EP2996885B2 - Methods of manufacture of security documents - Google Patents
Methods of manufacture of security documents Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2996885B2 EP2996885B2 EP14725517.8A EP14725517A EP2996885B2 EP 2996885 B2 EP2996885 B2 EP 2996885B2 EP 14725517 A EP14725517 A EP 14725517A EP 2996885 B2 EP2996885 B2 EP 2996885B2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- substrate
- region
- reflection enhancing
- enhancing material
- curable
- 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.)
- Not-in-force
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
- B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
- B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
- B42D25/20—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof characterised by a particular use or purpose
- B42D25/29—Securities; Bank notes
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
- B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
- B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
- B42D25/30—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery
- B42D25/328—Diffraction gratings; Holograms
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
- B41M3/00—Printing processes to produce particular kinds of printed work, e.g. patterns
- B41M3/14—Security printing
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
- B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
- B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
- B42D25/30—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery
- B42D25/324—Reliefs
-
- B42D2033/04—
-
- B42D2033/10—
-
- B42D2033/18—
-
- B42D2033/30—
-
- B42D2035/20—
-
- B42D2035/36—
Definitions
- the present invention relates to security documents such as banknotes, currency, identification documents, passports, cheques, visas, certificates and the like, and methods for their manufacture.
- the invention relates to security documents incorporating security devices in the form of optically variable effect generating relief structures such as holograms and/or diffraction gratings.
- the disclosed methods are particularly well adapted for integral formation of such security devices on a security document having a polymeric substrate, such as a polymer banknote.
- Optically variable effect generating relief structures such as holograms and diffraction gratings have been used widely over the last few years to impart security to documents of value such as banknotes, credit cards, passports and the like.
- the structure is provided on a transfer foil and then hot stamped from the transfer foil onto the final document substrate.
- An early example of this approach is described in US-A-4728377 .
- Such techniques work well with traditional security documents having substrates formed of paper, for example.
- substrates such as polymer substrates.
- polymer-based banknotes typically comprise a substrate of polypropylene, which can withstand temperatures up to around 80 degrees C.
- Hot stamping methods commonly operate at higher temperatures, e.g. around 250 to 300 degrees C, which would cause damage to such substrates. Meanwhile, the use of cold adhesives has generally proved unsuccessful since the bond between polymer and security device is often not sufficiently robust.
- a curable material is applied to the polymer substrate and embossed with a desired relief structure. Simultaneously or subsequently, the material is cured, e.g. by exposure to UV radiation, in order to fix the relief structure. A metallic ink is then applied to the relief to provide a reflective layer, in order to render the optically variable effect visible.
- An example of such a method is disclosed in WO-A-2008/031170 .
- a method of manufacturing a security document comprises:
- viewing region it is meant a gap in the coating layer(s) applied in step (d), within which the relief structure will be viewed in the end product.
- the viewing region could have the same opacity as its surroundings such that it is not distinguishable in transmitted light.
- the viewing region comprises a window region, i.e. a region of lower opacity than its surroundings.
- the coating layer(s), curable material and reflection enhancing material can all be applied in register with one another, whilst still enabling the use of a metal or HRI layer as the reflection enhancing material.
- the optical quality of the security device formed in the third region by the cured material and reflection enhancing material in combination can be comparable to those of traditional foil-based devices.
- steps (b), (d) and (e) the respective curable material, coating layers and masking substance are applied in register with one another and advantageously in register with the relief structure formed in step (c).
- each of the steps defining the end locations of the viewing region in the coating layer(s), the curable material and the reflection enhancing material can be performed using similar or the same type of application techniques (e.g. printing or coating), and hence all can be performed in a continuous, in-line process.
- This further enhances the achievable registration and simplifies the manufacturing process since all of these application steps can be completed before the deposition step (e.g. metallisation), which may take place separately, e.g. as part of a separate process and potentially on separate apparatus. This may be the final step in the manufacturing process with no need for further application steps, hence reducing the manufacturing process to two key stages.
- the viewing region could take a number of different forms, including an interruption in only the coating layer(s) applied to the first or second side of the substrate to reveal the security device, whilst the other side may ultimately be fully coated with opaque material, in which case the viewing region will not be visible in transmission.
- the viewing region defined by the coating layer(s) laid down in step (d) is a window region. This may ultimately be a full window (i.e. no coating layer is provided on either side of the substrate in the window region) or a half window (i.e. coating layer(s) of less than 100% opacity are applied to only one side of the substrate in the window region).
- the coating layer(s) which are laid down in step (d) are the layer(s) which define the location, shape and size of the viewing region by means of a gap in those layer(s). In some cases, this will include all of the coating layers which are planned to be applied to the security document. However, in other cases there may be additional coating layer(s) which do not contribute to the definition of the viewing region and in this case such additional layer(s) could be applied during step (d) or at any later stage, including after step (e) or after step (f).
- the coating layer(s) applied to one side of the substrate may extend all over the substrate and these could be applied later since no registration between such all-over layer(s) and any other feature is necessary.
- the coating layer(s) applied in step (d) will generally be applied outside the first region containing the curable material, those coating layer(s) may also overlap that first region, provided that on the first surface, at least part of the first region is left uncovered at the end of step (d) so that it is available for receipt of reflection enhancing material in step (f).
- the coating layer(s) applied in step (d) will not fully overlap the curable material, but on the second surface of the substrate the coating layer(s) applied in step (d) may extend across the whole first region, e.g. if the viewing region is to be a half-window.
- the coating layer(s) define either a window or a "half-window" structure (translucent or non-translucent) on the substrate within which at least part of the curable material is located.
- the relief structure could be configured to exhibit any type of optically variable effect, which means that its appearance is different at different viewing angles.
- the optically variable effect generating relief structure is one which gives rise to a diffractive optical effect, such as a hologram or a diffraction grating.
- the relief structure may be a non-holographic optical structure, such as a prismatic structure.
- the masking substance could operate according to various different mechanisms, including inhibiting adhesion of the reflection enhancing material to the substrate and/or obstructing deposition of the reflection enhancing material onto the substrate in the first place.
- the masking substance may repel the reflection enhancing material such that no deposition of the reflection enhancing material occurs in the areas to which the masking substance has been applied. In other cases, there may be some deposition of the reflection enhancing material in these areas. This may become detached subsequently without any positive intervention, but in preferred implementations, the method further comprises, after step (f):
- the masking substance comprises an oil mask adapted such that application of the reflection enhancing material thereto causes degassing of the oil mask, thereby impeding adhesion of the reflection enhancing material to the substrate.
- oil masks include low molecular weight oils, including silicones, which will boil off in a vacuum environment.
- US-A-3935334 mentions oil masks in the content of metallised resin films for condenser elements.
- the masking substance comprises a soluble mask, such as soluble ink (comprised of an appropriate binder and pigment combination), which does not adhere strongly to the substrate or can be dissolved by application of a solvent (aqueous or otherwise), thereby impeding adhesion of the reflection enhancing material applied thereto to the substrate. In this case a washing step may be required.
- a suitable soluble mask in the form of a heavily pigmented ink are described in WO-A-9913157 .
- the soluble mask is configured such that, when coated with a thin deposited layer of reflection enhancing material (e.g.
- the masking substance creates small holes or discontinuities in the metal film by virtue of the fact that the metal film (typically 15 to 30nm thick) is not thick enough to continuously over coat the pigment grains in the mask.
- a suitable solvent preferably water
- the solvent enters through these holes, dissolving the pigment such that the overlying metal layer disbands.
- the pigment grain dimensions are preferably greater than the thickness of the reflection enhancing film. For instance, preferred pigment grain sizes may be in the range of greater than or equal to about 100 nm, and less than 500 nm.
- a soluble mask will be preferred over an oil mask in many cases, since such oils (e.g. low molecular weight oils) will tend to offset, transfer or smear if the substrate web is wound into a roll after printing.
- oils e.g. low molecular weight oils
- the use of oil masks is more suited to processes in which in-line metalisation takes place after the printing or other application steps (i.e. there is no rewind process between printing and metalisation).
- the use of a print soluble mask applied does not impose such limitations.
- the vapours produced by degassing of an oil mask can in some circumstances lead to contamination of the optical structure.
- the curable material, coating layer(s) and masking substance can be laid down using any appropriate method which enables selective application of the materials to the desired regions of the substrate.
- the respective curable material, coating layers and/or masking substance are applied using one or more printing technique(s), such as gravure printing, flexographic printing or slotted die coating.
- Printing techniques are preferred since the materials can be laid down in a precisely controllable manner. Different printing techniques may be used for each of the steps as appropriate for the material in question. However, in particularly preferred embodiments, the same printing technique is used for steps (b), (d) and (e), which simplifies the manufacturing process and apparatus.
- steps (b), (c), (d) and (e) are performed in a continuous, in-line process.
- these steps may be carried out at stations along one continuous manufacturing line such that the relative location of the substrate is known between one station and the next. This approach allows particularly high registration to be achieved and also delimits all the printing/application steps from subsequent metallisation (or other deposition) processes.
- the deposition of the reflection enhancing material can be achieved using any appropriate deposition technique but generally a non-selective deposition technique will be preferred for simplicity. That is, the technique will result in the deposition of a contiguous layer of the reflection enhancing material across the entire area of the substrate which is exposed to the deposition process. In many cases, this will be the entire first surface of the substrate (although this is not essential).
- the reflection enhancing material is deposited by vacuum deposition, suitable techniques including electron beam vapour deposition, vapour deposition from a resistively heated source (e.g. a boat source), pulsed laser vapour deposition, evaporative vapour deposition and sputtering, as well as chemical vapour deposition methods. Evaporative vapour deposition techniques from resistively heated or electron beam sources are generally preferred.
- the reflection enhancing material is a metal or alloy, or a material with a refractive index which differs from that of the cured material by at least 0.3, more preferably 0.5 (known as "high refractive index (HRI)" materials). That is, the reflection enhancing material is laid down as a contiguous layer of the selected material (or as multiple spaced portions each having such a contiguous layer). This should be contrasted with materials such as metallic inks, which comprise a dispersion of reflective particles in a binder, the reflective (particle) material itself therefore not forming a contiguous layer. Examples of suitable metals or alloys include aluminium, copper, nickel, chrome, aluminium-copper allows, silver, gold, etc.
- high refractive index materials we mean materials having an index of refraction which exceeds that of the transparent base layer by a numerical value of preferably 0.5 or more. Since the refractive index of the base layer will typically fall in the range of 1.45 - 1.55, then a high refractive index material will be one with an index of preferably 2.0 or more. In practice high refractive index materials with good visual transparency will have an index in the range 2.0 to 2.5.
- suitable HRI materials include zirconium dioxide and zinc sulphide and titanium dioxide
- the curable material is a transparent curable material. This enables the optical effect generated by the relief structure to be observed through the substrate and hence, if the opposite side of the relief structure is also visible and both sides of the reflection enhancing material conform to the relief, the optical effect is exhibited by both sides of the device. This results in a security device with a strong visual impact and hence increased security level.
- the curable transparent material may be of a type which can be cured by the application of any form of energy, such as heat.
- the curable transparent material is radiation-curable, preferably UV-curable, and in step (c) the curing comprises exposing the formed curable material to curing radiation, preferably UV radiation.
- the application of radiation can generally be more accurately controlled than that of heat, e.g. through the use of appropriately directed radiation sources and/or masks.
- the cross-linking action is generally much more rapid in UV curable systems compared to thermal cure systems leading to a more accurate relief forming process.
- the substrate is at least semi-transparent to the curing energy (e.g. to the relevant radiation wavelength(s)), so that the energy can be applied to the curable material through the substrate.
- Polypropylene for example, is generally transparent to UV wavelengths.
- the curable material is preferably at least visually semi-transparent (i.e. transmits wavelengths in the visible range) such that the optical effect of the device can be viewed through the material.
- the material need not transmit all visible wavelengths equally and in preferred examples, the material further comprises an optically effective substance, preferably a visible colourant, a luminescent, phosphorescent or fluorescent material. This further enhances the security level of the device and can be used to cause the optically variable effect to be seen in a different colour when viewed from one side of the device (through the curable material) as opposed to the other.
- Such optically effective substances could additionally or alternatively be disposed in any of the other layers of the device, including the substrate and/or the reflection enhancing layer.
- step (b) comprises applying two or more curable materials to the first region of the substrate in a pattern, one or more of the curable materials comprising an optically effective substance such that the two or more curable materials have different optical characteristics, preferably visibly different under at least visible or non-visible illumination.
- the security level of the device is further increased. If two or more curable materials are provided it is preferred that they are each adapted to be cured by the same type of curing energy and most advantageously at the same rate as one another, so that both are cured simultaneously in step (c).
- the partially cured transparent material and the layer of reflection enhancing material can be formed by any appropriate method but preferably the layers are embossed with a die carrying the relief structure, wherein the die advantageously forms part of an embossing roller.
- the embossing roller may preferably carry the relief structure in the form of a repeating pattern. The repeat periodicity is preferably matched to that of the document repeat length and/or width.
- the curable material may be cured simultaneously with and/or subsequently to forming of the relief structure in the surface of the curable material.
- the embossing roller is opaque (e.g. metal)
- curing can occur at the point of impression with radiation being transmitted through the substrate, for instance using a transparent quartz nip roller opposing the embossing roller.
- curing can take place just after the resin leaves the impressing nip, in which case the radiation can be applied through the substrate or from the opposite side.
- the one or more coating layers applied in step (d) comprises one or more opacifying layers.
- This step is particularly relevant where the substrate is to become the substrate of a polymer banknote.
- the coating may be applied to one or both sides of the substrate and as mentioned above, is preferably omitted across the (third) region in which the security device is formed on both sides, although in some cases it may be applied across all of some of the region on the side of the substrate opposite from that to which the curable material is applied. This can lead to the appearance of a "half window” effect and/or conceal one or more portions of the device when viewed through the substrate.
- Opacifying layers typically comprise a binder containing a white (or other coloured) pigment.
- the method further comprises, after step (d) or step (f), printing a graphics layer onto the one or more coating layers.
- the graphics layer may include for example background patterns such as those typically seen on banknotes, optionally incorporating fine line patterns, guilloches and other security features, information such as denomination and other standard document data, and/or printed features which uniquely identify or personalise the document, such as a serial number in the case of a banknote or details of the holder in the case of an identity document.
- background patterns such as those typically seen on banknotes, optionally incorporating fine line patterns, guilloches and other security features, information such as denomination and other standard document data, and/or printed features which uniquely identify or personalise the document, such as a serial number in the case of a banknote or details of the holder in the case of an identity document.
- guilloches and other security features such as those typically seen on banknotes
- information such as denomination and other standard document data
- printed features which uniquely identify or personalise the document, such as a
- the method further comprises, prior to step (b) or step (d), treating the surface of the substrate to increase adhesion between the substrate and the curable material and/or the coating layer(s), preferably by the application of a primer substance or corona treatment.
- a primer substance or corona treatment can for example raise the surface of the substrate making it more receptive to the subsequent application of the curable material and/or the coating layer(s).
- the method further comprises, after step (c), treating the formed surface of the cured material to increase adhesion between the cured material and the reflection enhancing material, preferably by plasma or corona treatment.
- the method can preferably be implemented as a web-based process with multiple security devices (i.e. "third regions") being formed on a substrate which is then divided such that each device is located on a separate piece of substrate.
- the method further comprises, after step (f), cutting the substrate into individual security. Typically this would also take place after the optional step of printing a graphics layer has been performed.
- the first, second and/or third regions define respective indicia such as a character, letter, number, symbol, graphic element or the like, the respective indicia preferably being different.
- first and second regions, and hence the third region are the same such that the reflection enhancing material is retained across the whole of the region in which the curable material is present.
- the third region is contained within the first region, such that the reflection enhancing material is retained across less than the whole of the region in which the curable material is present.
- the shape of the viewing region (preferably a window region) may also or alternatively define such indicia.
- the substrate is transparent and preferably comprises a polymer such as polypropylene (PP), orientated polypropylene (OPP), biaxially orientated polypropylene (BOPP) polyethylene teraphthalate (PET), polyethylene, polyamide, polycarbonate, or polyethylene naphthalate (PEN).
- PP polypropylene
- OPP orientated polypropylene
- BOPP biaxially orientated polypropylene
- PET polyethylene teraphthalate
- PET polyethylene
- polyamide polyamide
- polycarbonate polyethylene naphthalate
- the security document is a banknote, a polymer banknote, a hybrid paper/polymer banknote, an identity document, a passport, an identification card, a cheque, a visa, a certificate, or a stamp.
- the invention further provides a security document manufactured in accordance with the above method, wherein the security document is preferably a banknote, a polymer banknote, a hybrid paper/polymer banknote, an identity document, a passport, an identification card, a cheque, a visa, a certificate, or a stamp.
- the security document is preferably a banknote, a polymer banknote, a hybrid paper/polymer banknote, an identity document, a passport, an identification card, a cheque, a visa, a certificate, or a stamp.
- the security document is manufactured in accordance with the method described above, and can have any of the features resulting from any of the method steps described above.
- the security document is preferably a banknote, a polymer banknote, a hybrid paper/polymer banknote, an identity document, a passport, an identification card, a cheque, a visa, a certificate, or a stamp.
- Also disclosed and not claimed is a plurality of such security documents, wherein the cured material, reflection enhancing material and viewing region in the one or more coating layers have substantially the same positions relative to one another in each of the plurality of security documents.
- the present description will focus on security documents provided with integral security devices having optically variable effect generating relief structures which give rise to diffractive optical effects, such as holograms or diffraction gratings.
- the relief structure may be a non-holographic micro-optical structure, such as a prismatic structure.
- prismatic structures suitable for the security devices of the sort presently disclosed include, but are not limited to, a series of parallel linear prisms with planar facets arranged to form a grooved surface, a ruled array of tetrahedral, an array of square pyramids, an array of corner cube structures, and an array of hexagonal faced corner cubes.
- micro-optical structure is one which functions as a micro lens, including those that refract light at a suitably curved surface of a homogeneous material such as plano-convex lenslets, double-convex lenslets, plano-concave lenslets and double-concave lenslets.
- suitable micro-optical structures include geometric shapes based on domes, hemispheres, hexagons, squares, cones, stepped-structures, cubes or combinations thereof.
- Figure 1 depicts a first embodiment of a security document 1, such as a banknote, cheque, visa, passport, identification card etc., which is provided with a security device 10.
- the security document 1 is formed based on a transparent substrate 2, such as a polymer film, which also forms a substrate of the security device 10.
- the security device 10 is considered to be integrally formed with the security document 1.
- the substrate 2 is typically formed of a visually transparent polymer such as polypropylene, although other flexible polymeric films suitable include polyethylene terephthalate PET), polyethylene, polyamide, polycarbonate, polyvinylchloride (PVC), polyvinylidenechloride (PVdC), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), or polyethylene naphthalate (PEN).
- the substrate 2 carries one or more coating layers on one or both of its surfaces which increases the document's opacity in the covered regions and/or provides a background to printed graphics.
- the substrate 2 is coated with opacifying layers 3 and 4, which layers carry printed graphics 5a and 5b.
- both layers 3 and 4 are provided on both sides of the security document 1, but in other cases the layers may be provided on only one side or the other. Further, here the coatings 3 and 4 are omitted on both sides of the documents to define a viewing region 20 within which the security device 10 is located.
- the viewing region 20 is a window region having a lower opacity than its surroundings, and will therefore be referred to hereinafter as a "window", although this is not essential as described below.
- the structure depicted in Figure 1 is a "full-window”.
- the layers 3, 4 (and 5) may be omitted in the window region 20 only on one side of the document, with one or more of the layers 3, 4 and 5 continuing over all or part of the window 20 on the other side of the document. This can be used either to create a so-called "half window” effect or to prevent viewing of the device through the document, as discussed further below.
- a curable transparent material 11 such as a radiation curable resin or a thermoplastic material containing a curable cross-linking agent is disposed on the substrate 2 across a first region R 1 .
- the curable transparent material 11 carries a reflection enhancing material 12, such as a metal film (e.g. aluminium or copper) or a HRI layer (e.g. zinc sulphide).
- the curable transparent material 11 has been formed so as to follow the contours of a surface relief 13 defining an optically variable effect generating structure, such as a hologram or diffraction grating (as discussed further above), and the reflection enhancing material 12 follows the contours of the relief.
- the reflection enhancing material 12 is present across a second region R 2 , which at least overlaps with the first region R 1 and in this case is the same as region R 1 .
- the parts of the first and second region which overlap define the third region R 3 , in which the reflection enhancing material is deposited on the formed curable material to form security device 10.
- the curable material 11, reflection enhancing material 1 and window 20 defined by coating layers 3, 4 are substantially in register with one another, such that their relative locations do not vary substantially between one banknote and another of the same type.
- the position tolerance of the curable material 11, reflection enhancing material 1 and coating layers 3, 4 may be as low as +/- 100 to 200 microns or exceptionally less from one document to the next.
- the security document is completed by the application of a protective varnish or lacquer 19 (also preferably transparent) which covers the security device and, here, also a portion of the surrounding window region 20 and optionally coatings 3, 4 and 5.
- a protective varnish or lacquer 19 also preferably transparent
- the whole first surface 2a of the security document 1 may be covered with the protective coating 19.
- the coating 19 could be coloured or multicoloured or contain a security substance, e.g. a fluorescent, luminescent or phosphorescent material.
- the transparent curable material 11 is not applied directly to the transparent substrate 2, but rather a primer layer 9 exists between the substrate 2 and the curable transparent material 11.
- the primer layer 9 improves adhesion between the substrate 2 and the transparent curable material 11.
- the substrate 2 may be corona treated in order to improve adhesion between it and curable material 11.
- Figure 2 shows a plan view of the security document of Figure 1 as viewed by observer A.
- the document 1 carries graphic layer 5 across much of its surface which (together with underlying coating layers 3 and 4) is omitted in the region of window 20.
- the security device 10 extends across the region R 3 which here has the form of a sun-shaped symbol.
- the region R 3 may define an alternative indicia such as a letter, number or graphic, and the region R 3 could extend to cover the whole window 20 (although this is less preferred).
- the optically variable effect generated by relief structure 13 is visible across the whole of sun-shaped region R 3 (assuming the relief structure 13 itself extends across the whole of the region). Outside the region R 3 , the window 20 is transparent and optically invariable.
- Figure 3 depicts steps in a first embodiment of a method suitable for forming a security device of the sort described with respect to Figures 1 and 2 .
- Figures 4(a) to (f) show another embodiment of a security document at various stages during its manufacture.
- a curable material 11 is applied to the first surface 2a of substrate 2, e.g. using any appropriate coating or printing techniques, preferably gravure, and the resulting structure is shown in Figure 4a .
- the substrate may be treated prior to application to curable material 11, either by applying a primer layer 9 or by corona treatment to raise the surface of the substrate material, for example.
- the curable material is applied across a first region R 1 which may define indicia.
- the curable material could be a radiation curable resin or a thermoplastic containing a curable hardening agent.
- a curable resin may typically be one of two types: a) Free radical cure resins which are unsaturated resins or monomers, prepolymers, oligomers etc. containing vinyl or acrylate unsaturation for example and which cross-link through use of a photo initiator activated by the radiation source employed e.g. UV; or b) Cationic cure resins in which ring opening (e.g. epoxy types) is effected using photo initiators or catalysts which generate ionic entities under the radiation source employed, e.g. UV. The ring opening is followed by intermolecular cross-linking.
- Free radical cure resins which are unsaturated resins or monomers, prepolymers, oligomers etc. containing vinyl or acrylate unsaturation for example and which cross-link through use of a photo initiator activated by the radiation source employed e.g. UV
- Cationic cure resins in which ring opening (e.g. epoxy types) is effected using photo initiators or catalysts which generate i
- the radiation used to effect curing will typically be UV radiation but could comprise electron beam, visible, or even infra-red or higher wavelength radiation, depending upon the material, its absorbance and the process used.
- Alternative thermoplastic lacquers such as PMMA-based resins, acrylic resins or vinyl/styrene copolymers could be used with added curing agent.
- a relief structure 13 is formed into the surface of the curable material 11 so as to define an optically variable effect generating structure such as a hologram or a diffraction grating. This may be achieved for example by impressing the curable material using an embossing roller.
- the material is cured, for example by exposure to an appropriate curing energy such as heat or radiation (preferably UV radiation) in order to fix the relief structure in place such that the material cannot relax or exhibit viscous flow.
- an appropriate curing energy such as heat or radiation (preferably UV radiation)
- Any known cast-cure process can be used to perform step S103 and it should be noted that curing may take place simultaneously with and/or subsequently to the casting of the relief into the material.
- Figure 4b shows the formed relief 13 in material 11 and irradiation of the material with curing energy E (e.g. UV radiation) through substrate 2.
- curing energy E e.g. UV radiation
- one or more coating layers are applied to the substrate defining a viewing region (e.g. a window region) containing all or part of the region in which curable material 11 has been laid down.
- a viewing region e.g. a window region
- two coating layers 3 and 4 in the form of opacifying layers have been laid down on the first surface 2a of the substrate.
- both layers are provided only outside the curable material region R 1 , but in other cases there could be an overlap.
- both coating layers 3, 4 are provided on the first surface 2a of the substrate 2.
- the coating layer(s) may alternatively or additionally be disposed on the opposite surface 2b of the substrate. If coating layer(s) are to be provided on both sides of the substrate, the coating layer(s) may be applied to each side simultaneously or sequentially.
- step S105 in which the coating layer(s) are applied may be carried out prior to the application of the curable material 11 (i.e. before step S101).
- the coating layer(s) could be applied after the curable material 11 has been applied but before it is formed and cured (i.e. between steps S101 and S103).
- a masking substance 15 is applied to the first surface 2a of the substrate, as shown in Figure 4d .
- the masking substance 15 is laid down across areas of the substrate in which the reflection enhancing material is ultimately not desired and, as such, the masking substance 15 can comprise any material which impedes adhesion of the reflection enhancing material 12 to the underlying substrate (and/or to any intervening layers, such as layers 3 and 4 in this example).
- the masking substance 15 comprises an oil mask which de-gases when a material is laid down on top of it, thereby preventing its adhesion.
- the masking substance 15 comprises a soluble mask, such as soluble ink.
- soluble ink is heavily pigmented ink as disclosed in WO-A-99-13157 .
- Mechanisms by which soluble masks operate vary but in one example, the pigment grains in the mask are sufficiently large that when a layer of metal or other reflection enhancing material is deposited on top of the ink, holes are formed through the deposited layer. As such, during subsequent washing with a solvent, the fluid can pass through the deposited layer, reaching and dissolving the pigment. This leads to detachment of the reflection enhancing material from the substrate in the regions where the soluble mask is present. Further examples of suitable soluble masks are given in US-A-5142383 , US-A-3935334 and EP-A-1023499 .
- the application of masking substance 15 excludes a second region R 2 of the substrate, which second region R 2 includes at least part of the first region R 1 in which the cured material 11 carrying the relief structure is present.
- the second region R 2 is coincident with the first region R 1 , but this is not essential.
- the reflection enhancing material is deposited onto the first surface 2a of the substrate 2 to form a layer of reflection enhancing material 12 which extends over the cured material 11 and neighboring regions of the substrate, including portions covered by masking substance 15 as shown in Figure 4e .
- the reflection enhancing material 12 may not settle on the masking substance.
- the deposition step S109 may result directly in the structure shown in Figure 4f , in which the reflection enhancing material is present only on the cured material 11.
- some residual reflection enhancing material 12 may remain on the masking substance 15 in which case a removal step, such as washing step S111, may be performed.
- a removal step such as washing step S111.
- This may involve for example washing the surface of substrate 2 with a liquid (e.g. water) or a gas, such as an air jet.
- a liquid e.g. water
- a gas such as an air jet.
- This causes detachment of the reflection enhancing material 12 from the substrate in the areas where masking substance 15 is present, resulting in the same final structure shown in Figure 4f .
- the region of the cured material 11 to which the reflection enhancing material 12 is applied i.e. the overlapping parts of regions R 1 and R 2 , termed the third region, R 3 ) exhibits the desired optically variable effect.
- the reflection enhancing material 12 deposited in step S109 is preferably a contiguous film of a suitable reflective material, such as a metal or alloy or an HRI material, so as to achieve high quality optical replay.
- the material is preferably deposited by a non-selective method, such as vapour or vacuum deposition, in which the whole surface of the substrate that is exposed to the process will be coated with the material (as opposed to a selective application process such as printing).
- the material may be deposited by a physical vapour deposition process such as evaporative deposition or sputtering, or a chemical vapour deposition process.
- the previously laid down components i.e. the curable material 11, coating layers 3 and 4 and masking substance 15
- the previously laid down components are laid down at controlled locations using preferably a printing technique such as gravure, intaglio, lithographic printing etc., so that the extent and position of each can be precisely controlled.
- the printing or other application techniques used in steps S101, S103, S105 and S107 are performed in register with one another such that the curable material 11, coating layers 3 and 4 and masking substance 15 (and therefore the ultimate position of reflection enhancing material 12) are registered to one another. That is, on a series of like documents produced in the same way, the relative locations of these components of the documents will be substantially identical.
- Particularly high registration can be achieved by performing steps S101, S103, S105 and S107 in an inline process with, for example, substrate 2 travelling as a web between stations at which each of the steps is carried out.
- substrate 2 travelling as a web between stations at which each of the steps is carried out.
- the positioning of the substrate 2 relative to each of the stations is known and can be controlled.
- the curable material 11, coating layers 3 and 4 and masking substance 15 are each applied by gravure, registration tolerances of +/-100 to 200 microns are achievable.
- the steps of applying the curable material, forming the relief and curing, applying the one or more coating layers and applying the masking substance are preferably carried out in an inline process, and Figure 5a shows an example of suitable apparatus for such a process.
- Subsequent steps involving deposition of the reflection enhancing material can be carried out as continuation of the process or in a separate manufacturing line. Since all of the printing or other application type steps for which accurate registration is desirable are carried out before the steps involving deposition of the reflection enhancing material, the method lends itself well to carrying out manufacture in two distinct phases and in this example these are reflected by the division between Figures 5a and 5b .
- Figure 5a depicts an exemplary apparatus 30 for carrying out steps S101 to S107 of the method described with respect to Figures 3 and 4 .
- the substrate 2 such as a transparent polymer film
- the substrate 2 is supplied from a reel 31.
- a curable material 11 is applied to the substrate 2 preferably over discrete regions R 1 (although in other cases the region R 1 may effectively cover the whole substrate 2).
- the curable material 11 is a radiation curable material.
- the station 32 may comprise for example a print roller 32a and an opposing roller 32b.
- the substrate 2 is then conveyed to second station 33 where a relief structure 13 is formed.
- the station 33 comprises a rotary embossing roller 33a carrying a repeating pattern of the desired relief structure 13, and opposing roller 33b such as a transparent quartz nip roller.
- the relief 13 is impressed into the curable material 11 which is simultaneously exposed to curing energy E, such as UV radiation.
- curing energy E such as UV radiation.
- the radiation source E is disposed within the transparent nip roller 33b. As such, curing takes place at the point of impression of the relief structure 13 into the curable material.
- radiation source E may be located just after the web leaves the impressing nip, e.g. between rollers 33a and 33b.
- the web now carrying a series of cured regions 11 each having an impressed surface relief 13, now passes to a third station 34 at which one or more coating layers (such as 3 and 4 depicted in previous Figures) are applied to the substrate 2 to define a viewing region within which at least part of the cured material is located, on one or both sides of the substrate 2.
- Station 34 may comprise for example a print roller 34a and an opposing roller 34b. In practice, more than one such station may be provided if multiple coating layers are to be applied.
- a masking substance 15 is applied to the first surface 2a of the substrate 2, so as to mask off areas in which reflection enhancing material is not desired.
- the area to which the masking substance 15 is applied excludes a second region R 2 at least partially overlapping with the cured surface relief regions.
- Figure 5b depicts exemplary apparatus for carrying out deposition of reflection enhancing material and an optional washing step.
- reel 41 supplies the substrate 2 in the form of the intermediate product resulting from the manufacturing stages already described.
- the web is conveyed through a fifth processing station 42 which in this example comprises a vapour deposition chamber 42a for depositing reflection enhancing material such as metal or a HRI material on to the first surface 2a of the substrate.
- the reflection enhancing material may be deposited across the full width of the web as it passes through the chamber.
- a step of removing residual reflection enhancing material from regions in which it is not desired is useful and in this case the web may be conveyed through a sixth processing station 43, here comprising a washing chamber 43a in which the first surface of the substrate is subjected to washing, e.g. by passing the web through a fluid bath or directing air jets onto the surface of the web.
- the completed web may then be collected on a reel 44.
- Optional onward processing steps will depend on the nature of the security document in question but may comprise for example one or more further printing steps (e.g. application of further coating layer(s) and/or graphics layer 5) and/or cutting of the web into individual security documents each carrying one security device manufactured in the above described manner.
- the apparatus may also include additional stations for carrying out optional steps such as surface treatment of the substrate 2 and/or cured material 11.
- a station may be provided upstream of station 32 for treating the substrate 2 so as to improve adhesion of the curable material and/or coating layers to its surface. This may be achieved for example by applying a print receptive primer such as layer 9 shown in Figure 1 or carrying out corona treatment.
- a treatment station may be inserted at any stage downstream of station 33 for treating the surface of cured material 11 prior to application of the reflection enhancing material, e.g. by plasma or corona treatment.
- the application of the curable material and the application of the one or more coating layers defining the viewing region may be carried out in the opposite order to that depicted in Figure 5a , in which case the relevant processing stations will be rearranged as appropriate.
- a further embodiment of a security document 1 comprising an integral security device 10' will now be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7 .
- the construction of security document 1, including substrate 2, coating layers 3 and 4 and print 5 is the same as discussed with respect to Figures 1 and 2 , and like features are identified using the same reference numbers.
- the security device 10' is formed using the same technique as described above.
- a reflection enhancing material 12 is disposed on cured material 11 and follows a surface relief 13 defining an optically variable effect generating structure.
- reflection enhancing material 12 does not cover the whole region R 1 in which the cured material 11 is present, but rather (as shown best in the plan view seen by observer A, shown in Figure 7 ), only a portion thereof.
- the cured material 11 covers a region R 1 having the form of a six-pointed star shape whilst the reflection enhancing material 12 is provided only across an area R 2 within region R 1 , having the shape of an arrow symbol.
- the region R 2 is that region omitted by the coverage of masking substance 15 during manufacture.
- the optically active region R 3 therefore shares the same bounds as R 2 .
- the regions R 1 and R 3 preferably define different indicia. If the cured material 11 is clear and colourless, the star-shaped region R 1 will not be visible to the observer. However, in this embodiment the cured material 11 comprises an optically effective substance such as a colorant, making it visible to observers A and B. The colorant will also have the effect of causing the device to have different optically variable appearances from the point of view from observer A and observer B, since observer A will see the optical effect through colourless protective lacquer 19, meaning that the colour of the effect will be determined solely by that of reflection enhancing material 12, whereas observer B will see the optically variable effect through the cured material 11 which will therefore impose its colour onto the optically variable effect.
- an optically effective substance such as a colorant
- the optically effective substance in the cured material 11 could comprise any visible colorant and/or any non-visible but machine detectible substance and/or a substance which only becomes visible under certain conditions, such as UV illumination.
- the optically effective substance could be a luminescent, fluorescent or phosphorescent material.
- the reflection enhancing material 12 and/or substrate 2 may also comprise an optically effective substance such as these.
- the security level of the document can be further increased by forming the layer 11 from two or more transparent curable materials, and this is the case in the embodiment depicted in Figures 6 and 7 , where one portion of region R 1 is formed of a first curable material 11a and another portion of the region is formed with a second curable material 11b.
- the two or more curable materials preferably comprise different optically effective substances so that a pattern formed by the two curable materials is visible to a human observer and to a machine. It is preferred that where two or more materials are provided in this way, they are each responsive to the same form of curing energy so that both can be cured simultaneously in step S103.
- Figures 8 , 9 and 10 depict cross-sections through three further embodiments of security documents illustrating further optional features.
- the substrate 2 of the document is transparent and this is preferred in order to provide document with features such as see-through windows or translucent half-windows which have a high recognition value and thus increase the security level of the document.
- the polymeric substrate could be translucent or opaque and this is the case in the Figure 8 embodiment.
- the security device 10" is only designed to be viewed from one side (that of observer A) and thus the coating layers 3b, 4b and print 5b on the second surface 2b of the substrate 2' may be continuous in the region of the security device 10".
- the viewing region 20' has the same opacity as its surroundings and a similar result could be achieved using a transparent or translucent substrate 20 in combination with all-over coating layers 3b, 4b of sufficiently high opacity.
- the security device 10" is constructed in substantially the same manner as described above.
- the second region R 2 across which the masking substance 15 is omitted during manufacture extends beyond the edges of the first region R 1 in which the curable material 11 is deposited.
- the reflection enhancing material 12 may extend beyond the perimeter of the cured material 11 carrying the surface relief 13.
- the optically active third region R 3 is equal to the first region R 1 .
- FIG. 9 shows an exemplary embodiment in which it is advantageous to apply certain coating layers prior to application of the reflection enhancing material, and others after.
- the security document 1" is provided with a security device 10"' which is designed to be viewed only through the substrate 2 (which must therefore be transparent), through viewing region 20" from the position of observer B.
- the curable material 11 is also transparent and the optically variable effect generated by relief structure 13 can thus be viewed through the curable material 11 and the transparent substrate 2.
- the security device is manufactured using the same method as described above but, in the process step corresponding to step S105 shown in Figure 3 , only coating layers 3b and 4b are applied (to the second surface of the substrate 2), since it is only these layers which define viewing region 20". At this stage, no coating layers are applied to the first surface of the substrate 2 which is to carry curable material 11. Thus, the relief structure 13 remains available for deposition of the reflection enhancing material 12. After the reflection enhancing material 12 has been applied to the desired region, further coating layers 3a, 4a are applied all-over the first surface of the substrate, including over security device 10"'.
- the coating layers 3a, 4a may or may not be of the same number and/or composition as the coating layers 3b, 4b.
- the viewing region 20" will act as a half-window, becoming distinguishable from its surroundings when viewed in transmitted light.
- the coating layers 3a, 4a are sufficiently opaque (in combination)
- the viewing region may not have the characteristics of a window, exhibiting the same opacity as its surroundings and hence not being distinguishable in transmitted light.
- the coating layers 3a, 4a are continuous all over the surface of the substrate, there is no need for accurate registration between those layers and other features of the document, hence the ability to apply those layers after deposition of the reflection enhancing material.
- the same would apply to any other coating layers which do not contribute to the definition of the viewing region 20, e.g. partial coating layers which are only applied in areas sufficiently spaced away from the viewing region.
- Figure 10 shows a further example of a security document 1"' in which the security device 10 is identical to that discussed with respect to Figure 1 .
- the security device 10 is located in a "half window" region 20'" of the document, with coating layers 3 and 4 on the first surface of the document being omitted across the region in which the security device is present whilst the coating layers 3b and 4b are continuous across the same region on the opposite side of the substrate.
- the optical effect of security device 10 is only clearly visible from one side of the document (that of observer A), but depending on the opacity of layers 3b and 4b, from the opposite side the half window region may be apparent as a relatively light or translucent region, and the optical effect generated by relief 13 may also be visible to an extent.
- the coating layers 3a, 4a will be laid down prior to deposition of the reflection enhancing material, but the coating layers 3b, 4b could be laid down at the same time or at a later stage. This is because only coating layers 3a, 4a define the viewing region (half-window) 20'" whilst layers 3b, 4b are all-over and so do not require accurate registration.
Landscapes
- Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
- Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
- Finance (AREA)
- Credit Cards Or The Like (AREA)
- Printing Methods (AREA)
Description
- The present invention relates to security documents such as banknotes, currency, identification documents, passports, cheques, visas, certificates and the like, and methods for their manufacture. In particular, the invention relates to security documents incorporating security devices in the form of optically variable effect generating relief structures such as holograms and/or diffraction gratings. The disclosed methods are particularly well adapted for integral formation of such security devices on a security document having a polymeric substrate, such as a polymer banknote.
- Optically variable effect generating relief structures such as holograms and diffraction gratings have been used widely over the last few years to impart security to documents of value such as banknotes, credit cards, passports and the like. Conventionally, the structure is provided on a transfer foil and then hot stamped from the transfer foil onto the final document substrate. An early example of this approach is described in
US-A-4728377 . Such techniques work well with traditional security documents having substrates formed of paper, for example. However, it can prove difficult to adhere such articles to other types of substrate, such as polymer substrates. For instance, polymer-based banknotes typically comprise a substrate of polypropylene, which can withstand temperatures up to around 80 degrees C. Hot stamping methods commonly operate at higher temperatures, e.g. around 250 to 300 degrees C, which would cause damage to such substrates. Meanwhile, the use of cold adhesives has generally proved unsuccessful since the bond between polymer and security device is often not sufficiently robust. - In order to avoid such problems, alternative methods have been employed including the use of "cast-cure" resins. A curable material is applied to the polymer substrate and embossed with a desired relief structure. Simultaneously or subsequently, the material is cured, e.g. by exposure to UV radiation, in order to fix the relief structure. A metallic ink is then applied to the relief to provide a reflective layer, in order to render the optically variable effect visible. An example of such a method is disclosed in
WO-A-2008/031170 . - Whilst this technique results in strong adhesion between the substrate and security device, due to bonding between the polymeric substrate and curable resin, the quality of the resulting security device is typically not optimal. One reason for this is the use of a metallic ink to enhance the optically variable replay, which does not give rise to as bright and clear an optical effect as is achievable in traditional transfer foil type devices which use a metal or high refractive index layer as the reflective material. This is because the reflective particles making up a metallic ink cannot conform to the relief structure to the same degree that can be achieved where a metal or HRI layer is applied to the relief. However, the use of metal or HRI layers is problematic since the methods required for deposition of such materials typically involve heating the substrate, which leads to warping. This gives rise to loss of registration between the curable resin region and the metallised area and/or between the curable resin region and coating layers or printed graphics on the document.
- Document
WO 2011/017749 A1 discloses a method according to the preamble ofclaim 1. - In accordance with the present invention, a method of manufacturing a security document comprises:
- (a) providing a polymeric substrate having first and second surfaces;
- (b) applying a curable material to a first region of the substrate on its first surface;
- (c) forming the curable material such that its surface distal from the substrate follows the contours of an optically variable effect generating relief structure and curing the curable material such that the relief structure is retained by the cured material;
- (d) applying one or more coating layers to the first and/or second surface(s) of the substrate to define a viewing region, the coating layer(s) being absent at least on the first surface across all or part of the first region;
- (e) applying a masking substance to the first surface of the substrate, excluding at least a second region which includes at least part of the first region, the overlapping portions of the first and second regions defining a third region;
- (f) depositing a reflection enhancing material onto the first surface of the substrate such that, in the third region, the reflection enhancing material is deposited onto the cured material and follows the contours of the relief structure; wherein the masking substance impedes the retention (e.g. deposition and/or adhesion) of the reflection enhancing material such that the reflection enhancing material is retained only in areas to which the masking substance was not applied.
- By "viewing region" it is meant a gap in the coating layer(s) applied in step (d), within which the relief structure will be viewed in the end product. The viewing region could have the same opacity as its surroundings such that it is not distinguishable in transmitted light. However, in preferred examples the viewing region comprises a window region, i.e. a region of lower opacity than its surroundings.
- By applying both coating layer(s) which define the viewing region and curable material (forming a security device) and then using a masking substance to define those parts of the substrate in which the reflection enhancing material will be retained, the result is that the coating layer(s), curable material and reflection enhancing material can all be applied in register with one another, whilst still enabling the use of a metal or HRI layer as the reflection enhancing material. As such, the optical quality of the security device formed in the third region by the cured material and reflection enhancing material in combination can be comparable to those of traditional foil-based devices. High registration is achievable because all of the steps which define the end locations of the curable material, reflection enhancing material and viewing region in the coating layer(s) are performed before the step of depositing the reflection enhancing material (during which heating typically takes place), and hence before any warping or distortion or stretch of the substrate occurs.
- It is therefore preferable that in steps (b), (d) and (e), the respective curable material, coating layers and masking substance are applied in register with one another and advantageously in register with the relief structure formed in step (c).
- Moreover, as discussed further below, the use of a masking substance in this way has the benefit that each of the steps defining the end locations of the viewing region in the coating layer(s), the curable material and the reflection enhancing material can be performed using similar or the same type of application techniques (e.g. printing or coating), and hence all can be performed in a continuous, in-line process. This further enhances the achievable registration and simplifies the manufacturing process since all of these application steps can be completed before the deposition step (e.g. metallisation), which may take place separately, e.g. as part of a separate process and potentially on separate apparatus. This may be the final step in the manufacturing process with no need for further application steps, hence reducing the manufacturing process to two key stages.
- The viewing region could take a number of different forms, including an interruption in only the coating layer(s) applied to the first or second side of the substrate to reveal the security device, whilst the other side may ultimately be fully coated with opaque material, in which case the viewing region will not be visible in transmission. However, as noted above, in preferred examples, the viewing region defined by the coating layer(s) laid down in step (d) is a window region. This may ultimately be a full window (i.e. no coating layer is provided on either side of the substrate in the window region) or a half window (i.e. coating layer(s) of less than 100% opacity are applied to only one side of the substrate in the window region).
- The coating layer(s) which are laid down in step (d) are the layer(s) which define the location, shape and size of the viewing region by means of a gap in those layer(s). In some cases, this will include all of the coating layers which are planned to be applied to the security document. However, in other cases there may be additional coating layer(s) which do not contribute to the definition of the viewing region and in this case such additional layer(s) could be applied during step (d) or at any later stage, including after step (e) or after step (f). For example, where the viewing region is a half window type structure (translucent or non-translucent), the coating layer(s) applied to one side of the substrate may extend all over the substrate and these could be applied later since no registration between such all-over layer(s) and any other feature is necessary. However in general it is preferable to apply all of the coating layers before step (f) so that all the printing / coating steps are complete before application of the reflection enhancing material. In this way the substrate web does not have to be returned to printing/coating apparatus after reflection enhancing material deposition.
- It should also be noted that whilst the coating layer(s) applied in step (d) will generally be applied outside the first region containing the curable material, those coating layer(s) may also overlap that first region, provided that on the first surface, at least part of the first region is left uncovered at the end of step (d) so that it is available for receipt of reflection enhancing material in step (f). Hence, on the first surface of the substrate, the coating layer(s) applied in step (d) will not fully overlap the curable material, but on the second surface of the substrate the coating layer(s) applied in step (d) may extend across the whole first region, e.g. if the viewing region is to be a half-window. In preference, the coating layer(s) define either a window or a "half-window" structure (translucent or non-translucent) on the substrate within which at least part of the curable material is located.
- The relief structure could be configured to exhibit any type of optically variable effect, which means that its appearance is different at different viewing angles. In particularly preferred embodiments, the optically variable effect generating relief structure is one which gives rise to a diffractive optical effect, such as a hologram or a diffraction grating. However, it should be appreciated that in other embodiments the relief structure may be a non-holographic optical structure, such as a prismatic structure.
- The masking substance could operate according to various different mechanisms, including inhibiting adhesion of the reflection enhancing material to the substrate and/or obstructing deposition of the reflection enhancing material onto the substrate in the first place. Depending on the type of masking substance used, no further steps beyond deposition may be necessary to achieve the desired result. For instance, the masking substance may repel the reflection enhancing material such that no deposition of the reflection enhancing material occurs in the areas to which the masking substance has been applied. In other cases, there may be some deposition of the reflection enhancing material in these areas. This may become detached subsequently without any positive intervention, but in preferred implementations, the method further comprises, after step (f):
- (f1) washing the substrate to remove any residual reflection enhancing material in areas to which the masking substance was applied.
- In one preferred implementation the masking substance comprises an oil mask adapted such that application of the reflection enhancing material thereto causes degassing of the oil mask, thereby impeding adhesion of the reflection enhancing material to the substrate. Such substances have the benefit that a subsequent removal step (e.g. step (f1)) is typically not required. Examples of suitable oil masks include low molecular weight oils, including silicones, which will boil off in a vacuum environment.
US-A-3935334 mentions oil masks in the content of metallised resin films for condenser elements. - In other preferred embodiments, the masking substance comprises a soluble mask, such as soluble ink (comprised of an appropriate binder and pigment combination), which does not adhere strongly to the substrate or can be dissolved by application of a solvent (aqueous or otherwise), thereby impeding adhesion of the reflection enhancing material applied thereto to the substrate. In this case a washing step may be required. Examples of a suitable soluble mask in the form of a heavily pigmented ink are described in
WO-A-9913157 US-A-5142383 ,EP-A-1023499 andUS-A-3935334 . - The use of a soluble mask will be preferred over an oil mask in many cases, since such oils (e.g. low molecular weight oils) will tend to offset, transfer or smear if the substrate web is wound into a roll after printing. As such, the use of oil masks is more suited to processes in which in-line metalisation takes place after the printing or other application steps (i.e. there is no rewind process between printing and metalisation). In contrast, the use of a print soluble mask applied does not impose such limitations. In addition, the vapours produced by degassing of an oil mask can in some circumstances lead to contamination of the optical structure.
- The curable material, coating layer(s) and masking substance can be laid down using any appropriate method which enables selective application of the materials to the desired regions of the substrate. In preferred embodiments, in steps (b), (d) and/or (e), the respective curable material, coating layers and/or masking substance are applied using one or more printing technique(s), such as gravure printing, flexographic printing or slotted die coating. Printing techniques are preferred since the materials can be laid down in a precisely controllable manner. Different printing techniques may be used for each of the steps as appropriate for the material in question. However, in particularly preferred embodiments, the same printing technique is used for steps (b), (d) and (e), which simplifies the manufacturing process and apparatus.
- As mentioned above, it is especially preferred that at least steps (b), (c), (d) and (e) are performed in a continuous, in-line process. For example, these steps may be carried out at stations along one continuous manufacturing line such that the relative location of the substrate is known between one station and the next. This approach allows particularly high registration to be achieved and also delimits all the printing/application steps from subsequent metallisation (or other deposition) processes.
- The deposition of the reflection enhancing material can be achieved using any appropriate deposition technique but generally a non-selective deposition technique will be preferred for simplicity. That is, the technique will result in the deposition of a contiguous layer of the reflection enhancing material across the entire area of the substrate which is exposed to the deposition process. In many cases, this will be the entire first surface of the substrate (although this is not essential). Preferably, the reflection enhancing material is deposited by vacuum deposition, suitable techniques including electron beam vapour deposition, vapour deposition from a resistively heated source (e.g. a boat source), pulsed laser vapour deposition, evaporative vapour deposition and sputtering, as well as chemical vapour deposition methods. Evaporative vapour deposition techniques from resistively heated or electron beam sources are generally preferred.
- Preferably, the reflection enhancing material is a metal or alloy, or a material with a refractive index which differs from that of the cured material by at least 0.3, more preferably 0.5 (known as "high refractive index (HRI)" materials). That is, the reflection enhancing material is laid down as a contiguous layer of the selected material (or as multiple spaced portions each having such a contiguous layer). This should be contrasted with materials such as metallic inks, which comprise a dispersion of reflective particles in a binder, the reflective (particle) material itself therefore not forming a contiguous layer. Examples of suitable metals or alloys include aluminium, copper, nickel, chrome, aluminium-copper allows, silver, gold, etc. By "high refractive index" (HRI) materials, we mean materials having an index of refraction which exceeds that of the transparent base layer by a numerical value of preferably 0.5 or more. Since the refractive index of the base layer will typically fall in the range of 1.45 - 1.55, then a high refractive index material will be one with an index of preferably 2.0 or more. In practice high refractive index materials with good visual transparency will have an index in the range 2.0 to 2.5. Examples of suitable HRI materials include zirconium dioxide and zinc sulphide and titanium dioxide
- In particularly preferred embodiments, the curable material is a transparent curable material. This enables the optical effect generated by the relief structure to be observed through the substrate and hence, if the opposite side of the relief structure is also visible and both sides of the reflection enhancing material conform to the relief, the optical effect is exhibited by both sides of the device. This results in a security device with a strong visual impact and hence increased security level.
- The curable transparent material may be of a type which can be cured by the application of any form of energy, such as heat. However, in most preferred embodiments, the curable transparent material is radiation-curable, preferably UV-curable, and in step (c) the curing comprises exposing the formed curable material to curing radiation, preferably UV radiation. The application of radiation can generally be more accurately controlled than that of heat, e.g. through the use of appropriately directed radiation sources and/or masks. Additionally the cross-linking action is generally much more rapid in UV curable systems compared to thermal cure systems leading to a more accurate relief forming process. Finally it is often very desirable to limit or strongly minimise thermal distortion of the substrate and in such cases a UV cure may be the only suitable cross-linking approach. It should be noted that radiation wavelengths other than UV may be used. However, it is preferred that the substrate is at least semi-transparent to the curing energy (e.g. to the relevant radiation wavelength(s)), so that the energy can be applied to the curable material through the substrate. Polypropylene, for example, is generally transparent to UV wavelengths.
- As mentioned above, the curable material is preferably at least visually semi-transparent (i.e. transmits wavelengths in the visible range) such that the optical effect of the device can be viewed through the material. However, the material need not transmit all visible wavelengths equally and in preferred examples, the material further comprises an optically effective substance, preferably a visible colourant, a luminescent, phosphorescent or fluorescent material. This further enhances the security level of the device and can be used to cause the optically variable effect to be seen in a different colour when viewed from one side of the device (through the curable material) as opposed to the other. Such optically effective substances could additionally or alternatively be disposed in any of the other layers of the device, including the substrate and/or the reflection enhancing layer.
- In many implementations, a single type of curable material will be applied in the first region. However, in some preferred embodiments, step (b) comprises applying two or more curable materials to the first region of the substrate in a pattern, one or more of the curable materials comprising an optically effective substance such that the two or more curable materials have different optical characteristics, preferably visibly different under at least visible or non-visible illumination. By providing a pattern which is detectable either to the naked eye or to a machine in this layer, the security level of the device is further increased. If two or more curable materials are provided it is preferred that they are each adapted to be cured by the same type of curing energy and most advantageously at the same rate as one another, so that both are cured simultaneously in step (c).
- In step (c) the partially cured transparent material and the layer of reflection enhancing material can be formed by any appropriate method but preferably the layers are embossed with a die carrying the relief structure, wherein the die advantageously forms part of an embossing roller. If multiple devices are to be formed on a substrate web (later to be divided into individual security documents each carrying one of the devices), the embossing roller may preferably carry the relief structure in the form of a repeating pattern. The repeat periodicity is preferably matched to that of the document repeat length and/or width.
- In step (c), the curable material may be cured simultaneously with and/or subsequently to forming of the relief structure in the surface of the curable material. For example, if the embossing roller is opaque (e.g. metal), curing can occur at the point of impression with radiation being transmitted through the substrate, for instance using a transparent quartz nip roller opposing the embossing roller. Alternatively curing can take place just after the resin leaves the impressing nip, in which case the radiation can be applied through the substrate or from the opposite side.
- Preferably, the one or more coating layers applied in step (d) comprises one or more opacifying layers. This step is particularly relevant where the substrate is to become the substrate of a polymer banknote. The coating may be applied to one or both sides of the substrate and as mentioned above, is preferably omitted across the (third) region in which the security device is formed on both sides, although in some cases it may be applied across all of some of the region on the side of the substrate opposite from that to which the curable material is applied. This can lead to the appearance of a "half window" effect and/or conceal one or more portions of the device when viewed through the substrate. Opacifying layers typically comprise a binder containing a white (or other coloured) pigment.
- Preferably the method further comprises, after step (d) or step (f), printing a graphics layer onto the one or more coating layers. The graphics layer may include for example background patterns such as those typically seen on banknotes, optionally incorporating fine line patterns, guilloches and other security features, information such as denomination and other standard document data, and/or printed features which uniquely identify or personalise the document, such as a serial number in the case of a banknote or details of the holder in the case of an identity document. Most preferably, such graphics and other features will be printed onto the document after application of the reflective material.
- Advantageously, the method further comprises, prior to step (b) or step (d), treating the surface of the substrate to increase adhesion between the substrate and the curable material and/or the coating layer(s), preferably by the application of a primer substance or corona treatment. This can for example raise the surface of the substrate making it more receptive to the subsequent application of the curable material and/or the coating layer(s). Similarly in preferred embodiments, the method further comprises, after step (c), treating the formed surface of the cured material to increase adhesion between the cured material and the reflection enhancing material, preferably by plasma or corona treatment.
- As already mentioned, the method can preferably be implemented as a web-based process with multiple security devices (i.e. "third regions") being formed on a substrate which is then divided such that each device is located on a separate piece of substrate. Hence, preferably the method further comprises, after step (f), cutting the substrate into individual security. Typically this would also take place after the optional step of printing a graphics layer has been performed.
- Preferably, the first, second and/or third regions define respective indicia such as a character, letter, number, symbol, graphic element or the like, the respective indicia preferably being different. This can be used to create a complex security device with a correspondingly high security level. In other preferred embodiments, the first and second regions, and hence the third region, are the same such that the reflection enhancing material is retained across the whole of the region in which the curable material is present. In yet further alternative preferred embodiments, the third region is contained within the first region, such that the reflection enhancing material is retained across less than the whole of the region in which the curable material is present. The shape of the viewing region (preferably a window region) may also or alternatively define such indicia.
- Advantageously, the substrate is transparent and preferably comprises a polymer such as polypropylene (PP), orientated polypropylene (OPP), biaxially orientated polypropylene (BOPP) polyethylene teraphthalate (PET), polyethylene, polyamide, polycarbonate, or polyethylene naphthalate (PEN).
- Preferably, the security document is a banknote, a polymer banknote, a hybrid paper/polymer banknote, an identity document, a passport, an identification card, a cheque, a visa, a certificate, or a stamp.
- The invention further provides a security document manufactured in accordance with the above method, wherein the security document is preferably a banknote, a polymer banknote, a hybrid paper/polymer banknote, an identity document, a passport, an identification card, a cheque, a visa, a certificate, or a stamp.
- Also disclosed and not claimed is a security document, comprising:
- a polymeric substrate having first and second surfaces;
- a cured material disposed in a first region of the substrate on its first surface, the cured material having an optically variable effect generating relief structure formed in its surface distal from the substrate;
- a reflection enhancing material disposed on at least part of the cured material, the reflection enhancing material following the contours of the relief structure, wherein the reflection enhancing material is a metal or alloy, or a high refractive index (HRI) material; and
- one or more coating layers disposed on the first and/or second surface(s) of the substrate, the coating layer(s) being absent on at least one of the first or second surfaces across all or part of the first region to define a viewing region;
- wherein the cured material, the reflection enhancing material and the viewing region defined by the one or more coating layers are registered to one another.
- For the reasons given above, in conventional devices on polymer-type security documents it has not been possible to achieve registration between the material in which the relief is formed, the reflection enhancing material and the viewing region (e.g. window or half-window) in the coating layer(s). High registration is beneficial since each document so produced will have a consistent construction and appearance, making counterfeit documents readily identifiable. Preferably, the security document is manufactured in accordance with the method described above, and can have any of the features resulting from any of the method steps described above.
- The security document is preferably a banknote, a polymer banknote, a hybrid paper/polymer banknote, an identity document, a passport, an identification card, a cheque, a visa, a certificate, or a stamp.
- Also disclosed and not claimed is a plurality of such security documents, wherein the cured material, reflection enhancing material and viewing region in the one or more coating layers have substantially the same positions relative to one another in each of the plurality of security documents.
- Examples of security devices, security documents and methods for their manufacture will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
-
Figure 1 is a schematic cross-section through a first embodiment of a security document equipped with an exemplary security device; -
Figure 2 is a plan view of the security document ofFigure 1 ; -
Figure 3 is a flowchart depicting selected steps of a first embodiment of a method for manufacture of a security document; -
Figures 4a, b, c, d, e and f depict components of a second embodiment of a security document at various stages of manufacture; -
Figures 5a and b schematically depict an embodiment of apparatus suitable for manufacture of a security document; -
Figure 6 is a schematic cross-section through a further embodiment of a security document exhibiting a further embodiment of a security device; -
Figure 7 is a plan view of the security document ofFigure 6 ; and -
Figures 8 ,9 and 10 depict further embodiments of security documents in cross-sectional views. - The present description will focus on security documents provided with integral security devices having optically variable effect generating relief structures which give rise to diffractive optical effects, such as holograms or diffraction gratings. However, it should be appreciated that in other embodiments the relief structure may be a non-holographic micro-optical structure, such as a prismatic structure. Examples of prismatic structures suitable for the security devices of the sort presently disclosed include, but are not limited to, a series of parallel linear prisms with planar facets arranged to form a grooved surface, a ruled array of tetrahedral, an array of square pyramids, an array of corner cube structures, and an array of hexagonal faced corner cubes. Another preferred type of micro-optical structure is one which functions as a micro lens, including those that refract light at a suitably curved surface of a homogeneous material such as plano-convex lenslets, double-convex lenslets, plano-concave lenslets and double-concave lenslets. Other suitable micro-optical structures include geometric shapes based on domes, hemispheres, hexagons, squares, cones, stepped-structures, cubes or combinations thereof.
-
Figure 1 depicts a first embodiment of asecurity document 1, such as a banknote, cheque, visa, passport, identification card etc., which is provided with asecurity device 10. Thesecurity document 1 is formed based on atransparent substrate 2, such as a polymer film, which also forms a substrate of thesecurity device 10. Thesecurity device 10 is considered to be integrally formed with thesecurity document 1. In the case ofFigure 1 , thesubstrate 2 is typically formed of a visually transparent polymer such as polypropylene, although other flexible polymeric films suitable include polyethylene terephthalate PET), polyethylene, polyamide, polycarbonate, polyvinylchloride (PVC), polyvinylidenechloride (PVdC), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), or polyethylene naphthalate (PEN). - The
substrate 2 carries one or more coating layers on one or both of its surfaces which increases the document's opacity in the covered regions and/or provides a background to printed graphics. In the present example, thesubstrate 2 is coated withopacifying layers graphics layers security document 1, but in other cases the layers may be provided on only one side or the other. Further, here thecoatings viewing region 20 within which thesecurity device 10 is located. In this case, theviewing region 20 is a window region having a lower opacity than its surroundings, and will therefore be referred to hereinafter as a "window", although this is not essential as described below. The structure depicted inFigure 1 is a "full-window". In other cases, thelayers 3, 4 (and 5) may be omitted in thewindow region 20 only on one side of the document, with one or more of thelayers window 20 on the other side of the document. This can be used either to create a so-called "half window" effect or to prevent viewing of the device through the document, as discussed further below. - Inside the
window 20, on thefirst surface 2a of substrate 2 (here the upper surface, facing observer A) thesecurity device 10 is disposed. A curabletransparent material 11, such as a radiation curable resin or a thermoplastic material containing a curable cross-linking agent is disposed on thesubstrate 2 across a first region R1. The curabletransparent material 11 carries areflection enhancing material 12, such as a metal film (e.g. aluminium or copper) or a HRI layer (e.g. zinc sulphide). The curabletransparent material 11 has been formed so as to follow the contours of asurface relief 13 defining an optically variable effect generating structure, such as a hologram or diffraction grating (as discussed further above), and thereflection enhancing material 12 follows the contours of the relief. Thereflection enhancing material 12 is present across a second region R2, which at least overlaps with the first region R1 and in this case is the same as region R1. The parts of the first and second region which overlap define the third region R3, in which the reflection enhancing material is deposited on the formed curable material to formsecurity device 10. Thecurable material 11,reflection enhancing material 1 andwindow 20 defined by coatinglayers curable material 11,reflection enhancing material 1 andcoating layers - In this example, the security document is completed by the application of a protective varnish or lacquer 19 (also preferably transparent) which covers the security device and, here, also a portion of the surrounding
window region 20 andoptionally coatings first surface 2a of thesecurity document 1 may be covered with theprotective coating 19. Thecoating 19 could be coloured or multicoloured or contain a security substance, e.g. a fluorescent, luminescent or phosphorescent material. - It will also be noted that, in this example, the transparent
curable material 11 is not applied directly to thetransparent substrate 2, but rather aprimer layer 9 exists between thesubstrate 2 and the curabletransparent material 11. Theprimer layer 9 improves adhesion between thesubstrate 2 and the transparentcurable material 11. However its use is optional. In further alternative embodiments, thesubstrate 2 may be corona treated in order to improve adhesion between it andcurable material 11. -
Figure 2 shows a plan view of the security document ofFigure 1 as viewed by observer A. As previously described, thedocument 1 carriesgraphic layer 5 across much of its surface which (together withunderlying coating layers 3 and 4) is omitted in the region ofwindow 20. Insidewindow 20, thesecurity device 10 extends across the region R3 which here has the form of a sun-shaped symbol. In other cases, the region R3 may define an alternative indicia such as a letter, number or graphic, and the region R3 could extend to cover the whole window 20 (although this is less preferred). The optically variable effect generated byrelief structure 13 is visible across the whole of sun-shaped region R3 (assuming therelief structure 13 itself extends across the whole of the region). Outside the region R3, thewindow 20 is transparent and optically invariable. It should be noted that in this case when the security document is viewed from the opposite side of the substrate (i.e. from the position of observer B depicted inFigure 1 ) its appearance will be substantially identical as that shown inFigure 2 since here thesame surface relief 13 inreflective layer 12 will be viewed through transparentcurable material 11. -
Figure 3 depicts steps in a first embodiment of a method suitable for forming a security device of the sort described with respect toFigures 1 and 2 . To illustrate exemplary implementations of the steps,Figures 4(a) to (f) show another embodiment of a security document at various stages during its manufacture. - As will be discussed below, the initial steps of the method may be carried out in a different order from that shown in
Figure 3 . - In step S101, a
curable material 11 is applied to thefirst surface 2a ofsubstrate 2, e.g. using any appropriate coating or printing techniques, preferably gravure, and the resulting structure is shown inFigure 4a . As described previously, in practice the substrate may be treated prior to application tocurable material 11, either by applying aprimer layer 9 or by corona treatment to raise the surface of the substrate material, for example. The curable material is applied across a first region R1 which may define indicia. The curable material could be a radiation curable resin or a thermoplastic containing a curable hardening agent. For instance, a curable resin may typically be one of two types: a) Free radical cure resins which are unsaturated resins or monomers, prepolymers, oligomers etc. containing vinyl or acrylate unsaturation for example and which cross-link through use of a photo initiator activated by the radiation source employed e.g. UV; or b) Cationic cure resins in which ring opening (e.g. epoxy types) is effected using photo initiators or catalysts which generate ionic entities under the radiation source employed, e.g. UV. The ring opening is followed by intermolecular cross-linking. The radiation used to effect curing will typically be UV radiation but could comprise electron beam, visible, or even infra-red or higher wavelength radiation, depending upon the material, its absorbance and the process used. Alternative thermoplastic lacquers such as PMMA-based resins, acrylic resins or vinyl/styrene copolymers could be used with added curing agent. - In step S103, a
relief structure 13 is formed into the surface of thecurable material 11 so as to define an optically variable effect generating structure such as a hologram or a diffraction grating. This may be achieved for example by impressing the curable material using an embossing roller. The material is cured, for example by exposure to an appropriate curing energy such as heat or radiation (preferably UV radiation) in order to fix the relief structure in place such that the material cannot relax or exhibit viscous flow. Any known cast-cure process can be used to perform step S103 and it should be noted that curing may take place simultaneously with and/or subsequently to the casting of the relief into the material.Figure 4b shows the formedrelief 13 inmaterial 11 and irradiation of the material with curing energy E (e.g. UV radiation) throughsubstrate 2. - In step S105, one or more coating layers are applied to the substrate defining a viewing region (e.g. a window region) containing all or part of the region in which
curable material 11 has been laid down. In the example depicted inFigure 4c , twocoating layers first surface 2a of the substrate. In this example, both layers are provided only outside the curable material region R1, but in other cases there could be an overlap. Further, in this example bothcoating layers first surface 2a of thesubstrate 2. In other cases, the coating layer(s) may alternatively or additionally be disposed on theopposite surface 2b of the substrate. If coating layer(s) are to be provided on both sides of the substrate, the coating layer(s) may be applied to each side simultaneously or sequentially. - It will be appreciated that the same structure shown in
Figure 4c can be obtained in a number of different ways. In particular, as illustrated by the dashed line arrows inFigure 3 , step S105 in which the coating layer(s) are applied may be carried out prior to the application of the curable material 11 (i.e. before step S101). Alternatively, the coating layer(s) could be applied after thecurable material 11 has been applied but before it is formed and cured (i.e. between steps S101 and S103). It would also be possible to apply various different coating layers at different stages during this part of the process, for example afirst opacifying layer 3 could be applied before step S101 and asecond opacifying layer 4 could be applied after step S103. - After the
curable material 11 and coating layer(s) defining the viewing region have been applied to the substrate, and the curable material has been formed and cured, in step S107 a maskingsubstance 15 is applied to thefirst surface 2a of the substrate, as shown inFigure 4d . The maskingsubstance 15 is laid down across areas of the substrate in which the reflection enhancing material is ultimately not desired and, as such, the maskingsubstance 15 can comprise any material which impedes adhesion of thereflection enhancing material 12 to the underlying substrate (and/or to any intervening layers, such aslayers substance 15 comprises an oil mask which de-gases when a material is laid down on top of it, thereby preventing its adhesion. In another preferred embodiment, the maskingsubstance 15 comprises a soluble mask, such as soluble ink. One exemplary type of soluble ink is heavily pigmented ink as disclosed inWO-A-99-13157 US-A-5142383 ,US-A-3935334 andEP-A-1023499 . - In order that the
reflection enhancing material 12 can be deposited onto and strongly bond to at least part of therelief structure 13, the application of maskingsubstance 15 excludes a second region R2 of the substrate, which second region R2 includes at least part of the first region R1 in which the curedmaterial 11 carrying the relief structure is present. In the example depicted inFigure 4d , the second region R2 is coincident with the first region R1, but this is not essential. - With the masking
substance 15 in place, in step S109, the reflection enhancing material is deposited onto thefirst surface 2a of thesubstrate 2 to form a layer ofreflection enhancing material 12 which extends over the curedmaterial 11 and neighboring regions of the substrate, including portions covered by maskingsubstance 15 as shown inFigure 4e . In practice, depending on the nature of maskingsubstance 15, in fact thereflection enhancing material 12 may not settle on the masking substance. For example, if the masking substance de-gases upon deposit of thereflection enhancing material 12, the deposition step S109 may result directly in the structure shown inFigure 4f , in which the reflection enhancing material is present only on the curedmaterial 11. In other cases, some residualreflection enhancing material 12 may remain on the maskingsubstance 15 in which case a removal step, such as washing step S111, may be performed. This may involve for example washing the surface ofsubstrate 2 with a liquid (e.g. water) or a gas, such as an air jet. This causes detachment of thereflection enhancing material 12 from the substrate in the areas where maskingsubstance 15 is present, resulting in the same final structure shown inFigure 4f . The region of the curedmaterial 11 to which thereflection enhancing material 12 is applied (i.e. the overlapping parts of regions R1 and R2, termed the third region, R3) exhibits the desired optically variable effect. - The
reflection enhancing material 12 deposited in step S109 is preferably a contiguous film of a suitable reflective material, such as a metal or alloy or an HRI material, so as to achieve high quality optical replay. The material is preferably deposited by a non-selective method, such as vapour or vacuum deposition, in which the whole surface of the substrate that is exposed to the process will be coated with the material (as opposed to a selective application process such as printing). For example, the material may be deposited by a physical vapour deposition process such as evaporative deposition or sputtering, or a chemical vapour deposition process. - In contrast, the previously laid down components (i.e. the
curable material 11,coating layers curable material 11,coating layers substrate 2 travelling as a web between stations at which each of the steps is carried out. In this way, the positioning of thesubstrate 2 relative to each of the stations is known and can be controlled. For example, if thecurable material 11,coating layers substance 15 are each applied by gravure, registration tolerances of +/-100 to 200 microns are achievable. - An example of apparatus suitable for manufacturing a security document of the sort described above will now be described with reference to
Figures 5a and 5b . It should be noted that the exemplary apparatus depicted inFigure 5 is suitable for implementing the method as a continuous web-based technique but in other (less preferred) examples, the documents could be made using batch processing methods. - As mentioned above, the steps of applying the curable material, forming the relief and curing, applying the one or more coating layers and applying the masking substance are preferably carried out in an inline process, and
Figure 5a shows an example of suitable apparatus for such a process. Subsequent steps involving deposition of the reflection enhancing material can be carried out as continuation of the process or in a separate manufacturing line. Since all of the printing or other application type steps for which accurate registration is desirable are carried out before the steps involving deposition of the reflection enhancing material, the method lends itself well to carrying out manufacture in two distinct phases and in this example these are reflected by the division betweenFigures 5a and 5b . - Thus,
Figure 5a depicts anexemplary apparatus 30 for carrying out steps S101 to S107 of the method described with respect toFigures 3 and4 . Thesubstrate 2, such as a transparent polymer film, is supplied from areel 31. At afirst station 32, acurable material 11 is applied to thesubstrate 2 preferably over discrete regions R1 (although in other cases the region R1 may effectively cover the whole substrate 2). In this example, thecurable material 11 is a radiation curable material. Thestation 32 may comprise for example aprint roller 32a and an opposingroller 32b. Thesubstrate 2 is then conveyed tosecond station 33 where arelief structure 13 is formed. Here, thestation 33 comprises arotary embossing roller 33a carrying a repeating pattern of the desiredrelief structure 13, and opposingroller 33b such as a transparent quartz nip roller. Therelief 13 is impressed into thecurable material 11 which is simultaneously exposed to curing energy E, such as UV radiation. In this example, the radiation source E is disposed within thetransparent nip roller 33b. As such, curing takes place at the point of impression of therelief structure 13 into the curable material. However, in other examples, radiation source E may be located just after the web leaves the impressing nip, e.g. betweenrollers - The web, now carrying a series of cured
regions 11 each having animpressed surface relief 13, now passes to athird station 34 at which one or more coating layers (such as 3 and 4 depicted in previous Figures) are applied to thesubstrate 2 to define a viewing region within which at least part of the cured material is located, on one or both sides of thesubstrate 2.Station 34 may comprise for example aprint roller 34a and an opposingroller 34b. In practice, more than one such station may be provided if multiple coating layers are to be applied. - At a
fourth station 35, a maskingsubstance 15 is applied to thefirst surface 2a of thesubstrate 2, so as to mask off areas in which reflection enhancing material is not desired. Thus, the area to which the maskingsubstance 15 is applied excludes a second region R2 at least partially overlapping with the cured surface relief regions. The printing/application steps S101 to S107 are thus complete and the intermediate product so-produced may then be wound on to areel 36 for onward processing at a later time or on a separate apparatus. Alternatively, the web may continue directly to apparatus of the sort described for example with respect toFigure 5b . - Thus,
Figure 5b depicts exemplary apparatus for carrying out deposition of reflection enhancing material and an optional washing step. Here, reel 41 supplies thesubstrate 2 in the form of the intermediate product resulting from the manufacturing stages already described. The web is conveyed through afifth processing station 42 which in this example comprises avapour deposition chamber 42a for depositing reflection enhancing material such as metal or a HRI material on to thefirst surface 2a of the substrate. Typically, the reflection enhancing material may be deposited across the full width of the web as it passes through the chamber. - As discussed above, depending on the nature of the masking
substance 15, no further processing steps may be necessary. In other cases, a step of removing residual reflection enhancing material from regions in which it is not desired is useful and in this case the web may be conveyed through asixth processing station 43, here comprising awashing chamber 43a in which the first surface of the substrate is subjected to washing, e.g. by passing the web through a fluid bath or directing air jets onto the surface of the web. The completed web may then be collected on areel 44. - Optional onward processing steps will depend on the nature of the security document in question but may comprise for example one or more further printing steps (e.g. application of further coating layer(s) and/or graphics layer 5) and/or cutting of the web into individual security documents each carrying one security device manufactured in the above described manner. The apparatus may also include additional stations for carrying out optional steps such as surface treatment of the
substrate 2 and/or curedmaterial 11. For example, a station may be provided upstream ofstation 32 for treating thesubstrate 2 so as to improve adhesion of the curable material and/or coating layers to its surface. This may be achieved for example by applying a print receptive primer such aslayer 9 shown inFigure 1 or carrying out corona treatment. Similarly, a treatment station may be inserted at any stage downstream ofstation 33 for treating the surface of curedmaterial 11 prior to application of the reflection enhancing material, e.g. by plasma or corona treatment. - As mentioned above, the application of the curable material and the application of the one or more coating layers defining the viewing region may be carried out in the opposite order to that depicted in
Figure 5a , in which case the relevant processing stations will be rearranged as appropriate. - A further embodiment of a
security document 1 comprising an integral security device 10' will now be described with reference toFigures 6 and 7 . Here, the construction ofsecurity document 1, includingsubstrate 2,coating layers print 5 is the same as discussed with respect toFigures 1 and 2 , and like features are identified using the same reference numbers. The security device 10' is formed using the same technique as described above. As such, areflection enhancing material 12 is disposed on curedmaterial 11 and follows asurface relief 13 defining an optically variable effect generating structure. In this example,reflection enhancing material 12 does not cover the whole region R1 in which the curedmaterial 11 is present, but rather (as shown best in the plan view seen by observer A, shown inFigure 7 ), only a portion thereof. Here, the curedmaterial 11 covers a region R1 having the form of a six-pointed star shape whilst thereflection enhancing material 12 is provided only across an area R2 within region R1, having the shape of an arrow symbol. The region R2 is that region omitted by the coverage of maskingsubstance 15 during manufacture. In this case the optically active region R3 therefore shares the same bounds as R2. - The regions R1 and R3 preferably define different indicia. If the cured
material 11 is clear and colourless, the star-shaped region R1 will not be visible to the observer. However, in this embodiment the curedmaterial 11 comprises an optically effective substance such as a colorant, making it visible to observers A and B. The colorant will also have the effect of causing the device to have different optically variable appearances from the point of view from observer A and observer B, since observer A will see the optical effect through colourlessprotective lacquer 19, meaning that the colour of the effect will be determined solely by that ofreflection enhancing material 12, whereas observer B will see the optically variable effect through the curedmaterial 11 which will therefore impose its colour onto the optically variable effect. - The optically effective substance in the cured
material 11 could comprise any visible colorant and/or any non-visible but machine detectible substance and/or a substance which only becomes visible under certain conditions, such as UV illumination. For example, the optically effective substance could be a luminescent, fluorescent or phosphorescent material. - The
reflection enhancing material 12 and/orsubstrate 2 may also comprise an optically effective substance such as these. - The security level of the document can be further increased by forming the
layer 11 from two or more transparent curable materials, and this is the case in the embodiment depicted inFigures 6 and 7 , where one portion of region R1 is formed of a firstcurable material 11a and another portion of the region is formed with a secondcurable material 11b. The two or more curable materials preferably comprise different optically effective substances so that a pattern formed by the two curable materials is visible to a human observer and to a machine. It is preferred that where two or more materials are provided in this way, they are each responsive to the same form of curing energy so that both can be cured simultaneously in step S103. -
Figures 8 ,9 and 10 depict cross-sections through three further embodiments of security documents illustrating further optional features. - In the embodiments described so far, the
substrate 2 of the document is transparent and this is preferred in order to provide document with features such as see-through windows or translucent half-windows which have a high recognition value and thus increase the security level of the document. However, this is not essential and the polymeric substrate could be translucent or opaque and this is the case in theFigure 8 embodiment. In this case, thesecurity device 10" is only designed to be viewed from one side (that of observer A) and thus thecoating layers print 5b on thesecond surface 2b of the substrate 2' may be continuous in the region of thesecurity device 10". Here, the viewing region 20' has the same opacity as its surroundings and a similar result could be achieved using a transparent ortranslucent substrate 20 in combination with all-overcoating layers security device 10" is constructed in substantially the same manner as described above. In this example however, the second region R2 across which the maskingsubstance 15 is omitted during manufacture extends beyond the edges of the first region R1 in which thecurable material 11 is deposited. Thus, as shown inFigure 8 in the resulting security document thereflection enhancing material 12 may extend beyond the perimeter of the curedmaterial 11 carrying thesurface relief 13. In this case, the optically active third region R3 is equal to the first region R1. - In the previous embodiments, all of the coating layers 3, 4 which are intended to be applied to the security document are applied prior to deposition of the masking substance and reflection enhancing material. However this is not essential since only those coating layers which contribute to the definition of the
viewing region 20 need be applied at that time.Figure 9 shows an exemplary embodiment in which it is advantageous to apply certain coating layers prior to application of the reflection enhancing material, and others after. Here, thesecurity document 1" is provided with asecurity device 10"' which is designed to be viewed only through the substrate 2 (which must therefore be transparent), throughviewing region 20" from the position of observer B. Thecurable material 11 is also transparent and the optically variable effect generated byrelief structure 13 can thus be viewed through thecurable material 11 and thetransparent substrate 2. In this case, the security device is manufactured using the same method as described above but, in the process step corresponding to step S105 shown inFigure 3 , only coatinglayers viewing region 20". At this stage, no coating layers are applied to the first surface of thesubstrate 2 which is to carrycurable material 11. Thus, therelief structure 13 remains available for deposition of thereflection enhancing material 12. After thereflection enhancing material 12 has been applied to the desired region,further coating layers security device 10"'. The coating layers 3a, 4a may or may not be of the same number and/or composition as thecoating layers coating layers viewing region 20" will act as a half-window, becoming distinguishable from its surroundings when viewed in transmitted light. Alternatively, if thecoating layers - In the
Figure 9 example, since thecoating layers viewing region 20, e.g. partial coating layers which are only applied in areas sufficiently spaced away from the viewing region. However in general it is preferred to apply as many of the coating layers as possible prior to deposition of the reflection enhancing material, and it is only those which ultimately cover the region(s) of therelief structure 13 on the first side of the substrate 2 (such aslayers Figure 9 ) for which this is not possible. -
Figure 10 shows a further example of asecurity document 1"' in which thesecurity device 10 is identical to that discussed with respect toFigure 1 . In this case, thesecurity device 10 is located in a "half window" region 20'" of the document, withcoating layers security device 10 is only clearly visible from one side of the document (that of observer A), but depending on the opacity oflayers relief 13 may also be visible to an extent. To form this type of structure, thecoating layers coating layers only coating layers layers
Claims (11)
- A method of manufacturing a security document, comprising:(a) providing a polymeric substrate (2) having first (2a) and second (2b) surfaces;
then performing the following steps (b), (c) and (d) in any order:(b) applying a curable material (11) to a first region (R1) of the substrate on its first surface;(c) forming the curable material such that its surface distal from the substrate follows the contours of an optically variable effect generating relief structure (13) and curing the curable material such that the relief structure is retained by the cured material;(d) applying one or more coating layers (3,4,5) to the first and/or second surface(s) of the substrate to define a viewing region, the coating layer(s) being absent at least on the first surface across all or part of the first region; Characterised in that then:(e) applying a masking substance to the first surface of the substrate, excluding at least a second region (R2) which includes at least part of the first region, the overlapping portions of the first and second regions defining a third region (R3);(f) depositing a reflection enhancing material (12) onto the first surface of the substrate such that, in the third region, the reflection enhancing material is deposited onto the cured material and follows the contours of the relief structure; wherein the masking substance impedes the retention of the reflection enhancing material such that the reflection enhancing material is retained only in areas to which the masking substance was not applied. - A method according to claim 1, wherein step (f) further comprises:
(f1) washing the substrate to remove any residual reflection enhancing material in areas to which the masking substance was applied. - A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the masking substance comprises an oil mask adapted such that application of the reflection enhancing material thereto causes degassing of the oil mask, thereby impeding adhesion of the reflection enhancing material to the substrate.
- A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the masking substance comprises a soluble mask which does not adhere strongly to the substrate, or can be dissolved by application of a solvent, thereby impeding adhesion of the reflection enhancing material applied thereto to the substrate.
- A method according to any of the preceding claims wherein in steps (b), (d) and (e), the respective curable material, coating layers and masking substance are applied in register with one another and preferably in register with the relief structure formed in step (c).
- A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least steps (b), (c), (d) and (e) are performed in a continuous, in-line process.
- A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein in step (f) the reflection enhancing material is deposited by a non-selective deposition technique.
- A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein in step (f) the reflection enhancing material is deposited by vapour deposition.
- A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the reflection enhancing material is a metal or alloy, or a material with a refractive index which differs from that of the cured material by at least 0.3.
- A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more coating layers applied in step (d) comprises one or more opacifying layers.
- A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the security document is a banknote, a polymer banknote, a hybrid paper/polymer banknote, an identity document, a passport, an identification card, a cheque, a visa, a certificate, or a stamp.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB1308959.4A GB2514337B (en) | 2013-05-17 | 2013-05-17 | Security documents and methods of manufacture thereof |
PCT/GB2014/051486 WO2014184559A1 (en) | 2013-05-17 | 2014-05-15 | Security documents and methods of manufacture thereof |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2996885A1 EP2996885A1 (en) | 2016-03-23 |
EP2996885B1 EP2996885B1 (en) | 2017-06-21 |
EP2996885B2 true EP2996885B2 (en) | 2020-11-18 |
Family
ID=48746951
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP14725517.8A Not-in-force EP2996885B2 (en) | 2013-05-17 | 2014-05-15 | Methods of manufacture of security documents |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP2996885B2 (en) |
CN (1) | CN105339181B (en) |
AU (1) | AU2014266990C1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB2514337B (en) |
MX (1) | MX346632B (en) |
WO (1) | WO2014184559A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (23)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
MA42904A (en) * | 2015-07-10 | 2018-05-16 | De La Rue Int Ltd | PROCESSES FOR MANUFACTURING SAFETY DOCUMENTS AND SAFETY DEVICES |
GB2549481B (en) * | 2016-04-18 | 2019-06-05 | De La Rue Int Ltd | Security devices and methods of manufacture thereof |
GB2556880B (en) * | 2016-11-22 | 2020-06-10 | De La Rue Int Ltd | Security device components and methods of manufacture thereof |
CN110382247B (en) * | 2017-03-08 | 2022-05-17 | 恩图鲁斯特咨询卡有限公司 | Drop-on-demand identification document printing with surface preparation |
CN107020853A (en) * | 2017-03-15 | 2017-08-08 | 大连理工大学 | A kind of method for anti-counterfeit based on structure color change |
GB2566975B (en) | 2017-09-29 | 2020-03-25 | De La Rue Int Ltd | Security Device And Method Of Manufacture Thereof |
DE102017218799B3 (en) * | 2017-10-20 | 2018-11-15 | Koenig & Bauer Ag | Method for producing a security element or security document |
DE102017218802B3 (en) * | 2017-10-20 | 2018-11-15 | Koenig & Bauer Ag | Method for producing a security element or security document |
DE102017218800B3 (en) * | 2017-10-20 | 2018-11-15 | Koenig & Bauer Ag | Method for producing a security element or security document |
WO2019076805A1 (en) | 2017-10-20 | 2019-04-25 | Koenig & Bauer Ag | Security element or security document |
DE102017218801B3 (en) * | 2017-10-20 | 2018-11-15 | Koenig & Bauer Ag | Method for producing a security element or security document |
DE102017218805B3 (en) * | 2017-10-20 | 2018-11-15 | Koenig & Bauer Ag | Method for producing a security element or security document |
DE102017218804A1 (en) | 2017-10-20 | 2019-04-25 | Koenig & Bauer Ag | Method for producing a printed image having security element or a security document |
DE102017218803B3 (en) * | 2017-10-20 | 2018-11-15 | Koenig & Bauer Ag | Method for producing a security element or security document |
DE102018201871B3 (en) | 2018-02-07 | 2018-12-13 | Koenig & Bauer Ag | Arrangement comprising a printed image applied to a substrate and an at least parts of the printed image covering optically imaging structure |
US10479128B2 (en) * | 2017-10-27 | 2019-11-19 | Assa Abloy Ab | Security feature |
CN111112026A (en) * | 2020-01-20 | 2020-05-08 | 江苏雅恩新材料科技有限公司 | Horizontal double-electron-beam irradiation curing metal coil coating device and production line |
CN111152515A (en) * | 2020-01-23 | 2020-05-15 | 汕头市嘉信包装材料有限公司 | Production process of environment-friendly anti-counterfeiting cigarette packaging material |
DE102020004959A1 (en) * | 2020-08-13 | 2022-02-17 | Giesecke+Devrient Currency Technology Gmbh | Optically variable security element |
DE102020005912A1 (en) * | 2020-09-28 | 2022-03-31 | Giesecke+Devrient Currency Technology Gmbh | Process for producing an optically variable security element |
DE102020007028A1 (en) * | 2020-11-17 | 2022-05-19 | Giesecke+Devrient Currency Technology Gmbh | Security element, document of value equipped with the same and production method |
CN112720651B (en) * | 2020-12-11 | 2022-06-21 | 西安印钞有限公司 | Three-dimensional difference compensating and cutting auxiliary device for paper money |
US20230050405A1 (en) * | 2021-08-16 | 2023-02-16 | Spectra Systems Corporation | Patterned conductive layer for secure instruments |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3935334A (en) † | 1973-06-06 | 1976-01-27 | Oike & Company, Ltd. | Process for preparing a metallized resin film for condenser element |
EP0338378A2 (en) † | 1988-04-18 | 1989-10-25 | American Bank Note Holographics, Inc. | Combined process of printing and forming a hologram |
WO1999013157A1 (en) † | 1997-09-08 | 1999-03-18 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Secure sheet for bank note paper and method for making same |
WO2006002756A2 (en) † | 2004-07-05 | 2006-01-12 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Security element with a color shift tilt effect |
WO2011116425A1 (en) † | 2010-03-24 | 2011-09-29 | Securency International Pty Ltd | Security document with integrated security device and method of manufacture |
WO2012019226A1 (en) † | 2010-08-11 | 2012-02-16 | Securency International Pty Ltd | Optically variable device |
Family Cites Families (14)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE3932505C2 (en) * | 1989-09-28 | 2001-03-15 | Gao Ges Automation Org | Data carrier with an optically variable element |
WO1993024332A1 (en) * | 1992-05-25 | 1993-12-09 | Reserve Bank Of Australia Trading As Note Printing Australia | Applying diffraction gratings to security documents |
DE19907697A1 (en) * | 1999-02-23 | 2000-08-24 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Security element with optically variable material for documents of value additionally comprises at least one machine readable distinguishing material which does not impair the effect of the optically variable material |
DE10044465A1 (en) * | 2000-09-08 | 2002-03-21 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Data carrier with an optically variable element |
CN1164441C (en) * | 2001-10-29 | 2004-09-01 | 苏州大学 | Impact method for generating optically variable image and its printer |
DE10226116A1 (en) * | 2001-12-21 | 2003-07-03 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Security element and process for its manufacture |
AT502319B1 (en) * | 2002-04-11 | 2009-11-15 | Hueck Folien Gmbh | SUBSTRATES WITH PREFERABLY TRANSFERABLE LAYERS AND / OR SURFACE STRUCTURES, METHOD FOR THEIR PRODUCTION AND THEIR USE |
NZ539221A (en) | 2002-10-07 | 2007-06-29 | Note Printing Au Ltd | Embossed optically variable devices |
CH698157B1 (en) * | 2006-09-15 | 2011-02-28 | Securency Int Pty Ltd | With radiation curable embossed ink security devices for security documents. |
GB2477239A (en) | 2008-10-17 | 2011-07-27 | Securency Int Pty Ltd | Registration method and apparatus for embossed and printed features |
CA2656506A1 (en) * | 2009-02-27 | 2010-08-27 | Bank Of Canada | Security device |
JP5545289B2 (en) * | 2009-06-18 | 2014-07-09 | 凸版印刷株式会社 | Optical element manufacturing method |
WO2011017749A1 (en) * | 2009-08-12 | 2011-02-17 | Securency International Pty Ltd | Polarising liquid crystal device |
GB201003136D0 (en) * | 2010-02-24 | 2010-04-14 | Rue De Int Ltd | Optically variable security device comprising a coloured cast cured hologram |
-
2013
- 2013-05-17 GB GB1308959.4A patent/GB2514337B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2014
- 2014-05-15 EP EP14725517.8A patent/EP2996885B2/en not_active Not-in-force
- 2014-05-15 WO PCT/GB2014/051486 patent/WO2014184559A1/en active Application Filing
- 2014-05-15 AU AU2014266990A patent/AU2014266990C1/en not_active Ceased
- 2014-05-15 MX MX2015015141A patent/MX346632B/en active IP Right Grant
- 2014-05-15 CN CN201480028640.1A patent/CN105339181B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3935334A (en) † | 1973-06-06 | 1976-01-27 | Oike & Company, Ltd. | Process for preparing a metallized resin film for condenser element |
EP0338378A2 (en) † | 1988-04-18 | 1989-10-25 | American Bank Note Holographics, Inc. | Combined process of printing and forming a hologram |
WO1999013157A1 (en) † | 1997-09-08 | 1999-03-18 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Secure sheet for bank note paper and method for making same |
WO2006002756A2 (en) † | 2004-07-05 | 2006-01-12 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Security element with a color shift tilt effect |
WO2011116425A1 (en) † | 2010-03-24 | 2011-09-29 | Securency International Pty Ltd | Security document with integrated security device and method of manufacture |
WO2012019226A1 (en) † | 2010-08-11 | 2012-02-16 | Securency International Pty Ltd | Optically variable device |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CN105339181A (en) | 2016-02-17 |
EP2996885B1 (en) | 2017-06-21 |
EP2996885A1 (en) | 2016-03-23 |
MX346632B (en) | 2017-03-27 |
GB201308959D0 (en) | 2013-07-03 |
AU2014266990B2 (en) | 2018-03-08 |
GB2514337B (en) | 2020-01-15 |
AU2014266990A1 (en) | 2015-11-12 |
CN105339181B (en) | 2018-02-09 |
MX2015015141A (en) | 2016-02-18 |
GB2514337A (en) | 2014-11-26 |
WO2014184559A1 (en) | 2014-11-20 |
AU2014266990C1 (en) | 2019-04-04 |
WO2014184559A8 (en) | 2015-06-11 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
EP2996885B2 (en) | Methods of manufacture of security documents | |
EP2951023B3 (en) | Security devices and methods of manufacture thereof | |
RU2591770C2 (en) | Protective element with achromatic characteristics | |
AU2014210898C1 (en) | Security devices and methods of manufacture thereof | |
EP2539158B1 (en) | Security device | |
US9804497B2 (en) | Security devices and methods of manufacture thereof | |
JP6649275B2 (en) | Multilayer body and method for producing the same | |
EP3445592B1 (en) | Security devices and methods of manufacture thereof | |
AU2017101236A4 (en) | Method of embossing micro-structures on a substrate | |
EP3600908A1 (en) | Methods of manufacturing security devices and image arrays therefor | |
WO2014127402A1 (en) | Security devices including highly reflective areas and methods of manufacture | |
AU2013100171B4 (en) | Methods of manufacturing security devices including highly reflective areas |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 20151120 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
|
AX | Request for extension of the european patent |
Extension state: BA ME |
|
DAX | Request for extension of the european patent (deleted) | ||
GRAP | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1 |
|
INTG | Intention to grant announced |
Effective date: 20160915 |
|
GRAJ | Information related to disapproval of communication of intention to grant by the applicant or resumption of examination proceedings by the epo deleted |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSDIGR1 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION WAS MADE |
|
INTC | Intention to grant announced (deleted) | ||
GRAR | Information related to intention to grant a patent recorded |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR71 |
|
GRAS | Grant fee paid |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: GRANT OF PATENT IS INTENDED |
|
INTG | Intention to grant announced |
Effective date: 20170411 |
|
GRAA | (expected) grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE PATENT HAS BEEN GRANTED |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: B1 Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: GB Ref legal event code: FG4D |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: CH Ref legal event code: EP |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: IE Ref legal event code: FG4D |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: AT Ref legal event code: REF Ref document number: 902583 Country of ref document: AT Kind code of ref document: T Effective date: 20170715 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R096 Ref document number: 602014011005 Country of ref document: DE |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: NL Ref legal event code: MP Effective date: 20170621 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20170922 Ref country code: LT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20170621 Ref country code: NO Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20170921 Ref country code: FI Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20170621 Ref country code: HR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20170621 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: LT Ref legal event code: MG4D |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: RS Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20170621 Ref country code: NL Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20170621 Ref country code: BG Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20170921 Ref country code: SE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20170621 Ref country code: LV Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20170621 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: RO Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20170621 Ref country code: EE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20170621 Ref country code: SK Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20170621 Ref country code: CZ Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20170621 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: ES Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20170621 Ref country code: PL Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20170621 Ref country code: IT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20170621 Ref country code: SM Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20170621 Ref country code: IS Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20171021 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R026 Ref document number: 602014011005 Country of ref document: DE |
|
PLBI | Opposition filed |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009260 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: FR Ref legal event code: PLFP Year of fee payment: 5 |
|
PLAX | Notice of opposition and request to file observation + time limit sent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNOBS2 |
|
26 | Opposition filed |
Opponent name: LEONHARD KURZ STIFTUNG & CO. KG Effective date: 20180321 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DK Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20170621 |
|
PLBB | Reply of patent proprietor to notice(s) of opposition received |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNOBS3 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: SI Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20170621 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: CH Ref legal event code: PL |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: BE Ref legal event code: MM Effective date: 20180531 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: MC Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20170621 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: IE Ref legal event code: MM4A |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: CH Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20180531 Ref country code: LI Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20180531 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: LU Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20180515 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: IE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20180515 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: BE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20180531 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Payment date: 20190515 Year of fee payment: 6 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: GB Ref legal event code: S29 Free format text: OFFER FILED; APPLICATION FILED 14 NOVEMBER 2019 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: MT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20180515 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: AT Ref legal event code: UEP Ref document number: 902583 Country of ref document: AT Kind code of ref document: T Effective date: 20170621 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: TR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20170621 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: GB Ref legal event code: S29 Free format text: OFFER ACCEPTED |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF THE APPLICANT RENOUNCES Effective date: 20200422 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: PT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20170621 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: CY Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20170621 Ref country code: HU Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT; INVALID AB INITIO Effective date: 20140515 Ref country code: MK Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20170621 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: AL Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20170621 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FR Payment date: 20200414 Year of fee payment: 7 Ref country code: DE Payment date: 20200506 Year of fee payment: 7 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: AT Payment date: 20200428 Year of fee payment: 7 |
|
PUAH | Patent maintained in amended form |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009272 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: PATENT MAINTAINED AS AMENDED |
|
27A | Patent maintained in amended form |
Effective date: 20201118 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: B2 Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R102 Ref document number: 602014011005 Country of ref document: DE |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: AT Ref legal event code: MK05 Ref document number: 902583 Country of ref document: AT Kind code of ref document: T Effective date: 20170621 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: AT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20170621 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R119 Ref document number: 602014011005 Country of ref document: DE |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20211201 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20210531 |