CA2134199A1 - Apparatus and method of making an authenticated web formed of fibrous material - Google Patents
Apparatus and method of making an authenticated web formed of fibrous materialInfo
- Publication number
- CA2134199A1 CA2134199A1 CA 2134199 CA2134199A CA2134199A1 CA 2134199 A1 CA2134199 A1 CA 2134199A1 CA 2134199 CA2134199 CA 2134199 CA 2134199 A CA2134199 A CA 2134199A CA 2134199 A1 CA2134199 A1 CA 2134199A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- optically variable
- base web
- web
- variable material
- fibrous
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D21—PAPER-MAKING; PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE
- D21F—PAPER-MAKING MACHINES; METHODS OF PRODUCING PAPER THEREON
- D21F11/00—Processes for making continuous lengths of paper, or of cardboard, or of wet web for fibre board production, on paper-making machines
- D21F11/02—Processes for making continuous lengths of paper, or of cardboard, or of wet web for fibre board production, on paper-making machines of the Fourdrinier type
- D21F11/04—Processes for making continuous lengths of paper, or of cardboard, or of wet web for fibre board production, on paper-making machines of the Fourdrinier type paper or board consisting on two or more layers
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D21—PAPER-MAKING; PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE
- D21F—PAPER-MAKING MACHINES; METHODS OF PRODUCING PAPER THEREON
- D21F1/00—Wet end of machines for making continuous webs of paper
- D21F1/44—Watermarking devices
Landscapes
- Paper (AREA)
Abstract
Apparatuses and a method are disclosed for making an authenticated web formed from fibrous material. In one embodiment, the apparatus (20) includes a head box (24) holding a pulp mixture (26) for depositing a base web (22) on a Fourdrinier table (33) whereon the fibres in the base web are aligned and the base web is dried.
An optically variable material applicator (60) is located above the base web and deposits optically variable material thereon. The applicator does this either in the form of a powder spray, or by embedding optically variable articles into the base web. Once this is done, the base web passes beneath a second head box (70) which deposits a thin fibrous layer over the optically variable material and the base web. The fibrous layer and the base web are dried to form the finished authenticated fibrous web. The thickness of the resulting fibrous web is controlled so that light is able to pass through the fibrous layer allowing the properties of the optically variable material to be utilized. In another embodiment, a cylinder mould machine (322) is used to form the base web on a belt (328) which supports and transports the base web to the optically variable material applicator and then to the second head box. Alternatively, the base web with the optically variable material thereon may be conveyed to a laminator wherein a fine web of fibrous material is placed over the base web and optically variable material to form the authenticated fibrous web.
An optically variable material applicator (60) is located above the base web and deposits optically variable material thereon. The applicator does this either in the form of a powder spray, or by embedding optically variable articles into the base web. Once this is done, the base web passes beneath a second head box (70) which deposits a thin fibrous layer over the optically variable material and the base web. The fibrous layer and the base web are dried to form the finished authenticated fibrous web. The thickness of the resulting fibrous web is controlled so that light is able to pass through the fibrous layer allowing the properties of the optically variable material to be utilized. In another embodiment, a cylinder mould machine (322) is used to form the base web on a belt (328) which supports and transports the base web to the optically variable material applicator and then to the second head box. Alternatively, the base web with the optically variable material thereon may be conveyed to a laminator wherein a fine web of fibrous material is placed over the base web and optically variable material to form the authenticated fibrous web.
Description
~13~199 - wo 93/22496 PcrJcAg3/00l88 APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MAKING AN
AUTHENTICATE~ WEB FORMED OF FIBROUS M~TERlAL
TECHNICAL FIELD
.
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of making an authenticated web fo~ned of fibrous material.
BACKGROUND AR:T
Authenticating valuable ar~icles to prevent counterfeiting is a common practise. For valuable articles such as coins, bank notes and the like, it is common to engrave intricate designs on the article to identify the article as authentic. However, this method has not always offered sufficiently discriminating tests to prevent spurious ar~icles from bein~g passed off as autl~.entic ones.
To overcome the above disadvantages associated with paper currency~
the use of optical thin film coatings on bank notes and similar fibrous substrates has been implemented. For example, United States Patent No. 3,858,977 to Baird et al and assigned to Canadian Patent and De~eloprnent Limited discloses an optical interference authenticating means including a multi-layer optical thin film filter disposed on the paper currency to be authenticat~d. The optical thinfilm l~yers have a hlown characteristic spectral reflec~:ance and a dif~erent known ch~acteristic spectral transmittance both of which vary with the angle of incident light. The optical thin film layers are deposited on a carrier usingvacuum deposition techniques to form the filter. The filter is then adhered to the paper curren~y via suitable adhesive means to authenticate the paper currency.
WO 93/22496 P~/CA93/00188 '21 3~19 9 -2-The design of the optical thin film layers is such that the primary reflectance peak of the filter is located in the red part of the spectrum at normal angles of incident light. Upon tilting of the authenhcating means to~change the angle of incident light, the primary reflectance peak shifts from the red to thegold or green part of the spectrum. The authenticating means therefore exhibits a red to green colour change upon tilting. This type of authenticating means when placed on the paper currency, allows an individu~l at a glance to perform a check to determine if the document is authentic.
U.S. Patent No. 4,705,3~6 to Berning et al also discloses an optically variable ar~icle to be applied to paper currency and the like. This article includes an optically thick, substantially transparent element carrying a colorant. A multi-layer interference coating is carried on one surface of the transparent element. The colorant serves to modify in a subtractive mode, the colour of the article at normal angles of incident light and the colour shift with changing angles of incident light as seen by reflection or transmission. The layers of the interference coating and the colorant are selected so that the article exhibits an abrupt colour change as the angle of incident light changes.
U.S. Patent Nos. 4,705,300, 4,779,898 and 4,930,866 to Berning et al similarly disclose an optically variable ar~icle for applic:ation to paper currency and the l~ke having a gold to green colour shift. The layers of the interferencecoating are selected so that the article at normal angles of incident light has a coppery-gold colour and changes to a vivid green colour at another non-normal angle of incident light. At yet another non-normal angl~ of incident light, the article has no colour.
Although these types of authenticating means work satisfactorily, the authenticating article is placed on top of the paper currency. This makes the counterfeiting process easier if the counterfeiter is capable of developing - - WO 93~22496 2 ~ 3 41 9 9 PCI`/CA93/001~8 ar~icles which exhibit the optical characteristics of authentic, op~ically variable articles.
,. .
To guard against this problem, paper documents with material embedded therein have been considered. For ex~mple, European Patent ~pplication No.
90305679 to Edwards and assigned to Portals Limited discloses a paper document having a metal strip embedded in it. The metal strip is ~ormed in the paper document such that the metal strip is concealed in some places and -~
exposed in other places. -`
U.S. Patent No. 4,943,093 to Melling et al and assigned to Portals Limited discloses a paper document having a security device embedded in it. -The security device comprises a flexible, water-impermeable substrate with a layer of metal on one or both sides of the substrate. On one side of the security deYice, a continuous metal path along its length is provided. However, the device has metal-free portions of between 105b and 50% of the area of the device. The metal-free portions along the length of the device provide a repeating pattern, design or the like with at least some of the metal-~ree portions across the transverse direction of the security device being wholly surrounded by metal. The security device may be a strip or thread and this may be positioned in a window or in an aper~ure where two windows are impartial or complete register.
U.S. Patent Na. 4,534,398 to Crane and assignéd to Crane & Co.
discloses a security paper document incorporating counterfei$ deterrent optical va~iable devices. The optical ~rariable devlces display their optically active properties in reflectance when there are changes in the angle of incident light with respect to the eye of the viewer. The optical variable devices are adhered to a carrier paper web and then the carrier paper web is brought into contact with a base web. An embedment roll presses the two webs together to push the W093/22496 ~ 34199 PCI/CA93/00188 ~`
ophcally variable devices into the base web while the base web fibres are unconsolida~ed and pliable.
Although the patents assigned to Portals Limited and Crane & Co.
disclose methods of authenticahng a paper document during its production, improved methods of doing this are continually being sought.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel apparatus and method of fonning an authenticated web formed of fibrous material.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for making an authenticated web forrned of fibrous material comprising:
fibrous material dispensing means depositing fibrous ma~rial on a moving belt to form a base web;
an applicator downstream of said dispensing means applying optically variable material to a surface of said base web, said optically variable material changing colours with varying angles of incident light; and means downstream of said applicator for overlying the surface of said base web with additional fibrous material to cover said optically vanable material and said base web and form said authenticated web whereby said fibrous material covering`said optic~lly variable material is sufficiently thin to pennit light to pass therethrough and contact said optically variable material.
Preferably, th optically variable material applied to the base web is in powder form. In one embodiment, it is preferred that the applicator includes a pressurized sprayer located ab~ve the base web and a mask positioned between the sprayer and the base web. The sprayer discharges the powder - WO 93/22496 2 1 3 ~1 9 9 PCTtCA93/OOlB8 ' towards the mask and an aperture in the mask allows the powder to contact the base web. The sprayer can be operated continuously and the mask can be fixed relative to the base web to apply a continuous strip of optieally variable material to the base web. Alternativeiy, the mask can include a plurality of spaced, geometrically shaped apertures and can be moved over the base web at the same speed thereas. ln this case, the sprayer is operated continuously whereby the op~ically variable material is applied to the base web at discrete locations only when the apertures pass beneath the sprayer.
In another embodiment, it is preferred that the powder is immersed in a liquid carrier and the applicator applies the optically variable material to the base web via an off-set pIinting or silk screening technique. In yet another embodiment, the optically variable material is in the form of discrete articles and the applicator contacts the base web to impress the optically variable articles in the base web. In this instance, it is preferred that the applicator includes a starnping unit having a vertically movable head carrying the optically variable article. The head contacts the base web and impresses the optically variable article therein. Alternatively, the optically var~able material rnay bein the forrn of a continuous strip and the applicator may include a roller carrying the st{ip and guide means. The roller applies the strip of ophcally variable material to the base web and the guide means impresses the strip therein.
In yet another embodiment, the optically variable mate~ial is carried on a carrier film movable over the base web and the applicator includes means to generate a beam of radiation. The beam of radiation is directed on the carrier to fragment the ophcally variable material and separate the optically variable mat~rial ~rom the carrier to deposit the fragments of optically variable material on the base web.
WO 93/22496 PCI`/CA93/00188 In one instance, it is preferred that the carrier is moved continuously over the base web at the same speed thereas and the means to generate a beam of radiation is operated continuously to apply a strip of optically variable material to the base web. ln another instance, it is preferred tha~ ~he means togenerate the beam of radiation is pulsed to apply discrete marks of optically variable material to the base web.
The fibrous material dispensing means may be in the form of a head box depositing the fibrous material on a Fourdrinier table which carries the base web to the applicator. Alternatively, a cylinder mould machine may be used to deposit the fibrous material on a Formex~ which carries the base web to the applicator. The means downstream of the applica~or may be an additional head box or may be a laminator receiving a fine web of fibrous material and averlying the base web and the optically variable material with the fine web to form the authenticated web.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided in a fibrous web making process wherein fibrous material is deposited on a moving belt to consolidate fibres therein and form a base web further including the steps of applying op~ically varia~le material which changes colour with varying angles of incident light to a surface of said base web and covenng said surface and said optically variable matenal with additional fibrous material to form a fibrous web, said additional fibrous material being sufficiently thin to permit light to pass therethrougll and contact said optically variable mate~
Preferably, the optically variable material is in the form of a powder and is ~pplied to the base web either by spraying, off-set printing, silk screening,impressing or laser transfer techniques.
- WO 93/22496 ~13 119 9 PCr/CA93/00188 The present invention provides a novel apparatus and method of authenticating a fibrous web using optically variable material that changes colour with varying angles of incident light. The apparatus embeds the optically variable material in the fibrous web using the simple technique of applying the optically variable material to a base web and overlying the ophcally variable material and the base web with additional fibrous material that is thin enough to permit light to pass, allowing the utilization of the optical properties of the optically variable material. The optically variable material can be applied to the base web at discrete locations to form individual marks or canbe applied continuously to form strips. This facilitates the authentication process since the op~ically variable materi~l is applied in situ during the fibrous web making process.
BRIEF DESC~IPllON OF THE DRAWING
.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described more fully with reference t~ the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure la is a top plan view of a paper document with optically variable material therein;
Figure lb is a section of the document illustrated in Figure la taken along line a-a;
Figure 2 is a side view of a paper making machine including a device for applying optically variable material during formation of a paper web;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the d~vice for applying optically variable material to the paper web used in the paper making machine illustrated in Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the device for applying optically variable material ~ the paper web used in the paper making machine illustrated in Figure 2;
WO 93/2~496 PC~/CA93/00188 '23 34199 -~-Figure S is a side view of yet another embodiment of the device for applying optically variable material to the paper web used in the paper making machine illustrated in Figure 2;
Figure 6 a top view of the device illustrated in Figure S;
Figure 7 is a side view of still yet another embodiment of the device for applying optically variable material to the paper web used in the paper making machine illustrated in Figure 2;
Figure 8 is a top view of the device illustrated in Figure 7;
Figure 9 is a side view of still yet another embodiment of the device for applying optically variable material to the paper web used in the paper malcing machine illustrated in Figure 2;
Figure 10 is a top view of the device illustrated in Figure 9;
Figure 11 is a side view of another embodiment of a por~ion of a paper making machine including a device for applying optically variable materiai;
Figure 12 is a side view of another embodiment of a machine for making a base web on which optîcally vanable material is to be applied;
Figure 13 is a side view of another embodiment of a machine for making a base web on which optically variable material is to be applied;
Figure 14 is a section of an embodiment of a portion of an authenticated web made using one of the machines illustrated in Figures 12 and 13; and Figure 15 is a section of another embodimen~ of a portion of an authenticated web made using the device illustra~ed in Figures 7 and 8.
BESI` MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Referring now to Figure 1, an authenticated document is shown and is ~nerally indicated by reference numeral 10. In this example, the document 10 is in the form of paper currency cut from a continuous paper web, although it should be realiæd by those of skill in the art that any other type of valuable article formed of fibrous material can constitute the authenticated document.
AUTHENTICATE~ WEB FORMED OF FIBROUS M~TERlAL
TECHNICAL FIELD
.
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of making an authenticated web fo~ned of fibrous material.
BACKGROUND AR:T
Authenticating valuable ar~icles to prevent counterfeiting is a common practise. For valuable articles such as coins, bank notes and the like, it is common to engrave intricate designs on the article to identify the article as authentic. However, this method has not always offered sufficiently discriminating tests to prevent spurious ar~icles from bein~g passed off as autl~.entic ones.
To overcome the above disadvantages associated with paper currency~
the use of optical thin film coatings on bank notes and similar fibrous substrates has been implemented. For example, United States Patent No. 3,858,977 to Baird et al and assigned to Canadian Patent and De~eloprnent Limited discloses an optical interference authenticating means including a multi-layer optical thin film filter disposed on the paper currency to be authenticat~d. The optical thinfilm l~yers have a hlown characteristic spectral reflec~:ance and a dif~erent known ch~acteristic spectral transmittance both of which vary with the angle of incident light. The optical thin film layers are deposited on a carrier usingvacuum deposition techniques to form the filter. The filter is then adhered to the paper curren~y via suitable adhesive means to authenticate the paper currency.
WO 93/22496 P~/CA93/00188 '21 3~19 9 -2-The design of the optical thin film layers is such that the primary reflectance peak of the filter is located in the red part of the spectrum at normal angles of incident light. Upon tilting of the authenhcating means to~change the angle of incident light, the primary reflectance peak shifts from the red to thegold or green part of the spectrum. The authenticating means therefore exhibits a red to green colour change upon tilting. This type of authenticating means when placed on the paper currency, allows an individu~l at a glance to perform a check to determine if the document is authentic.
U.S. Patent No. 4,705,3~6 to Berning et al also discloses an optically variable ar~icle to be applied to paper currency and the like. This article includes an optically thick, substantially transparent element carrying a colorant. A multi-layer interference coating is carried on one surface of the transparent element. The colorant serves to modify in a subtractive mode, the colour of the article at normal angles of incident light and the colour shift with changing angles of incident light as seen by reflection or transmission. The layers of the interference coating and the colorant are selected so that the article exhibits an abrupt colour change as the angle of incident light changes.
U.S. Patent Nos. 4,705,300, 4,779,898 and 4,930,866 to Berning et al similarly disclose an optically variable ar~icle for applic:ation to paper currency and the l~ke having a gold to green colour shift. The layers of the interferencecoating are selected so that the article at normal angles of incident light has a coppery-gold colour and changes to a vivid green colour at another non-normal angle of incident light. At yet another non-normal angl~ of incident light, the article has no colour.
Although these types of authenticating means work satisfactorily, the authenticating article is placed on top of the paper currency. This makes the counterfeiting process easier if the counterfeiter is capable of developing - - WO 93~22496 2 ~ 3 41 9 9 PCI`/CA93/001~8 ar~icles which exhibit the optical characteristics of authentic, op~ically variable articles.
,. .
To guard against this problem, paper documents with material embedded therein have been considered. For ex~mple, European Patent ~pplication No.
90305679 to Edwards and assigned to Portals Limited discloses a paper document having a metal strip embedded in it. The metal strip is ~ormed in the paper document such that the metal strip is concealed in some places and -~
exposed in other places. -`
U.S. Patent No. 4,943,093 to Melling et al and assigned to Portals Limited discloses a paper document having a security device embedded in it. -The security device comprises a flexible, water-impermeable substrate with a layer of metal on one or both sides of the substrate. On one side of the security deYice, a continuous metal path along its length is provided. However, the device has metal-free portions of between 105b and 50% of the area of the device. The metal-free portions along the length of the device provide a repeating pattern, design or the like with at least some of the metal-~ree portions across the transverse direction of the security device being wholly surrounded by metal. The security device may be a strip or thread and this may be positioned in a window or in an aper~ure where two windows are impartial or complete register.
U.S. Patent Na. 4,534,398 to Crane and assignéd to Crane & Co.
discloses a security paper document incorporating counterfei$ deterrent optical va~iable devices. The optical ~rariable devlces display their optically active properties in reflectance when there are changes in the angle of incident light with respect to the eye of the viewer. The optical variable devices are adhered to a carrier paper web and then the carrier paper web is brought into contact with a base web. An embedment roll presses the two webs together to push the W093/22496 ~ 34199 PCI/CA93/00188 ~`
ophcally variable devices into the base web while the base web fibres are unconsolida~ed and pliable.
Although the patents assigned to Portals Limited and Crane & Co.
disclose methods of authenticahng a paper document during its production, improved methods of doing this are continually being sought.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel apparatus and method of fonning an authenticated web formed of fibrous material.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for making an authenticated web forrned of fibrous material comprising:
fibrous material dispensing means depositing fibrous ma~rial on a moving belt to form a base web;
an applicator downstream of said dispensing means applying optically variable material to a surface of said base web, said optically variable material changing colours with varying angles of incident light; and means downstream of said applicator for overlying the surface of said base web with additional fibrous material to cover said optically vanable material and said base web and form said authenticated web whereby said fibrous material covering`said optic~lly variable material is sufficiently thin to pennit light to pass therethrough and contact said optically variable material.
Preferably, th optically variable material applied to the base web is in powder form. In one embodiment, it is preferred that the applicator includes a pressurized sprayer located ab~ve the base web and a mask positioned between the sprayer and the base web. The sprayer discharges the powder - WO 93/22496 2 1 3 ~1 9 9 PCTtCA93/OOlB8 ' towards the mask and an aperture in the mask allows the powder to contact the base web. The sprayer can be operated continuously and the mask can be fixed relative to the base web to apply a continuous strip of optieally variable material to the base web. Alternativeiy, the mask can include a plurality of spaced, geometrically shaped apertures and can be moved over the base web at the same speed thereas. ln this case, the sprayer is operated continuously whereby the op~ically variable material is applied to the base web at discrete locations only when the apertures pass beneath the sprayer.
In another embodiment, it is preferred that the powder is immersed in a liquid carrier and the applicator applies the optically variable material to the base web via an off-set pIinting or silk screening technique. In yet another embodiment, the optically variable material is in the form of discrete articles and the applicator contacts the base web to impress the optically variable articles in the base web. In this instance, it is preferred that the applicator includes a starnping unit having a vertically movable head carrying the optically variable article. The head contacts the base web and impresses the optically variable article therein. Alternatively, the optically var~able material rnay bein the forrn of a continuous strip and the applicator may include a roller carrying the st{ip and guide means. The roller applies the strip of ophcally variable material to the base web and the guide means impresses the strip therein.
In yet another embodiment, the optically variable mate~ial is carried on a carrier film movable over the base web and the applicator includes means to generate a beam of radiation. The beam of radiation is directed on the carrier to fragment the ophcally variable material and separate the optically variable mat~rial ~rom the carrier to deposit the fragments of optically variable material on the base web.
WO 93/22496 PCI`/CA93/00188 In one instance, it is preferred that the carrier is moved continuously over the base web at the same speed thereas and the means to generate a beam of radiation is operated continuously to apply a strip of optically variable material to the base web. ln another instance, it is preferred tha~ ~he means togenerate the beam of radiation is pulsed to apply discrete marks of optically variable material to the base web.
The fibrous material dispensing means may be in the form of a head box depositing the fibrous material on a Fourdrinier table which carries the base web to the applicator. Alternatively, a cylinder mould machine may be used to deposit the fibrous material on a Formex~ which carries the base web to the applicator. The means downstream of the applica~or may be an additional head box or may be a laminator receiving a fine web of fibrous material and averlying the base web and the optically variable material with the fine web to form the authenticated web.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided in a fibrous web making process wherein fibrous material is deposited on a moving belt to consolidate fibres therein and form a base web further including the steps of applying op~ically varia~le material which changes colour with varying angles of incident light to a surface of said base web and covenng said surface and said optically variable matenal with additional fibrous material to form a fibrous web, said additional fibrous material being sufficiently thin to permit light to pass therethrougll and contact said optically variable mate~
Preferably, the optically variable material is in the form of a powder and is ~pplied to the base web either by spraying, off-set printing, silk screening,impressing or laser transfer techniques.
- WO 93/22496 ~13 119 9 PCr/CA93/00188 The present invention provides a novel apparatus and method of authenticating a fibrous web using optically variable material that changes colour with varying angles of incident light. The apparatus embeds the optically variable material in the fibrous web using the simple technique of applying the optically variable material to a base web and overlying the ophcally variable material and the base web with additional fibrous material that is thin enough to permit light to pass, allowing the utilization of the optical properties of the optically variable material. The optically variable material can be applied to the base web at discrete locations to form individual marks or canbe applied continuously to form strips. This facilitates the authentication process since the op~ically variable materi~l is applied in situ during the fibrous web making process.
BRIEF DESC~IPllON OF THE DRAWING
.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described more fully with reference t~ the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure la is a top plan view of a paper document with optically variable material therein;
Figure lb is a section of the document illustrated in Figure la taken along line a-a;
Figure 2 is a side view of a paper making machine including a device for applying optically variable material during formation of a paper web;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the d~vice for applying optically variable material to the paper web used in the paper making machine illustrated in Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the device for applying optically variable material ~ the paper web used in the paper making machine illustrated in Figure 2;
WO 93/2~496 PC~/CA93/00188 '23 34199 -~-Figure S is a side view of yet another embodiment of the device for applying optically variable material to the paper web used in the paper making machine illustrated in Figure 2;
Figure 6 a top view of the device illustrated in Figure S;
Figure 7 is a side view of still yet another embodiment of the device for applying optically variable material to the paper web used in the paper making machine illustrated in Figure 2;
Figure 8 is a top view of the device illustrated in Figure 7;
Figure 9 is a side view of still yet another embodiment of the device for applying optically variable material to the paper web used in the paper malcing machine illustrated in Figure 2;
Figure 10 is a top view of the device illustrated in Figure 9;
Figure 11 is a side view of another embodiment of a por~ion of a paper making machine including a device for applying optically variable materiai;
Figure 12 is a side view of another embodiment of a machine for making a base web on which optîcally vanable material is to be applied;
Figure 13 is a side view of another embodiment of a machine for making a base web on which optically variable material is to be applied;
Figure 14 is a section of an embodiment of a portion of an authenticated web made using one of the machines illustrated in Figures 12 and 13; and Figure 15 is a section of another embodimen~ of a portion of an authenticated web made using the device illustra~ed in Figures 7 and 8.
BESI` MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Referring now to Figure 1, an authenticated document is shown and is ~nerally indicated by reference numeral 10. In this example, the document 10 is in the form of paper currency cut from a continuous paper web, although it should be realiæd by those of skill in the art that any other type of valuable article formed of fibrous material can constitute the authenticated document.
2 ~ 3 '~19 9 PCI/CA93/00188 These other types of articles may include for example, passports, visas, travel documents, identity cards and the like. Embedded within the paper document 10 is optically variable material 12. The optically variable material 1~ exhibits a colour change with changing angles of incident light as will be described.
This enables an individual to determine at a glance, an authentic document 10 ~rom a counterfeit one by tilting the document 10 and viewing the colour change of the material 12.
The reflected colour from a white light source that one perceives depends on the colour of the document 10 on which the material 12 is deposited and the optical properties of the material 12 itself. For the material 12 to exhibit a colour change as light is transmitted or reflected from the material and which changes colour with varying angles of Incident light, the material rnust be designed to have a cha~acteristic spectral reflectance and a different characteristic spectral transmittance. The colouring on the surface of the document 10 beneath the material 12 absorbs some of the light transmitted ~hrough the matenal and ~his effects the colour properties of the material 12.
The aforementioned prior art patents to Baird et al and Berning et al describe different optically variable ar~icles forrned of multi-layer optical thin films which exhibit a colour change (typically from red or gold ~o green~ with varying angles of incident light. In the present invention, optically variable mate~ial similar to these articles can be used during the formation of the fibrous web. Various embodiments of an apparatus for forming an authenticated fibrous web from which the authen~icated document 10 having optically variable material embedded therein may be made, will now be described.
Referring to Figure 2, an apparatus 20 for forming a fibrous web having optically variable material embedded therein is shown. As can be seen, the apparatus 20 includes a head box 24 receiving a pulp mixture 26 via a feed line WO 93/22496 2 13 119 9 PCr/CA93/00188 `: ~
28. The head box 24 has an angled outlet 30 with a slice 32 to control the fl~w of pulp ~ixture 26 out of the head box 24. The pulp mixture 26 leaving the outlet 30 is delivered on a FourdrirLier table 33 in the form of a base web 22.
In the context of the present inven~ion, base web refers to base paper fibres when rough and saturated with water lat least to some exterlt) supplied from thehead box 24. The Fourdrinier table 33 supports and transports the base web, allows the papers fibres in the base web to align and allows water to be removed from the base web by vacuum. To achieve this, the Fourdrinier table 33 includes a moving, endless, mesh, wire belt 34 wound around a drive roller 36 and a pair of idler rollers 38 and 40 respectively. The drive roller 36 is rotated by a motor (not shown) to move the wire belt 34 so that the base we~
22 moves downstream of the head box 24 in the direction of arrow 44.
Adjacent the drive roller 36 ar~ vacuum elements 42 which remove water from the base web æ. During this process, $he head box 24 continuously delivers pulp mixture 26 onto the wire belt 34 so that a continuous base web is formed.
Downstream of the Fourdrinier table 33 is a web drive 50 including a drive belt ~2 supporting the undersur~ace of the base web 22. The belt 52 is wound around a pair of rollers 54 and 56 respectively. Located above the base web æ adjacent the web drive 50 is an optically variable material applicator 60. The applicator 60 is vertically spaced from the base web 22 and applies optically variable material 60 to the base web while the fibres therein are pliable. Various embodiments of applicators 60 for performing this operation will be discussed herein.
Downstream of the roller 56 is another head box 70. Similar to the head box 24, the head box 70 has an angled outlet 72 with a slice 74 to control the flow of pulp mixture out of the head box 70. The thickness of pulp mixture leaving the outlet 72 is controlled so that the optically variable ma$erial 62 on the base web æ is covered with a fibrous layer 73 to fo~n an authenticated 213~199 wo 93/22496 ~ PC~/CAg3/00188 1 1 . , fibrous web 75 while ensuring that light can pass through it in order to take advantage of the colour changeability of the material 62~
Beneath the head box 70 is located another Fourdlinier table 76 which supports and transports the fibrous web 75. Similarly, the table 76 includes wire mesh belt 80 wound around a drive roller 82 and a pair of idler rollers 84 and 86 respectively. A motor (not shown) rotates the drive roller 82 to move the belt 80 and therefore, the fibrous web. Vacuum elements 87 are adjacent the drive roller 82 to remove more water from the fibrous web 75.
Downstream of the drive roller 82 is another web drive 88 including a drive belt 90 supporting the undersurface of the fibrous web. The belt 90 is wound ;
around a pair of rollers 92 and 94. The web drive 88 moves the fibrous web 75 to appropriate finishing areas wherein the thickness of the fibrous layer 73 covering the optically variable material 62 can be altered, if necessary, to ensure that the fibrous web 75 exhibits the proper optical characteristics with varying andes of incident light. .
Figure 3 better illustrates one embodiment of the optically variable material applicator 60 which makes use of spraying to apply the optically variable ma~erial ~o the base web 22. The applicator 60 includes a gas pressuriæd sprayer 100 storing flakes of optically variable material 62 formed from layers of optical thin film materi~l. Each flake is of a size and aspect ratio to maintain its optical pr~perties with changing angles of incident light.Below the sprayer 100 is a fixed mask 102 with an aperture 104 provided through it. As the base web 22 passes beneath the applicator 60, the sprayer 100 discharges the optically variable material towards the mask 102. The optically variable material 62 passes through the mask 102 via the aperture 104 onto the base web 22. Since the sprayer 100 is operated conhnuously in this process, the base web n has a continuous optically variable skip 106 applied to it.
WO 93/22496 21 3 l l 9 9 PCI`/CA93/00188 Figure 4 shows another embodiment of the applicator 60' similar to that iliustrated in Figure 3. In this embodiment~ like reference numerals will be used to indicate like components with a ""' added for clarity. As can be seen, the applicator 60' includes a liquid pressurized sprayer 1~' storing flakes of optically variable material 62. A mask 102' is located below the sprayer 100' and is in the form of a belt wound about a pair of laterally spaced guides 10~.
Although not shown, the mask 102' is moved by a suitable drive so that it moYes over the base web at the same speed as the base web 22. The mask 102' has a plurality of spaced, different, geometrically shaped apertures 104' provided through it. In operation, as the base web 2~ is moYed by ~he belt 52, the mask 102' is moved over the base web 22 at the same speed. The sprayer 100' is operated conhnuously and therefore discharges optically variable material towards the mask. When an aperture 104' passes beneath the spr~yer 100', the optically variable ma~erial is applied to the base web 22 as discrete marks 106' in the shape of the aperture.
The operation of the sprayer 100' may also be timed with the movement of the mask 102' to spray the optically variable material towards the mask only when an aperture 104' in the mask is positioned beneath the sprayer. This has the advantage in that less optically variable material is required but requires more sophisticated control equipment to time the operation of the sprayer with the position of the apertures in the mask 102'. When using a spraying technique to apply the optically variable ma~erial to the base web 22, the orientation of powder needs to be controlled so that flakes of optically variable material generally lie ~at on the base web 22 and maintain their optical properties.
Figures 5 and 6 illustrate yet another embodiment of the applicator 60 which makes use of an off-set printing technique to apply the optically variablematerial to the base web 22. In this embodiment, the ophcaliy variable r ~13 1I 9g WO 93/22496 PCI`/CA93/00188 material 62 is held in a fountain 120 vert.ically spaced above the base web 22.
The optically variable material is immersed in either water or a solvent 123 suitable for application purposes. A gravure cylinder 124 having patterns 126 on its outer surface has a portion of its outer sur~ace submersed in the fountairl 120. Thus, as the cylinder 124 rotates the en~ire sur~ace of the cylinder becomes coated in the solution. A doctor blade 128 is positioned adjacent the gravure cylinder 124 to control the thickness of the coating carried by the cylinder 124.
The gravure cylinder 124 contacts a contra-rotating transfer roller 130 and deposits the coating thereon only when the etched patterns 126 on the gravure cylinder 124 contact the transfer roller 130. The transfer roller 130 inturn contacts a printing roller 132 and transfers the coating on its outer surface to the printing roller. The printing roller 132 in turn contacts the base web 22to apply the optically variable material on its outer surface to the base web.
The pattern of the optically variable material applied to the base web 22 is in the same pattern as the patterns 126 on the gravure cylinder 124. On the undersurface of the paper web æ directly below the printing roller 132 is an impression roller 134 which ensures good contact between the base web 22 and the printing roller 132 so that the optically va~iable ma~erial 62 is trans~erred to the paper web 22. If the pattern on the gravure cylinler 124 extends along the entire circumference of the cylinder, a continuous ophcally variable strip 136 is applied to the base web 22. Alternatively discrete etchings can be provided on the gravure cylinder 124 to apply individual optically v~riable marks 138 to the base web 22. Although not shown, rather than using the off-set printing technique described above~ a silk screening technique can be used to apply the optically variable mate~ial to the base web 22.
Figures 7 and 8 show yet another applicator 60 which makes use of embedding techniques to apply the optically variable material 62 to the surface WO 93/22496 PCI`/CA93/00188 of the base web 22. This unit includes two devices 150 and 152 respectively for embedding the material into the base web 22 in different patterns. One of the devices 150 is in the form of a stamping unit 154 having a ver~ically movable plunger 156 with an application head 158 at its lower end. In this embodiment, the optically variable material is in the form of individual optically variable articles. A cartridge dispenser (not shown) is associated with the stamping unit 154 and stores the optically variable ar~icles to be embedded in the base web 22. The plunger 156 is rnovable oYer the dispenser so that an optically variable article may be removed from the dispenser. To achieve this~
a vacuum is created at the application head 158 so that th~ op~ically variable article can be picked up by the plunger. The plunger 156 is then moved to con~act the base web 22 and the vacuum is shut off so that when the application head 158 contacts the base web 22, the optically variable article carried on theapplication head 158 is embedded in the base web 22. This allows discr~te optically variable marks 168 to be embedded in the base web 22.
The other device 152 includes a roller 160 carrying a ribbon 162 of optically variable material on a plastic carrier, paper carrier or the like. Theroller 160 is rotated by a motor (not shown) to unwind the ribbon 162. Guide rollers 164 and 166 position and press the ribbon into the base web 22 as it passes beneath the device 152. This allows a continuous strip 170 of optically ~ariable material to be embedded into the base web 22.
Figures 9 and 10 illustrate still yet another embodiment of the applicator 60 which makes use of a laser transfer process to apply the optically variable material to the base web 22. In this embodiment, the optically variable material 62 is carried on a polyester carrier film 200 wound between a pair of rollers 202 and 204 respeetively. A motor (not shown) rotates roller 204 to unwind th~ film 200 from roller 202 and wind it about roller 204. A laser 206 is positioned between the rollers and directs a coherent horizontal beam of WO 93/22496 .. ~. 3 ~ 1 9 9 P~fCA93/00188 radiation 207 towards a bending prism 208. The bending prism 208 changes the direction of the beam of radiation 207 by 90 degrees towards the film 200.
Before the beam of radiation 206 impinges on the film, it passes~through a Sxed mask 214 having an aperture 212 and is then focused by a lens 210 so that the shape of the light impinging on the film 200 is controlled. The power and the wavelength of the laser 206 is controlled so that the optically variablematerial ~ragments and falls from the carrier film 200 onto the base web 22.
If a continuous strip 220 of optically variable material 62 is to be applied to the base web 22, the laser 206 should be operated continuously and the film 200 should moved over the base web 22 at the same speed as the base web.
If it is desired to apply the optically variable material 62 to the base web 22 in the form of discrete, geometrically shaped marks 222, the laser 206 can be pulsed. Alternately, the optically variable material 62 can be moved in stages over the base web 22 or a movable mask 24 similar to that shown in Figure 4 ean be used. . ;`
Referring now to Figure 11, another embodiment of a portion 300 of an apparatus for covering the base web 22 having optically variable material 62 thereon with additional fibrous materi~ is shown. The portion 300 is located downstream of the head box 24 and ~ourdrinier table 33. As can be seen, downstream of the web drive 50 and the applicator 6(3 is another roller 304 around which the base web 22 having the optically variable material 62 thereon , is wound. A second fine fibrous web 306 passes around a guide roller 308 and winds around the roller 304 to overlie the surface of the base web 22 on which tbe optically variable material is located. An impression roller 310 adjacent the roller 304 ensures that the base web 22 and fine fibrous web 306 adhere to form a laminated fibrous web 75. The laminated fibrous web 75 passes around a~other guide roller 312 and proceeds to a finishing section wherein the thic~ness of the fine fibrous web 306 overlying the optically variable material WO 93/22496 PCI`JCA93/00188 ~ 134199 -16- ~`
is altered, if necessary, to ensure that it is sufficiently thin to permit light to pass therethrough and contact the optically variable material 62.
~ igure 12 shows another apparatus 320 for forming a base web 22 on which optically variable ma~rial may be deposited. In this embodiment, rather than using a head box 24 to apply the pulp mixture 26 on the Fourdrinier table 33, a cylinder mould machine 322 is used. As can be seen, the cylinder mould machine 322 includes a vat 324 receiving the pulp mixture 26 from a feed line (not shown). The vat 324 is in the form of an open cylindrical trough in which a cylinder mould 326 is located The cylinder mould 326 is in the form of a cylindrical, mesh roller and is partially submersed in the pulp mixture 26. The vat and cylinder mould are positioned below an endless belt 328 such as that manufactured and sold under the name Fo~nex~. The ~linder mould 326 contacts the belt 328 adjacent a couch roller 330. The bel~ 328 is wound around the couch roller 330, a drive roller 332 as well as a pair of idler rollers 334 and 336 respectively. Vacuum elements 338 are located below the belt 328 just upstream of the drive roller 332.
In operation, as the ~ylinder mould 326 rotates a film of pulp coats the wire mesh roller. Water is removed from the inside of the cylinder mould 326 while a layer o~ fibres coats the outside of the mould. The couch roller 330 which ensures good contact between the belt 328 as it winds around the rollers and the cylinder mould 326 causes the fibres to be peeled off the cylinder mould 326 onto the belt 328 to form a base web 22. Th~ belt in turn, carries the base web 22 towards the drive roller 328 wherein it is conveyed to one of ~he applicators 60 previously described. This allows the base web 22 to be authenticated with optically va~iable material 62.
Figure 13 shows another embodiment of an apparatus 348 for forrning a base web 22 that is virtually identical to that sh~wn in Figure 2 with the WO 93/22496 ~13 41!~ 9 PCr/CA93/00188 exception that it makes use of a Dandy roller 350 to form waterrnarks in the base web 22 befiore optically variable material 62 is applied to the base web 22.
As is known to those of skill in the art, the Dandy roller 350 has an efnboss onit which displaces fibres in the base web 22 and produces areas of varying fibredensities to form watermarks on the base web 72 as the Dandy roller 350 rotates. A watermark is only observed in transmission where the amount of light transmitted through the fibrous web varies according to the local density of the web fibres. In other words, areas with a high density of fibres transmit little light and appear dark whereas areas with a low density of fibres transmitrelatively more light and appear translucent.
Figure 14 shows a portion of a fibrous web 75 on which watermarks 351 and in which optically variable material 62 in the form of discrete marks have been formed. The varying density of portions of the fibres in the fibrous web due to the watermarks 351 and the depth of the optically variable material 62 in the fibrous web, cause different por~ions of the fibrous web 75 to have different light reflective and light transmissive properties Rl to R2 and T, to T4 respectively. This produces interesting colour e~ects as the angle of incident light changes.
If it is desired to ~orm wate~narks using the apparatus illustrated in Figure 12, the desired watermark features must be embossed on the mesh of the cylinder mould 326. The recessed areas of the embossed pat~ern on the cylinder mould 326 attract more fibres than other areas of the cylinder mould`
326 and this creates different fibre density areas in the base web 22 deposited on the belt 328. This results in the forrnation of watermarks 351 in the fibrousweb.
Rather than applying the optically variable material 62 to the base web 22 in areas where the watermarks 351 have previously been formed, if a ~13~1~9 WO 93t22496 - PCr/CA93/00188 -18- :~;
printing technique is used such as that shown in Figures S and 6, the optically variable material may be applied to the base web 22 by the Dandy roller 350 at the same ~ime as the watermarlc is being formed. The opticalry variable ma~rial can be applied to the Dandy roller 350 b-y way of a transfer roller.
Alternatively, the optical variable mateIial 62 may be applied to the base web 22 with a neutral filler that causes local valiations in the density of the fibres in the base web. In this case, the optically variable material will be in ;
powder fonn and will be combined with the filler in a liquid solu~ion so that it may be applied to the base web 22 via a spraying or printing technique.
When the filler and optically variable matenal is applied to the base web 22, the filler crea~es areas of low fibre density thereby forming the op~ically variable wat rmarks. In this instance7 the use of the Dandy roller or emboss on the cylinder mould 326 ar~ not required.
Refemng to Figure 1~, another embodiment of a portion of an authenticated fibrous web 75 is shown. In this embodiment, multiple optically variable material 62 in the-form of discrete articles 168 are embedded in the base web æ and positioned so that the articles are at different depths within the fibrous web 75 with at least a portion of one of the ar~icles overlying the other.
By ensuring that the optical characteristics of each of` the articles 168 are difFerent, interesting colour effects can be achieved. To achieve this, two applicators 60 separated by a head box are required. The first applicator applies the deepest optically variable article to the bàse web 22 and the head box overlies it with a thin layer of fibrous or clear material. The second applicator then applies the other optically vanable article to the base web. Theoperation of the two applicators must be timed to ensure that the optically variable articles overlie one another as desired. Once the optically variable articles are in place on the base web, the base web is conveyed to the head box 70 or to the roller 304 so that the authenticated web 75 may be formed.
.'J13~19,9 ~
wo 93/22496 Pcr/cAs3~ool88 Alternatively, one of the optically variable articles can be embedded in the fibrous web and the other article can be applied to the surface of the fibrous web with at least a portion of one of the optically variable articles overlying the other.
This enables an individual to determine at a glance, an authentic document 10 ~rom a counterfeit one by tilting the document 10 and viewing the colour change of the material 12.
The reflected colour from a white light source that one perceives depends on the colour of the document 10 on which the material 12 is deposited and the optical properties of the material 12 itself. For the material 12 to exhibit a colour change as light is transmitted or reflected from the material and which changes colour with varying angles of Incident light, the material rnust be designed to have a cha~acteristic spectral reflectance and a different characteristic spectral transmittance. The colouring on the surface of the document 10 beneath the material 12 absorbs some of the light transmitted ~hrough the matenal and ~his effects the colour properties of the material 12.
The aforementioned prior art patents to Baird et al and Berning et al describe different optically variable ar~icles forrned of multi-layer optical thin films which exhibit a colour change (typically from red or gold ~o green~ with varying angles of incident light. In the present invention, optically variable mate~ial similar to these articles can be used during the formation of the fibrous web. Various embodiments of an apparatus for forming an authenticated fibrous web from which the authen~icated document 10 having optically variable material embedded therein may be made, will now be described.
Referring to Figure 2, an apparatus 20 for forming a fibrous web having optically variable material embedded therein is shown. As can be seen, the apparatus 20 includes a head box 24 receiving a pulp mixture 26 via a feed line WO 93/22496 2 13 119 9 PCr/CA93/00188 `: ~
28. The head box 24 has an angled outlet 30 with a slice 32 to control the fl~w of pulp ~ixture 26 out of the head box 24. The pulp mixture 26 leaving the outlet 30 is delivered on a FourdrirLier table 33 in the form of a base web 22.
In the context of the present inven~ion, base web refers to base paper fibres when rough and saturated with water lat least to some exterlt) supplied from thehead box 24. The Fourdrinier table 33 supports and transports the base web, allows the papers fibres in the base web to align and allows water to be removed from the base web by vacuum. To achieve this, the Fourdrinier table 33 includes a moving, endless, mesh, wire belt 34 wound around a drive roller 36 and a pair of idler rollers 38 and 40 respectively. The drive roller 36 is rotated by a motor (not shown) to move the wire belt 34 so that the base we~
22 moves downstream of the head box 24 in the direction of arrow 44.
Adjacent the drive roller 36 ar~ vacuum elements 42 which remove water from the base web æ. During this process, $he head box 24 continuously delivers pulp mixture 26 onto the wire belt 34 so that a continuous base web is formed.
Downstream of the Fourdrinier table 33 is a web drive 50 including a drive belt ~2 supporting the undersur~ace of the base web 22. The belt 52 is wound around a pair of rollers 54 and 56 respectively. Located above the base web æ adjacent the web drive 50 is an optically variable material applicator 60. The applicator 60 is vertically spaced from the base web 22 and applies optically variable material 60 to the base web while the fibres therein are pliable. Various embodiments of applicators 60 for performing this operation will be discussed herein.
Downstream of the roller 56 is another head box 70. Similar to the head box 24, the head box 70 has an angled outlet 72 with a slice 74 to control the flow of pulp mixture out of the head box 70. The thickness of pulp mixture leaving the outlet 72 is controlled so that the optically variable ma$erial 62 on the base web æ is covered with a fibrous layer 73 to fo~n an authenticated 213~199 wo 93/22496 ~ PC~/CAg3/00188 1 1 . , fibrous web 75 while ensuring that light can pass through it in order to take advantage of the colour changeability of the material 62~
Beneath the head box 70 is located another Fourdlinier table 76 which supports and transports the fibrous web 75. Similarly, the table 76 includes wire mesh belt 80 wound around a drive roller 82 and a pair of idler rollers 84 and 86 respectively. A motor (not shown) rotates the drive roller 82 to move the belt 80 and therefore, the fibrous web. Vacuum elements 87 are adjacent the drive roller 82 to remove more water from the fibrous web 75.
Downstream of the drive roller 82 is another web drive 88 including a drive belt 90 supporting the undersurface of the fibrous web. The belt 90 is wound ;
around a pair of rollers 92 and 94. The web drive 88 moves the fibrous web 75 to appropriate finishing areas wherein the thickness of the fibrous layer 73 covering the optically variable material 62 can be altered, if necessary, to ensure that the fibrous web 75 exhibits the proper optical characteristics with varying andes of incident light. .
Figure 3 better illustrates one embodiment of the optically variable material applicator 60 which makes use of spraying to apply the optically variable ma~erial ~o the base web 22. The applicator 60 includes a gas pressuriæd sprayer 100 storing flakes of optically variable material 62 formed from layers of optical thin film materi~l. Each flake is of a size and aspect ratio to maintain its optical pr~perties with changing angles of incident light.Below the sprayer 100 is a fixed mask 102 with an aperture 104 provided through it. As the base web 22 passes beneath the applicator 60, the sprayer 100 discharges the optically variable material towards the mask 102. The optically variable material 62 passes through the mask 102 via the aperture 104 onto the base web 22. Since the sprayer 100 is operated conhnuously in this process, the base web n has a continuous optically variable skip 106 applied to it.
WO 93/22496 21 3 l l 9 9 PCI`/CA93/00188 Figure 4 shows another embodiment of the applicator 60' similar to that iliustrated in Figure 3. In this embodiment~ like reference numerals will be used to indicate like components with a ""' added for clarity. As can be seen, the applicator 60' includes a liquid pressurized sprayer 1~' storing flakes of optically variable material 62. A mask 102' is located below the sprayer 100' and is in the form of a belt wound about a pair of laterally spaced guides 10~.
Although not shown, the mask 102' is moved by a suitable drive so that it moYes over the base web at the same speed as the base web 22. The mask 102' has a plurality of spaced, different, geometrically shaped apertures 104' provided through it. In operation, as the base web 2~ is moYed by ~he belt 52, the mask 102' is moved over the base web 22 at the same speed. The sprayer 100' is operated conhnuously and therefore discharges optically variable material towards the mask. When an aperture 104' passes beneath the spr~yer 100', the optically variable ma~erial is applied to the base web 22 as discrete marks 106' in the shape of the aperture.
The operation of the sprayer 100' may also be timed with the movement of the mask 102' to spray the optically variable material towards the mask only when an aperture 104' in the mask is positioned beneath the sprayer. This has the advantage in that less optically variable material is required but requires more sophisticated control equipment to time the operation of the sprayer with the position of the apertures in the mask 102'. When using a spraying technique to apply the optically variable ma~erial to the base web 22, the orientation of powder needs to be controlled so that flakes of optically variable material generally lie ~at on the base web 22 and maintain their optical properties.
Figures 5 and 6 illustrate yet another embodiment of the applicator 60 which makes use of an off-set printing technique to apply the optically variablematerial to the base web 22. In this embodiment, the ophcaliy variable r ~13 1I 9g WO 93/22496 PCI`/CA93/00188 material 62 is held in a fountain 120 vert.ically spaced above the base web 22.
The optically variable material is immersed in either water or a solvent 123 suitable for application purposes. A gravure cylinder 124 having patterns 126 on its outer surface has a portion of its outer sur~ace submersed in the fountairl 120. Thus, as the cylinder 124 rotates the en~ire sur~ace of the cylinder becomes coated in the solution. A doctor blade 128 is positioned adjacent the gravure cylinder 124 to control the thickness of the coating carried by the cylinder 124.
The gravure cylinder 124 contacts a contra-rotating transfer roller 130 and deposits the coating thereon only when the etched patterns 126 on the gravure cylinder 124 contact the transfer roller 130. The transfer roller 130 inturn contacts a printing roller 132 and transfers the coating on its outer surface to the printing roller. The printing roller 132 in turn contacts the base web 22to apply the optically variable material on its outer surface to the base web.
The pattern of the optically variable material applied to the base web 22 is in the same pattern as the patterns 126 on the gravure cylinder 124. On the undersurface of the paper web æ directly below the printing roller 132 is an impression roller 134 which ensures good contact between the base web 22 and the printing roller 132 so that the optically va~iable ma~erial 62 is trans~erred to the paper web 22. If the pattern on the gravure cylinler 124 extends along the entire circumference of the cylinder, a continuous ophcally variable strip 136 is applied to the base web 22. Alternatively discrete etchings can be provided on the gravure cylinder 124 to apply individual optically v~riable marks 138 to the base web 22. Although not shown, rather than using the off-set printing technique described above~ a silk screening technique can be used to apply the optically variable mate~ial to the base web 22.
Figures 7 and 8 show yet another applicator 60 which makes use of embedding techniques to apply the optically variable material 62 to the surface WO 93/22496 PCI`/CA93/00188 of the base web 22. This unit includes two devices 150 and 152 respectively for embedding the material into the base web 22 in different patterns. One of the devices 150 is in the form of a stamping unit 154 having a ver~ically movable plunger 156 with an application head 158 at its lower end. In this embodiment, the optically variable material is in the form of individual optically variable articles. A cartridge dispenser (not shown) is associated with the stamping unit 154 and stores the optically variable ar~icles to be embedded in the base web 22. The plunger 156 is rnovable oYer the dispenser so that an optically variable article may be removed from the dispenser. To achieve this~
a vacuum is created at the application head 158 so that th~ op~ically variable article can be picked up by the plunger. The plunger 156 is then moved to con~act the base web 22 and the vacuum is shut off so that when the application head 158 contacts the base web 22, the optically variable article carried on theapplication head 158 is embedded in the base web 22. This allows discr~te optically variable marks 168 to be embedded in the base web 22.
The other device 152 includes a roller 160 carrying a ribbon 162 of optically variable material on a plastic carrier, paper carrier or the like. Theroller 160 is rotated by a motor (not shown) to unwind the ribbon 162. Guide rollers 164 and 166 position and press the ribbon into the base web 22 as it passes beneath the device 152. This allows a continuous strip 170 of optically ~ariable material to be embedded into the base web 22.
Figures 9 and 10 illustrate still yet another embodiment of the applicator 60 which makes use of a laser transfer process to apply the optically variable material to the base web 22. In this embodiment, the optically variable material 62 is carried on a polyester carrier film 200 wound between a pair of rollers 202 and 204 respeetively. A motor (not shown) rotates roller 204 to unwind th~ film 200 from roller 202 and wind it about roller 204. A laser 206 is positioned between the rollers and directs a coherent horizontal beam of WO 93/22496 .. ~. 3 ~ 1 9 9 P~fCA93/00188 radiation 207 towards a bending prism 208. The bending prism 208 changes the direction of the beam of radiation 207 by 90 degrees towards the film 200.
Before the beam of radiation 206 impinges on the film, it passes~through a Sxed mask 214 having an aperture 212 and is then focused by a lens 210 so that the shape of the light impinging on the film 200 is controlled. The power and the wavelength of the laser 206 is controlled so that the optically variablematerial ~ragments and falls from the carrier film 200 onto the base web 22.
If a continuous strip 220 of optically variable material 62 is to be applied to the base web 22, the laser 206 should be operated continuously and the film 200 should moved over the base web 22 at the same speed as the base web.
If it is desired to apply the optically variable material 62 to the base web 22 in the form of discrete, geometrically shaped marks 222, the laser 206 can be pulsed. Alternately, the optically variable material 62 can be moved in stages over the base web 22 or a movable mask 24 similar to that shown in Figure 4 ean be used. . ;`
Referring now to Figure 11, another embodiment of a portion 300 of an apparatus for covering the base web 22 having optically variable material 62 thereon with additional fibrous materi~ is shown. The portion 300 is located downstream of the head box 24 and ~ourdrinier table 33. As can be seen, downstream of the web drive 50 and the applicator 6(3 is another roller 304 around which the base web 22 having the optically variable material 62 thereon , is wound. A second fine fibrous web 306 passes around a guide roller 308 and winds around the roller 304 to overlie the surface of the base web 22 on which tbe optically variable material is located. An impression roller 310 adjacent the roller 304 ensures that the base web 22 and fine fibrous web 306 adhere to form a laminated fibrous web 75. The laminated fibrous web 75 passes around a~other guide roller 312 and proceeds to a finishing section wherein the thic~ness of the fine fibrous web 306 overlying the optically variable material WO 93/22496 PCI`JCA93/00188 ~ 134199 -16- ~`
is altered, if necessary, to ensure that it is sufficiently thin to permit light to pass therethrough and contact the optically variable material 62.
~ igure 12 shows another apparatus 320 for forming a base web 22 on which optically variable ma~rial may be deposited. In this embodiment, rather than using a head box 24 to apply the pulp mixture 26 on the Fourdrinier table 33, a cylinder mould machine 322 is used. As can be seen, the cylinder mould machine 322 includes a vat 324 receiving the pulp mixture 26 from a feed line (not shown). The vat 324 is in the form of an open cylindrical trough in which a cylinder mould 326 is located The cylinder mould 326 is in the form of a cylindrical, mesh roller and is partially submersed in the pulp mixture 26. The vat and cylinder mould are positioned below an endless belt 328 such as that manufactured and sold under the name Fo~nex~. The ~linder mould 326 contacts the belt 328 adjacent a couch roller 330. The bel~ 328 is wound around the couch roller 330, a drive roller 332 as well as a pair of idler rollers 334 and 336 respectively. Vacuum elements 338 are located below the belt 328 just upstream of the drive roller 332.
In operation, as the ~ylinder mould 326 rotates a film of pulp coats the wire mesh roller. Water is removed from the inside of the cylinder mould 326 while a layer o~ fibres coats the outside of the mould. The couch roller 330 which ensures good contact between the belt 328 as it winds around the rollers and the cylinder mould 326 causes the fibres to be peeled off the cylinder mould 326 onto the belt 328 to form a base web 22. Th~ belt in turn, carries the base web 22 towards the drive roller 328 wherein it is conveyed to one of ~he applicators 60 previously described. This allows the base web 22 to be authenticated with optically va~iable material 62.
Figure 13 shows another embodiment of an apparatus 348 for forrning a base web 22 that is virtually identical to that sh~wn in Figure 2 with the WO 93/22496 ~13 41!~ 9 PCr/CA93/00188 exception that it makes use of a Dandy roller 350 to form waterrnarks in the base web 22 befiore optically variable material 62 is applied to the base web 22.
As is known to those of skill in the art, the Dandy roller 350 has an efnboss onit which displaces fibres in the base web 22 and produces areas of varying fibredensities to form watermarks on the base web 72 as the Dandy roller 350 rotates. A watermark is only observed in transmission where the amount of light transmitted through the fibrous web varies according to the local density of the web fibres. In other words, areas with a high density of fibres transmit little light and appear dark whereas areas with a low density of fibres transmitrelatively more light and appear translucent.
Figure 14 shows a portion of a fibrous web 75 on which watermarks 351 and in which optically variable material 62 in the form of discrete marks have been formed. The varying density of portions of the fibres in the fibrous web due to the watermarks 351 and the depth of the optically variable material 62 in the fibrous web, cause different por~ions of the fibrous web 75 to have different light reflective and light transmissive properties Rl to R2 and T, to T4 respectively. This produces interesting colour e~ects as the angle of incident light changes.
If it is desired to ~orm wate~narks using the apparatus illustrated in Figure 12, the desired watermark features must be embossed on the mesh of the cylinder mould 326. The recessed areas of the embossed pat~ern on the cylinder mould 326 attract more fibres than other areas of the cylinder mould`
326 and this creates different fibre density areas in the base web 22 deposited on the belt 328. This results in the forrnation of watermarks 351 in the fibrousweb.
Rather than applying the optically variable material 62 to the base web 22 in areas where the watermarks 351 have previously been formed, if a ~13~1~9 WO 93t22496 - PCr/CA93/00188 -18- :~;
printing technique is used such as that shown in Figures S and 6, the optically variable material may be applied to the base web 22 by the Dandy roller 350 at the same ~ime as the watermarlc is being formed. The opticalry variable ma~rial can be applied to the Dandy roller 350 b-y way of a transfer roller.
Alternatively, the optical variable mateIial 62 may be applied to the base web 22 with a neutral filler that causes local valiations in the density of the fibres in the base web. In this case, the optically variable material will be in ;
powder fonn and will be combined with the filler in a liquid solu~ion so that it may be applied to the base web 22 via a spraying or printing technique.
When the filler and optically variable matenal is applied to the base web 22, the filler crea~es areas of low fibre density thereby forming the op~ically variable wat rmarks. In this instance7 the use of the Dandy roller or emboss on the cylinder mould 326 ar~ not required.
Refemng to Figure 1~, another embodiment of a portion of an authenticated fibrous web 75 is shown. In this embodiment, multiple optically variable material 62 in the-form of discrete articles 168 are embedded in the base web æ and positioned so that the articles are at different depths within the fibrous web 75 with at least a portion of one of the ar~icles overlying the other.
By ensuring that the optical characteristics of each of` the articles 168 are difFerent, interesting colour effects can be achieved. To achieve this, two applicators 60 separated by a head box are required. The first applicator applies the deepest optically variable article to the bàse web 22 and the head box overlies it with a thin layer of fibrous or clear material. The second applicator then applies the other optically vanable article to the base web. Theoperation of the two applicators must be timed to ensure that the optically variable articles overlie one another as desired. Once the optically variable articles are in place on the base web, the base web is conveyed to the head box 70 or to the roller 304 so that the authenticated web 75 may be formed.
.'J13~19,9 ~
wo 93/22496 Pcr/cAs3~ool88 Alternatively, one of the optically variable articles can be embedded in the fibrous web and the other article can be applied to the surface of the fibrous web with at least a portion of one of the optically variable articles overlying the other.
Claims (24)
1. An apparatus for making an authenticated web formed of fibrous material comprising:
fibrous material dispensing means depositing fibrous material on a moving belt to form a base web;
an applicator downstream of said dispensing means applying optically variable material to a surface of said base web, said optically variable material changing colours with varying angles of incident light; and means downstream of said applicator for overlying the surface of said base web with additional fibrous material to cover said optically variable material and said base web and form said authenticated web whereby said fibrous material covering said optically variable material is sufficiently thin to permit light to pass therethrough and contact said optically variable material.
fibrous material dispensing means depositing fibrous material on a moving belt to form a base web;
an applicator downstream of said dispensing means applying optically variable material to a surface of said base web, said optically variable material changing colours with varying angles of incident light; and means downstream of said applicator for overlying the surface of said base web with additional fibrous material to cover said optically variable material and said base web and form said authenticated web whereby said fibrous material covering said optically variable material is sufficiently thin to permit light to pass therethrough and contact said optically variable material.
2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said optically variable material applied to said base web is in powder form.
3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said applicator includes a pressurized sprayer located above said base web and a mask positioned between said sprayer and said base web, said sprayer discharging said powder towards said mask, an aperture in said mask allowing said powder to contact said base web.
4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said sprayer is operated continuously and said mask is fixed relative to said base web to apply a continuous strip of optically variable material to said base web.
5. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said mask includes a plurality of spaced, geometrically shaped apertures and is movable over said base web at the same speed thereas, said sprayer operating continuously whereby optically variable material is applied to said base web at discrete locations when said apertures pass beneath said sprayer.
6. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said mask includes a plurality of spaced, geometrically shaped apertures and is movable over said base web at the same speed thereas, said sprayer being timed with said mask and discharging said optically variable material when an aperture in said mask is located beneath said sprayer.
7. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said powder is immersed in a liquid carrier and said applicator applies said optically variable material tosaid base web via an off-set printing or silk screening technique.
8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said applicator includes a gravure roller contacting said powder and liquid carrier, a transfer roller contacting said gravure roller and a printing roller contacting said transfer roller and said base web, said printing roller applying optically variable material to said base web transferred between each of said rollers.
9. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said optically variable material is in the form of discrete, optically variable articles and said applicator contacts said base web to impress said optically variable articles in said base web.
10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said applicator includes a stamping unit having a vertically movable head carrying said optically variable articles, said head contacting said base web and impressing said optically variable articles therein.
11. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said optically variable material is in the form of a continuous strip, said applicator includes a rollercarrying said strip and guide means, said roller applying said strip to said base web and said guide means impressing said strip therein.
12. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said optically variable material is carried on a carrier film movable aver said base web, said applicator including means to generate a beam of radiation, said radiation beingdirected to said carrier to fragment said optically variable material and separate said material from said carrier to apply said fragments to said base web.
13. An apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said carrier is moved continuously over said base web at the same speed thereas and said means to generate a beam of radiation is operated continuously to apply a strip of optically variable material to said base web.
14. An apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said means to generate said beam of radiation is pulsed to apply discrete marks of optically variable material to said base web.
15. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said applicator impresses at least one optically variable article into said base web and applies another optically variable article to said fibrous web so that so that at least a portion of said optically variable articles overlie one another.
16. An apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein both of said optically variable articles are embedded in said base web at different depths.
17. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including means to form a watermark on said base web in the area on which said optically variable material is applied.
18. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said optically variable material is applied to said base web after said watermark has been formed.
19. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said watermark and said optically variable material are formed on said base web simultaneously
20. In a fibrous web making process wherein fibrous material is deposited on a moving belt to consolidate fibres therein and form a base web further including the steps of applying optically variable material which changes colourwith varying angles of incident light on a surface of said base web and coveringsaid surface and said optically variable material with additional fibrous material to form a fibrous web, said additional fibrous material being sufficiently thin to permit light to pass therethrough and contact said optically variable material.
21. The process of claim 20 wherein said optically variable material is in the form of a powder.
22. The process of claim 21 wherein said optically variable material is sprayed on said base web with a suitable carrier.
23. The process of claim 21 wherein said optically variable material is applied to said base web using an off-set printing or silk screening technique.
24. The process of claim 21 wherein said optically variable material is applied to said base web using a laser transfer technique.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US87315192A | 1992-04-24 | 1992-04-24 | |
| US07/873,151 | 1992-04-24 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2134199A1 true CA2134199A1 (en) | 1993-11-11 |
Family
ID=25361072
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2134199 Abandoned CA2134199A1 (en) | 1992-04-24 | 1993-04-21 | Apparatus and method of making an authenticated web formed of fibrous material |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AU (1) | AU4258093A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2134199A1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1993022496A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IT1320079B1 (en) * | 2000-10-25 | 2003-11-18 | Cartiere Di Cordenons S P A | PRINTABLE FILIGREE PAPER MATERIALS WITH HIGH PRINTING QUALITY. |
| KR100407248B1 (en) * | 2000-12-29 | 2003-11-28 | 한국조폐공사 | A method for manufacturing a security paper containing multi-tonal watermark in fourdrinier machine |
| FI119391B (en) * | 2004-01-05 | 2008-10-31 | Stora Enso Oyj | Process for producing identification marks in paper or cardboard and a marked material created by the method |
| FR2897077B1 (en) * | 2006-02-03 | 2008-04-25 | Cascades Sa Sa | LAYER CARDBOARD WITH MARKING ELEMENT AND METHOD FOR MARKING SAID CARDBOARD |
| DE102017009357A1 (en) * | 2017-10-09 | 2019-04-11 | Giesecke+Devrient Currency Technology Gmbh | Manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method for security paper |
| DE102017009359A1 (en) * | 2017-10-09 | 2019-04-11 | Giesecke+Devrient Currency Technology Gmbh | Manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method for security paper |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2711120A (en) * | 1947-09-06 | 1955-06-21 | Maclaurin James Donald | Method and apparatus for watermarking paper |
| DE2724681A1 (en) * | 1976-06-03 | 1977-12-22 | Wiggins Teape Ltd | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING MARKINGS IN PAPER Web |
| US4534398A (en) * | 1984-04-30 | 1985-08-13 | Crane & Co. | Security paper |
| DE3601114A1 (en) * | 1986-01-16 | 1987-07-23 | Gao Ges Automation Org | METHOD FOR PRODUCING SECURITY PAPER WITH STORED SECURITY THREAD |
-
1993
- 1993-04-21 CA CA 2134199 patent/CA2134199A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1993-04-21 AU AU42580/93A patent/AU4258093A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1993-04-21 WO PCT/CA1993/000188 patent/WO1993022496A1/en active Application Filing
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| WO1993022496A1 (en) | 1993-11-11 |
| AU4258093A (en) | 1993-11-29 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued |
Effective date: 19990421 |