV or IR visible) or/ and machine readable material embedded appearance, which is not possible to duplicate by known methods. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: Fig. 1 shows illustrates a schematic view of a security fiber with two strands, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 illustrates a schematic view of a security fiber having parallel juxtaposed filaments, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 illustrates a schematic view of a security fiber, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Reference numerals used in the drawings as under:

100: Security Fiber and two strand security fiber.

102A: Strand.

102B: Strand.

200: Security fiber with three strands.

100 A; Strand with two filaments.

100 B: Strand with three filaments.

100 C: Strand with two filaments.

105, 106 107 filaments of strand.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying embodiments and drawing, which do not limit the scope and realm of the present invention. The description delivered herein is merely by way of example, if any and illustration.

The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments and drawings in the following description. Descriptions of the components and processing techniques, which are known in the art, are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples if any, used herein are projected simply to enable an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be accomplished and to further allow a person having ordinary skill in the art to exercise the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples must not be interpreted as restricting the scope of the embodiments herein.

The description, that follows, of the specific embodiments so fully disclose the overall nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying present knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the wording or language employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with alteration within the essence and scope of the embodiments as described herein.

The present invention relates to the field of security fibers which can be used in numerous validating and/or security applications such as identity cards, passport and the like. The present invention envisages a security fiber for detecting authenticity of tenders. The security fiber comprises at least two or more strands having different chromatic properties, wherein the at least two or more strands are securely coupled together to form a security fiber. Each strand has at least one or more filaments together. The different chromatic properties facilitate exhibition of different colors under specific viewing conditions.

The security fiber having additional features of machine readable/ detectable elements incorporated in the security fiber. The machine readable/ detectable elements includes such as magnetic materials, taggants such as phosphor rare earth based.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure/ invention, a fiber is disclosed which can be used in numerous validating and/or security applications.

In accordance with the present disclosure, the strands are either twisted or braided together. The braiding can be done by intertwining, or interlacing process.

The strands are laid in parallel or un-paralleled alignment. Each strands has a different detection features. The detection features includes chromatic features in different viewing conditions. The different viewing conditions include day light visible or invisible colors. Accordingly, the security fiber exhibiting different colors under special viewing conditions. Accordingly, impossible to make the same security fiber to replicate by hand due to the multi-colored intricate design in an area of length 2 to 5 mm length and up to 35 dtex in width. In accordance with the present invention, strands are braided together or twisted together or laid together in alignment on a special machine, resulting in one strands having an intricate multi-colored, multi chromatic (daylight or UV or IR visible) appearance, which is not possible to duplicate.

Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a security fiber 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The fiber 100 comprises two strands 102A, 102B that are twisted or braided together. It is to be noted that the number of strands 102A, 102B is not limited to two and can be greater than two.

In another embodiment, the fiber 100 can also include a core around which other two or more strands are twisted or braided or wound together. The two strands 102 A, 102B have different chromatic properties, such that under special viewing conditions, the strandsl02A, 102B exhibit different colors.

In one embodiment, the braiding of the at least two strands 102A, 102B is performed by the conventional braiding machines. The braiding can include any type braids, e.g., braids with two or more strands with or without a core filament, braids with multiple core filaments, braids with or without knots, and so on. Extruding the strand/ filament and braiding can be done in one pass in one production line.

In another embodiment, the at least two strands 102A, 102B are secured together via twisting. The twisting of filaments is performed by the conventional twisting machines. Extruding and twisting can be done in one pass in one production line.

Fig. 2illustrates the at least two strands 102A, 102B are juxtaposed together in a parallel configuration and secured to each other via adhesives or through heat and pressure means. The step of securing the at least two strandl02A, 102B is performed by braiding, twisting, juxtaposing together in a parallel configuration, and juxtaposing together in a randomly aligned configuration.

Fig. 3 illustrates a schematic view of a security fiber 200. In accordance with the present invention, the security fiber 200 has three strands having at least two or more filaments. The plurality of strands 100A, 100B, lOOC, wherein each of the strand 100A, 100B, lOOC is either a two-filament strand or a three-filament strand fiber. The filament/ strand material is selected from polyamide, polyester, acrylic, viscose, cotton, various types of rayon's materials. The strands are colored by dye or other means. In one possible way, the day visible strands are dye colored.

As mentioned previously, each strandl02A, 102B has different chromatic properties. More specifically, each strandl02A, 102B can exhibit different colors under special viewing conditions such as viewing under UV lights, infrared lights (IR), or normal daylight.

The security fiber 100 which is either braided or twisted in straight alignment-parallel or otherwise, comprises strands made from different materials, i.e., the security fiber 100 can have one or more strandl02A, 102B made of viscose, and another or more filaments 102A, 102B made of polyamide, polyester, acrylic, viscose, cotton , various types of rayon's materials and so on. Thus, one single fiber 100 will consist of plurality of strand made of different materials. The present invention discloses the fiber 100 of any length from minimum 1 mm up to 25 mm but ideally between 3 to 5 mm. The fiber consists two or more strands of any materials, twisted or braided. The twisted or braided strands laid together in parallel to each other or even un-parallel to each other to appear as a single multifilament fiber. In accordance with present disclosure the different strands could be 2 or 3 or 4 or any number.

In accordance with present disclosure, the total composite dtex of the fiber could range from minimum 4 dtex up to any suitable dtex say 100 dtex, but ideally between 15 to 40 dtex.

In accordance with present disclosure, the different strands could have different daylight visible or invisible colors (visible under UV or IR lights), or can be a combination of 2 or more daylight visible or invisible colors, or can be a combination of only daylight visible colors, or can be a combination of only invisible colors. Thus, the over-all effect is a multi-coloured/ chromatic fiber, wherein some colors be visible in daylight or under UV or IR lights or any two of these or all three of these. In another embodiment, a fiber can have strands which have a combination of all three - visible colors, invisible (UV or IR visible) colors, machine detectable/readable, or a combination of any two of these elements or consists of only any one of these elements. In accordance with present disclosure, the different strands of such fibers could also be tinted or coated or dyed with machine detectable or readable chemicals such as magnetic readable, IR upconvertors, taggants, etc. These can be read or sensed or detected with special equipment, whether handheld or otherwise. Method of coloring of a fiber

The present disclosure also envisages a process for coloring and manufacturing a security fiber 100, 200 for a security application having multi-chromatic properties / features. A manufacturing of security fiber comprises making of strands by known means.

The strands are braided or twisted by known means like twisting, intertwining, or interlacing to make a security fiber. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a security fiber with more than one strand of different material colored. In the novel process, by using a particular combination of different dyes and chemicals, each strand of particular material is dyed so that the only particular strands/filaments made of one type material coloured out of plurality of strands, and rest other strand of different material not colored with the dye. For example, strand/ filament made from polyester material, a particular dye, associated chemicals, and a specific dyeing method are used such that all the strand/filaments made of polyester present in the fiber get dyed/coloured, while other filaments retaining their original color. This process is repeated for the different strands made of different material using different dyes, associated chemicals, and dyeing methods. The process thereby providing a unique color to only one strand of the fiber and providing multi-chromatic properties to the secured fiber.

In accordance with another/ second embodiment of the present invention, the filaments/ filaments of strands are individually dyed before being braided or twisted or laying them together in straight alignment. The selection of the dye is dependent on the material of the filament to be dyed and the type of colors required. In accordance with another / third embodiment of the present invention, a process for manufacturing the fiber for security application comprises the following steps:

• mixing a dye of one color with the filament material to obtain dyed melt;

• extruding the dyed melt to obtain colored filament;

· obtaining different colored filaments by adding desired dye in the filament material by above process;

• securing together at least two dyed filaments of same color to obtain the strand dyed with particular color;

• securing together at least two different dyed strands to obtain the security fiber having multi-chromatic property.

In this process, the filament material is mixed with dye prior to being extruded in the form of filaments. The step of securing the at least two filaments 102A, 102B is performed by braiding, twisting, juxtaposing together in a parallel configuration, and juxtaposing together in a randomly aligned configuration.

In accordance of applicant invention, a machine readable element can be incorporated in the material of strand/ filament or in the security fiber to provide additional security feature to the fiber 100.

A machine readable element can be incorporated in the material of strand/ filament at the time of dyed melt/ molten melt.

In another process the machine readable elements can be incorporated in the filament/ strand at the time of extruding of filaments from the melt.

In another process the machine readable elements are added to the filaments at the time of laying them straight together process. In another process the machine readable elements are added to the filaments at the time of braiding, twisting.

In another process the machine readable elements can be incorporated in the finished fiber.

Machine readable elements can be incorporated in the filaments at the time of twisting or braiding. APPLICATION

The application of the fibers, in accordance with the present disclosure is, when embedded in papers and or plastic films, or coated/printed on papers, plastic films and metal foils, or embedded in articles of papers, plastics, textiles and metals, act as overt and covert security feature, and thus help in detecting fake/ counterfeits/ duplicates.

TECHNICAL ADVANCES AND ECONOMICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PRESENTLY DISCLOSED INVENTION The presently disclosed invention, as described herein above, provides several advances including, but that are not limited to a security fibers and a method for manufacturing a security fibers, which can be used in numerous validating and/or security applications, wherein the fiber has:

- one or more validating and/or security features,.

- has a multi-chromatic property.

- Machine sensed readable material in the security fiber.

It is to be noted that in the specification the word "comprise", or variations like "comprises" or "comprising", is assumed to suggest the presence of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the barring of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

The usage of the phrase "at least" or "at least one" advocates the usage of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the usage may be in the embodiment of the present invention to realize one or more of the wanted objects or results.

Inclusion of or incorporation of any documents, materials, devices, articles or the like in the specification is exclusively for providing a background for the present invention and should not be construed as an admittance that any or all of these matters form a part of the prior art or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application.

Further, the arithmetical values cited in the invention of the present invention for the different physical parameters, quantities or dimensions are merely estimates and it is assumed that the values with +/-10 % higher/lower than the arithmetical values assigned to the parameters, quantities or dimensions fall inside the scope of the invention, unless it is specifically mentioned.

Although substantial stress has been placed herein on the process and the process steps of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that numerous alterations can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the teachings of the present invention. These and other alterations in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the present invention are apparent to those skilled in the art from the description of the present invention herein, whereby it is to be clearly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be understood simply as descriptive of the present invention and not as a restraint.

Claims

Claims:

1. A security fiber for detecting authenticity of tenders, said security fiber comprising:

at least two or more strands securely coupled together to form a security fiber, wherein said strand have atleast one or more filament(s);

wherein said at least two or more strands having different chromatic properties that facilitate exhibition of different colors under specific viewing conditions to form a multi-chromatic security fiber.

2. The security fiber as claimed in claim 1, wherein chromatic properties include at least one of daylight visibility, daylight invisibility, and machine readability.

3. The security fiber as claimed in claim 1 and 2, wherein at least one of said two or more strand(s) includes a machine detectable element(s) for machine readability.

4. The security fiber as claimed in claim 1 and 3, wherein said machine detectable element is incorporated in said at least one of said two or more strands.

5. The security fiber as claimed in claim 1, wherein said strands having different chromatic properties using at least one of the methods selected from the group consisting of tinting, coating and dying.

6. The security fiber as claimed in claim 1, wherein a total composite dtex of said fiber is in the range from 4 dtex to 100 dtex.

7. The security fiber as claimed in claim 1, wherein a total composite dtex of said fiber is in the range between 15 to 40 dtex.

8. The security fiber as claimed in claim 1, wherein specific viewing conditions are selected from the group consisting of normal daylight, UV light, and IR light.

9. The security fiber as claimed in claim 1, 3 and 5, wherein said machine detectable elements are detected using a machine, and handheld device.

10. The security fiber as claimed in claim 1,3, 5 and 9, wherein the machine detectable elements are selected from the group consisting of magnetic readable chemicals, IR up-con vertors, and taggants.

11. The security fiber as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least two strands are twisted or braided together to form the fiber.

12. The security fiber as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least two filaments are twisted braided together around at least one core filament.

13. The security fiber as claimed in claim 1, 11, and 12, wherein said braiding or twisting of the strands form by twisting, intertwining, and interlacing.

14. The security fiber as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least two filaments are juxtaposed together in a parallel configuration or in a randomly aligned configuration and secured to each other.

15. The security fiber as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least two strands are juxtaposed together in a parallel configuration or in a randomly aligned configuration and secured to each other.

16. The security fiber as claimed in claim 1, wherein said filaments are selected from a polyamide, polyester, acrylic ,viscose, cotton , various types of rayon's materials.

17. A security fiber as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fiber having at least one strand having a daylight visible color, and other at least one strand having a daylight invisible color to form a multi-chromatic security fiber.

A security fiber as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said fiber having at least two or more strands having daylight invisible color to form a multi-chromatic security fiber.

19. A security fiber as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fiber having at least one strand of daylight visible color and other strand having at least one daylight invisible color, and machine readable material incorporated on the filaments or strand to form a multi-chromatic security fiber.

20. The security fiber as claimed in claim 1, wherein said security fiber embedded in: a papers and or plastic films;

or coated/printed on papers, plastic films;

and metal foils;

embedded in articles of papers , plastics , textiles;

and metals for detecting fake / counterfeits / duplicates.

21. The security fiber as claimed in claim 1, wherein said strands are secured to each other either by heat fusing, heat and pressure fusing, and by adhesives.

22. The security fiber as claimed in claim 1 wherein said security fiber embedded and dispersed in a form of cut piece fiber of specific lengths in a random or uniform pattern, wherein said cut piece fiber length ranges from 1 m.m. to 25 m.m. but ideally / preferably 3 to 5 m.m.

23. A process for manufacturing a fiber for security application, said process comprising the following steps:

securing together at least two or more filaments to obtain a strand;

securing together at least two or more strands of different materials to obtain a secured fiber;

treating said secured fiber with different dyes, wherein the dye is selected such that only one strand of said at least two strands dyed/ react with the one type of dye while the remaining strands of said at least two strands remain un-dyed by the dye, thereby providing a unique color to only one strand of particular material of said at least two strands; and

optionally adding material of machine readable elements to obtain multi- chromatic security properties to said fiber. A process for manufacturing a fiber for a security applications, said process comprising the following steps:

mixing a dye with a filament material to obtain dyed melt;

extruding said dyed melt to obtain at least one or more dyed filament(s);

securing together at least two said dyed filaments to obtain a strand;

securing together at least one dyed strand among said two different strands; and optionally adding material of machine readable elements to obtain a security fiber having multi-chromatic property.

The process as claimed in claim 23and/ or24, wherein said securing together of said at least two filaments/ strands is performed by braiding, twisting, juxtaposing together in a parallel configuration, and juxtaposing together in a randomly aligned configuration.