IL124351A - Method for producing identification documents particularly in booklet form and documents produced by it - Google Patents

Description

π πϋΊϋ]3 Dnsrnn lrmu mm TTirnn o^nom Γ Τ ■'DDDD -Π3,Ν7 nt u METHOD FOR PRODUCING IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS PARTICULARLY FOR BOOKLET FORM AND DOCUMENTS PRODUCED BY IT METHOD FOR PRODUCING IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS AND DOCUMENTS PRODUCED BY IT Field of the Invention This invention relates to a laser printing method and apparatus for producing documents bearing printed graphic matter and textual matter, generally including identifying photographs, which is effective under any climatic conditions.

Background of the Invention In this application, the terms "substrate" or "printing substrate", without further specification, include any substrate on which printing is effected. The terms "picture" or "image" or "subject matter", as used herein, synonymously indicate any kind of printable or printed subject matter. In many cases to which this invention is applied, the picture comprises a portrait of the owner of a document and words, numbers and the like, that contain information relevant to the identity of said owner and to the character, validity period, and other features of the document itself.

Graphic matter printed on passports, identifying cards and like documents, generally includes identifying photographs, particularly color photographs, accompanied by identifying data. For this purpose, the laser printing process and laser printing machines are widely used.

Basically, the laser printing process comprises, as a first step, defining the subject matter to be printed in the form of an array of signals that can be used to control the printing machine. A common way of doing this consists in capturing the subject matter to be printed and registering the results of the capturing in a processor's memory, in the form of an array of digital signals. Said signals control the emission of laser rays from a laser source. The laser beams impinge on a cylinder in a pattern controlled by the said signals and electrostatically charge the surface of said metal cylinder at selectively predetermined spots. The selectively electrostatically charged cylinder passes in the vicinity of a reservoir of coloring matter in powder form. The coloring matter particles are attracted to the aforesaid selectively charged spots of said cylinder and form thereon the desired pattern. A print substrate is then passed into contact with the metal cylinder and the pattern formed by the color particles is deposited thereon. This operation is repeated for each color if a multicolor print is desired, usually four times to provide the basic colors magenta, cyan and yellow, plus black (black will hereinafter be considered to be a color), to produce a complete colored image. At this stage a colored image has been formed on the print substrate. In order to stabilize the image, the print substrate is passed between heated rollers, which fix or set the print so that it is permanent and stable.

However, it is not possible with the aforesaid conventional color laser printing techniques to print on a passport, or other document in booklet form, the holder's photograph, signature, and/or other printed information.

On the other hand, identity cards, passes, and the like are conventionally prepared, according to the art, by inserting a sheet, bearing the desired printed matter, between a backing and a transparent front sheet, and joining these by lamination, However, the final lamination requires that the printed sheet be smaller than the final card, to leave a margin sufficiently wide for the a trimming that is required after the lamination., and, . as a consequence, either the card is unnecessarily large or the printed area is unnecessarily limited. Additionally, a final trimming is required; and finally, the card is not counterfeit-proof, since in many cases the layers which compose it can be separated and the printing altered.

WO 96/32256 proposes a method for making bound documents and cards, which comprises, firstly, providing a set of signals defining the subject matter - hereinafter "the image" - to be printed and forming said image on a temporary substrate by the conventional laser printing method. Said conventional laser printing, as is well known, comprises the steps of a) providing a set of signals defining an image to be printed, b) for each color comprised in said image causing a laser beam to impinge on a metal cylinder in a pattern controlled by said signals, whereby electrostatically to charge the surface of said cylinder at selectively predetermined spots, c) juxtaposing to said electrostatically charged cylinder a reservoir of toner (coloring matter in powder form) having said color, whereby the toner is attracted to said selectively predetermined spots and forms thereon a desired pattern, d) passing a print substrate in contact with said cylinder to form thereon said toner pattern, e) repeating said operations for all colors, whereby to produce a color image, and f) setting said image by the application of pressure and heat. However, WO 96/32256 proposes to modify that method by using as a print substrate a temporary substrate and only provisionally setting said image, e.g. only by radiant heat, and thereafter juxtaposing said temporary substrate to the rear face of a transparent substrate, transferring the image from said temporary substrate to the transparent substrate, whereby it becomes visible from the front face of this latter, removing the temporary substrate, and binding the transparent substrate to other components of the document.

While this process is effective and constitutes an important progress in the art, it has been found that certain operating conditions permit to achieve optimal results, from various viewpoints, e.g. as to the precise reproduction of facial details, and consequent security of identification, and as to operation in extreme environment conditions that may occur in certain climates, specifically environments of very low or very high humidity and temperatures, as will be specified hereinafter.

It is a purpose of the invention is to identify the conditions that produce optimal results.

It is another purpose of the invention to provide an improved method for making bound documents and cards, which permits to obtain fully satisfactory results in extreme environmental conditions.

Other purposes and advantages of this invention will appear as the description proceeds.

Summary of the Invention The steps of the process of this invention are the same as those of the process of the aforesaid WO 96/32256, the contents of which are integrally included herein by reference. It has been unexpectedly found, however, that the purposes of this invention require a control of the stage of the laser toners transfer from the cylinder of the laser printer, on which they are electrostatically retained, to the temporary substrate. Said control is not part of the conventional laser printing practice and is achieved by two elements of the invention. A control of the temporary setting stage, as hereinafter set forth, is also part of the invention. The invention further requires a control of the entire process, up to an including the last stage of binding the temporary substrate to other components of the document (the lamination).

The first element of the invention is the choice of the temporary substrate, which is siliconized clay coated paper, having a set of mechanical properties that will be set forth hereinafter. It should be emphasized that the temporary substrate is removed from the document before the process is completed.

It should be noted that more than one temporary substrate and, correspondingly, more than one transparent substrate, can be used in carrying out the invention. For instance, if an identity card or like card document is to be made, it may comprise a central, support sheet that is opaque, and may carry or not carry printed matter, and two transparent substrates on the two sides thereof, each of which is intended to carry its own, independent image. For convenience of description, said two substrates will be called "the first" and "the second" one. Two temporary substrates - a "first" and a "second" one -will be prepared, printed respectively with the image to be carried by the first and the second transparent substrate, and provisionally set. Then each temporary substrate will be juxtaposed to the corresponding transparent substrates and the images will be transferred to the transparent substrates. The temporary substrates are then removed, and finally, the transparent substrates are laminated to the central, support sheet. The images will be visible through each transparent substrate from the face thereof - hereinafter called "the front face" - opposite to that to which the image has been transferred - hereinafter called "the rear face". The same procedure can be used to print two or more images in a booklet. The required number of transparent substrates will be provided in the booklet and a temporary substrate will be printed with the image pertaining to each of them. The images will be transferred to the transparent substrates and these will be laminated to opaque sheets. In some cases the transfer operation can be carried out directly to an inner page of the booklet without being followed by lamination, but in such cases the image will be printed in reverse form. Therefore it should be understood that when reference is made hereinafter to a single provisional substrate and a single transparent substrate, this is done to simplify the description and is not to be construed as a limitation, as a two or more such substrates can be used.

The second element of the invention can be defined as the conditioning of the temporary substrate. The temporary substrate must undergo first of all what may be called a "climatic conditioning", viz. must be maintained for a sufficient period of time, prior to its entering the printing process, in an ambient in which it adjusts to the temperature and humidity conditions that exist in the printing room,. By "printing room" is meant the ambient in which the printer is located and operates. The climatic conditions that must be maintained in the printing room are: temperature 17-25°C, humidity 25-65%.

If the temporary substrate is conditioned in an ambient at such a temperature and humidity, care must be taken that no substantial temperature change or humidity gain or loss is caused by the environment through which the substrate passes, or by any other factor, after being conditioned and until it enters the printing room. Wholly unexpectedly, a departure from the said conditions might lead to printing defects, mainly consisting in randomly missing printing dots in the image or the text or in the appearance of curled lines, not part of the desired image, most visible in the darker areas.

Another important process factor is the temperature inside the setting section, or "dryer", as it may be called, of the laser printer, whereby the provisional setting of the temporary substrate is carried out. Said temperature should be comprised between 55° and 120°C. A preferred structure of the said dryer section will be described hereinafter.

Another critical stage of the invention is the transfer stage, viz. the transfer of the provisionally set image from the temporary substrate to the transparent substrate, which must be more adhesive or absorbent than the temporary substrate for the toners used in the printing. The transfer is effected by the application of pressure and heat, by means of pressure plates or pressure rollers, and therefore in the same way as a lamination, and conveniently by the use of a laminator. In this stage, the setting of the image is increased and may be completed. The transfer is preferably carried out in a room separate from the printing room and according to the following parameters: temperature of rollers or pressure plates from 90 to 160°C, pressure from 50 to 150 kg/cm2 , time 1 to 10 sec, ambient humidity from 25 to 65%.

The temporary substrate, as has been said, is siliconized clay coated paper, the coating being applied to one side of the paper. The silicone of the coating should be waterproof and non-absorbent to liquids. In order to obtain optimal results in extreme climatic conditions as well, it is preferred to use, according to this invention, a temporary substrate which has the properties set forth in following Table.

Brief Description of the Drawings In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-section of the printing chamber of a laser printer according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a setting or dryer section of a printer according to an embodiment of the invention; Figs. 3 to 5 illustrate the preparation of an identity card having an image on one face thereof, according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 6 to 10 illustrate the preparation of an identity card having images on both faces thereof, according to another embodiment of the invention; and Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate the application of an image to a sheet of a booklet, according to a further embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a laser printer modified according to the invention. The laser printer is generally indicated at 10 and may be any conventional laser printer except for the heat-setting portion, which is indicated at 11. The conventional part of the laser printer structure is well known to persons skilled in the art. It comprises a feed section 12 from which sheets are fed by means of a group of rollers 13 to a drum 14. Printing colors are contained in powder form in containers 15. Four containers are indicated in the drawing, since it is assumed that the printing is multicolor printing and is carried out in the three basic colors, magenta, cyan and yellow, plus black. Conventional means are provided for shifting containers 15 so that each of them may come into contact with drum 14 at the appropriate moments and transfer its coloring matter onto said drum. A laser source, not shown, directs a laser beam, controlled by digital control means, onto an octagonal mirror 16, from which the beam is deviated according to a program and successively reflected by mirrors 17 and 18 to impinge on a drum 19, according to the patterns determined by the image file through the controlling processor, which is not shown. The colors are captured by drum 19 according to said patterns. Drums 14 and 19 rotate in mutual contact and the image is transferred to the temporary substrate that has been fed to drum 14. This operation is repeated as many times as is required, generally 3 or 4 times, depending on whether three elementary colors., or three such colors plus black, are used in defining the image. Thereafter, the print substrate, with the image formed thereon, but not yet set and still in a labile state, passes through belt conveyor 20 to the provisional setting or dryer section 11, illustrated in Fig. 2. All the operations described so far and the apparatus means for carrying them out are conventional and well known to persons skilled in the art. As an example of laser printer which comprises all the elements so far described, one may cite Apple Color LaserWriter 12/600.

Fig. 2 illustrates in schematic perspective view the setting or dryer section 11 of a laser printer modified according to the invention, the top and other parts of the cover being removed to show the inner mechanical components of the apparatus. Numeral 30 generally designates a support casing, and numeral 31 generally designates a housing for a number of controls. Numeral 20 designates the conveyor belt, in various sections, which effects the transport of the temporary substrates into and through the setting or dryer section. Motor drive 33 actuates the belt by a chain 34. Electrical power for actuating the machine is supplied through socket 35. 36 is a fan and 37 are air circulation fans. 38 are knobs for controlling the heat intensity inside the setting section, preferably by means of potentiometer. 39 is a temperature controller for maintaining the desired temperature inside the setting section. Radiant heat for the provisional setting of the images on the provisional paper are provided by heating lamps 40, shown in this embodiment in the number of two, but which could be in any desired number. Over said heating lamps 40 is disposed a heat and light reflector 41 (only partially shown) which reflects infrared radiation downwards over the temporary substrate to be provisionally set, which substrate is not shown in the drawing. Numeral 42 indicates shafts for supporting and actuating the conveyor belt 20.

Afterwards, the temporary substrates are loaded onto the conveyor belt as standard paper substrates would be loaded in the conventional fuser, and pass through the illustrated setting section, without being subjected to the application of pressure, and being heated by infrared heating. The temperature and other parameters present in the said setting section are within the limits hereinbefore specified.

Figs. 3 to 6 illustrate the steps of preparing an identity card 10 according to the invention. An unprinted pouch, comprising opaque sheet 11 and transparent substrate 12 is firstly prepared by laminating or otherwise connecting them along an edge 13. A temporary substrate 14 is printed with an image generally indicated at 15 (which comprises, in this example, two photographs as well as lettering and numerals) and provisionally set, as hereinbefore described, and is inserted into the pouch with its printed face juxtaposed to the transparent substrate 12. Then the image 15 is transferred to transparent substrate 12 by applying pressure and heat, by means of rollers or plates or in any convenient manner, to the juxtaposed transparent substrate 12 and temporary substrate 14, and this latter is removed. A pouch having a transparent substrate 12 carrying the image 15, as shown in Fig. 4, is thus obtained. Then the transparent substrate 12 is laminated to the opaque sheet 11, as shown in Fig. 5, in which, for purposes of illustration, one corner of the transparent substrate is shown as lifted. The resulting identity card 10, wherein image 15 is visible through the transparent substrate, is shown in Fig. 6.

Figs. 7 to 10 illustrate in like manner the preparation of an identity card 20 carrying images on both its faces. An unprinted pouch is firstly prepared, which comprises a central, opaque sheet 21, a first transparent substrate 22 and a second transparent substrate 23. Correspondingly, a first temporary substrate 24 and a second temporary substrate 25 are printed with images generally indicated at 26 and 27, and are temporarily set, as hereinbefore described. The images are transferred from the temporary substrates to the transparent substrates, as hereinbefore described. A pouch having two transparent substrates 22 and 23 carrying the images 26 and 27, as shown in Fig. 8, is thus obtained. Then the transparent substrates are laminated to the opaque sheet 21, as shown in Fig. 9, in which, for purposes of illustration, one corner of each transparent substrate is shown as lifted. The resulting identity card 20, wherein image 26 is visible from one face and image 27 from the other face, through the transparent substrates, is shown in Fig. 10.

Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate the application of the invention to a booklet, e.g. a passport, in the case in which the transparent substrate is bound to an intermediate sheet of the booklet. Of course, the same operations would permit to bind the transparent substrate to a cover of the booklet. In Fig. 11, temporary substrate 50 is juxtaposed to the rear face of transparent substrate 51, which, in this embodiment, is bound in a booklet 52. Plates or rollers 53 and 54 schematically indicate an apparatus for applying pressure, and, if required, moderate heat, to the juxtaposed temporary substrate and transparent substrate, to transfer the image from the former to the latter.

Thereafter, the temporary substrate is removed and, as schematically illustrated in Fig. 12, transparent substrate 51 is juxtaposed to and adjacent inner sheet 55 of the booklet 52, and pressure and heat are applied to laminate said transparent substrate 51 and said inner sheet 55 together, as schematically indicate by plates or rollers 56 and 57, which may be different from those used in the transfer phase. The image is now enclosed in the laminate and is visible from the front face of the laminate, which is the front face of the transparent substrate. The image transfer and the lamination are preferably carried out, in all embodiments of the invention, at temperatures from 40° to 180° C.

While embodiments of the invention have been described by way of illustration, it will be apparent that many modifications, variations and adaptations may be made therein by persons skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the claims. 4681/97 124351/2 -14-

Claims (12)

1. Process for production of printed documents, particularly documents in booklet form, such as passport, and identifying documents, such as identity cards and the like, which comprises the steps of providing a set of signals defining an image to be printed; for each color comprised in said image causing a laser beam to impinge on a metal cylinder in a pattern controlled by said signals, whereby electrostatically to charge the surface of said cylinder at selectively predetermined spots; juxtaposing to said electrostatically charged cylinder a reservoir of toner having said color, whereby the toner is attracted to said selectively predetermined spots and forms thereon a desired pattern; passing a temporary substrate in contact with said cylinder to form thereon said toner pattern; repeating said operations for all colors, whereby to produce a color image; provisionally setting said image without an application of pressure; juxtaposing said temporary substrate to a rear face of a transparent substrate; transferring the image from said temporary substrate to the transparent substrate, whereby it becomes visible from a front face of this latter; removing the temporary substrate; and binding the transparent substrate to other components of the document, characterized in that: a) the temporary substrate undergoes a climatic conditioning by being allowed to adjust to a printing room temperature and humidity conditions prior to its entering the printing room; b) the printing room temperature is maintained in the interval from 17 to 25°C; and c) the printing room humidity is maintained in the interval from humidity 25 to 65%. 4681/97 124351/2 -15-

2. Process according to claim 1, further comprising maintaining in the interval from 55° to 120°C the temperature of the dryer chamber in which the temporary substrate is provisionally set.

3. Process for production of printed documents, particularly documents in booklet form, such as passport, and identifying documents, such as identity cards and the like, in all climatic conditions, which comprises the steps of providing a set of signals defining an image to be printed; for each color comprised in said image causing a laser beam to impinge on a metal cylinder in a pattern controlled by said signals, whereby electrostatically to charge a surface of said cylinder at selectively predetermined spots; juxtaposing to said electrostatically charged cylinder a reservoir of toner having said color, whereby the toner is attracted to said selectively predetermined spots and forms thereon a desired pattern; passing a temporary substrate in contact with said cylinder to form thereon said toner pattern; repeating said operations for all colors, whereby to produce a color image; provisionally setting said image without an application of pressure; juxtaposing said temporary substrate to a rear face of a transparent substrate; transferring the image from said temporary substrate to a transparent substrate, whereby it becomes visible from a front face of this latter; removing the temporary substrate; and binding the transparent substrate to other components of the document, characterized in that the temporary substrate is siliconized clay coated paper. 4681/97 -16-

4. Process according to claim 3, wherein the temporary substrate is characterized by the following properties:

5. Process according to claim 3, wherein the printing room temperature is maintained in the interval from 17 to 25°C and the printing room humidity maintained in the interval from 25 to 65%;

6. Process according to claim 3, wherein the temperature of the ambient in which the temporary substrate is provisionally set is constantly maintained at a certain value in the interval from 55 to 120°C.

7. Process according to claim 1, wherein the temporary substrate is conditioned in an ambient wherein the temperature is from 17 to 25°C and the humidity is from 25 to 65%.

8. Process according to claim 7, wherein the environment through which the substrate passes after being conditioned and before entering the printing room is controlled so as to avoid any substantial temperature change or humidity gain or loss caused by the passage of the substrate through said environment.

9. Process according to claim 1 or 3, for preparing an identity card, which comprises preparing an unprinted pouch, comprising an opaque sheet and a transparent substrate, by laminating or otherwise connecting them along one edge; printing a temporary substrate with an image; provisionally setting said image; inserted said temporary substrate into the pouch with its printed face juxtaposed to said transparent substrate; transferring said image to said transparent substrate by applying pressure and heat to the juxtaposed transparent substrate and temporary substrate; removing said temporary substrate; and laminating said transparent substrate to said opaque sheet, whereby to obtain an identity card, wherein said image is visible through said transparent substrate.

10. Process according to claim 1 or 3, for preparing an identity card carrying images on both its faces, which comprises preparing an unprinted pouch is firstly prepared, which comprises a central, opaque sheet, a first transparent substrate and a second transparent substrate; printing a first temporary substrate and a second temporary substrate with images; temporarily setting said images; transferring said images from said temporary substrates to said transparent substrates by applying pressure and heat to the juxtaposed transparent substrates and temporary substrates; removing the temporary substrate; and laminating said transparent substrates to said opaque sheet, whereby to obtain an identity card wherein the two images are visible from the two faces thereof through said transparent substrates.

11. Process according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the document is in booklet form and the transparent substrate is bound to an inner sheet thereof.

12. Process according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the document is in booklet form and the transparent substrate is bound to a cover thereof. LUZZATTO ft LUZZATTO