EP1273705B1 - Method and apparatus for preparing a substrate with security elements for security documents - Google Patents

Abstract

In a banknote security printing process a security mark is printed as an endless foil web of predetermined width which is then presented to the paper web. The foil is esp. sub-divided into the required dimensions shortly before application to the paper web. The foil is longitudinally cut by knife (6) into continuous webs (2) which are then registered on and applied to the paper web (14). The security mark is a thread which is fully or partly embedded within the paper web during manufacture of the paper web, or is bonded to the web surface. alternatively, the foil is a transfer foil, a paper web, or self-adhesive labels which are applied in a punch-process. Also claimed is an assembly for the production of security-printed documents incorporating a reservoir for the security mark, a merge-unit, and a cutter unit.

Description

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing a substrate with security elements, wherein at least two security documents can be formed from the substrate, each having at least one of the security elements.

Banknotes, stamps, check cards and other security documents are usually made of substrates that have a multiple of the width and length of a security document during the completion of the layer construction or the printing. Only in a last method step, this substrate is cut or punched in the individual security documents. This so-called multi-use technique has the advantage that during the production of the substrate security elements can be provided on or in the substrate in a very economical manner.

Banknotes, for example, often have a security thread that runs the full width of the banknote and is either completely or at least partially embedded in the banknote paper. For the production of these banknotes, a broad and virtually endless paper web is formed in a continuous process, into which the security threads are likewise continuously embedded during sheet formation. This procedure is used for example in the EP 0 625 431 A1 explained in more detail. The width of the paper web corresponds to a multiple of the length of a banknote, so that a corresponding number of security threads must be brought parallel to the paper web during papermaking. The provided with the security threads paper web is finally cut in Mehrnutzenbögen, which are provided with the appropriate imprint. In a final step, these sheets are cut into the individual banknotes.

The production of the security threads takes place completely independently of the paper production in separate production lines. There, endless films are processed whose width is a multiple of the width of a security thread and are then cut into the individual security threads ( EP 0 381 112 A1 ). The security threads are wound on supply reels and temporarily stored until they are used in the paper machine.

Security documents, such as banknotes can also be used with security. be provided security elements that lie completely on the surface of the security document. For this purpose, the security elements can also be brought in the form of strips to the substrate and connected by gluing, laminating or transfer to the substrate. In this case, the strip-shaped security element may be formed as a self-adhesive film or as a stamping foil, in which after the bonding of the adhesive layer to the substrate, the carrier foil is peeled off and only the layer structure of the security element remains on the substrate ( DE 198 53 444 A1 ). The production of the strip-shaped security elements takes place similarly to the already explained security threads. The layer structure of the security elements is prepared on an endless foil whose width corresponds to a multiple of the width of the security element. Subsequently, the endless film is cut into individual endless belts whose width usually corresponds to the width of a security element. These endless belts are brought continuously to the substrate and transferred the security elements depending on the method used.

Similarly, label-shaped security elements are transferred to the substrate. Here are from the endless belt, as it is used in the production of strip-shaped security elements corresponding Labels punched out and glued to the substrate. When using a stamping foil, the layer structure of the security element is only partially transferred.

All these known methods have in common that the substrate has a width and length which corresponds to a multiple of the width and length of a security document, so that always a larger number of narrow endless bands on which the security elements are present or which themselves form the security elements, parallel and closely adjacent to each other. The endless belts are unwound from bobbins and brought to the substrate by means of a complicated transport mechanism via transport and deflection rollers. Although this continuous and parallel introduction of security elements offers great economic advantages, this method also has various disadvantages, depending on the nature of the security document and / or security element.

Endless tapes, which are used as security threads and thus usually only have a width of 1 to 2 mm, jam, for example, easily in the coil winding or twisting during winding or unwinding, which is problematic in side-fed endless tapes.

In the production of very small security documents, such as stamps, very many rows of benefits of the substrate are equipped with security elements, so that a corresponding number of coils are required, all of which must be stored in register and space-saving.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a method and a device for producing a substrate with security elements, which avoid the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art.

This object is solved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

According to the invention, the security elements are in the form of an endless foil, the width of which is a multiple of the width of a security element, in a storage device. From there, the endless film is brought to the substrate via a feed device, wherein the endless film is divided into endless belts only shortly before the substrate and endless film are brought together by means of a dividing device. This eliminates the separate pre-cutting the endless film and caching the endless belts on coils. The endless belts according to the invention either form the security elements themselves or serve as intermediate carriers for the final security elements. This is especially the case when the endless belts are embossing foils or label material.

Continuous film is divided shortly before merging across their width by means of cutting knives in endless belts. The width of these endless belts preferably corresponds to the width of a security element. In each case one of the endless belts is associated with a particular row of benefits of the substrate and brought to this via a multi-track running feed device. The connection between security element and substrate takes place, as already explained in the introduction, depending on the method used by means of lamination, gluing or embedding in the Substrate material. A particular advantage of this procedure is that all endless belts have the same length and therefore end at the same time, whereby the connection to the next endless film is particularly simple.

The register-accurate feed is much less complicated than in the prior art, since only a single endless belt must be monitored for register. The feeding of the other endless belts is also automatically register accurate.

According to a preferred embodiment, the substrate is a paper web, into which several security threads are embedded completely or in sections during their production in parallel. According to the invention, the security threads are prepared in the form of a continuous film of predetermined width. Depending on the configuration of the security thread, a wide variety of configurations of the endless foil are possible here. If the security thread only has a certain machine-testable property, then the endless foil in the simplest case will consist of a plastic film which is provided over its entire surface with a corresponding machine-testable layer, such as a magnetic layer, metal layer, etc. Frequently, however, security threads are also provided with printed images which extend in the thread longitudinal direction, whereby print images are to be understood as any form of pattern or alphanumeric character, optically active structures and / or visually visible and / or only machine-readable codes, additions or coatings. It is also possible to apply any desired combinations of such printed images and coatings to the film.

The printed images extend in a consistent form over the entire length of the thread, with patterns or typefaces repeating as often as desired. In this case, the endless foil in the simplest case will consist of a plastic film which is printed over its width in a parallel arrangement with the printing patterns or lettering. It can be provided between the parallel patterns smaller or larger unprinted spaces. The endless film may also have a plurality of plastic films, if the structure of the security element or security thread requires this. The design of the endless film is in no way limited.

This endless film is unwound from a spool and fed to the paper machine. Shortly before the paper machine, the endless film is cut with the help of cutting knives across their width in endless belts, which correspond to the individual security threads. The cut endless belts running from the blade mechanism are brought directly to the paper screen and embedded in the paper web. Alternatively, it is of course also possible to attach the endless belts or security elements on the surface of the finished paper web, such as sticking. The inventive method has the advantage that only one winding unit for all threads is required, and on this coil nor the entire continuous film is present, which can not jam or twist.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the endless belts form transfer belts which consist of a carrier film and the layer structure of the security element, the layer structure of the security element being at least partially transferred to the substrate when the transfer belt is brought together with the substrate, and the carrier film is then usually removed again. Again, an endless film is prepared first whose width is a multiple of the width of the endless belts or comprising the security elements to be transferred. Analogous to the example described with reference to the security threads, the endless film is cut into the individual endless belts shortly before being brought into contact with the substrate and fed to the respective rows of use on the substrate. The substrate may be sheet or sheet materials of paper and plastic or the like. The endless belts brought to the substrate after the endless film has been cut can be used to transfer security elements in the form of continuous strips or in the form of labels of predetermined outline shapes.

According to a further alternative, the endless belts may be embodied as a label material instead of as a transfer material, wherein labels are punched out of the endless belts and transferred to the substrate.

Further embodiments and advantages of the invention will be explained with reference to FIGS.

Fig. 1

eine Vorrichtung zum registergenauen Aufbringen von Etiketten auf ein Substrat,

Fig. 2

schematisch die Einbettung von Sicherheitsfäden in ein Papier-substrat auf einer Rundsiebpapiermaschine.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a device for register-accurate application of labels to a substrate,

Fig. 2

schematically the embedding of security threads in a paper substrate on a rotary screen paper machine.

Based on Fig. 1 In the following, it will be explained how diffraction structures 15 in label form are transferred in register to a substrate. The substrate in the present case is banknote paper with five Use rows, each banknote should have a diffraction structure 15.

The endless film 2 consists of a carrier film on which the layer structure of a diffraction-optical security element 15 is provided in regions. The production of such a film is, for example, in the EP 0 675 006 B1 (51 0330).

The endless film is unwound from a spool 3. During the unwinding operation, the endless film 2 can be perforated along the edges of the endless belts 14 to be later removed from the endless film 2 by means of perforating disks 4. The endless foil 2 is guided over a knife block 5, which divides the endless foil 2 into endless belts 14. If the endless foil 2 was perforated during unwinding, then the perforation of the endless foil 2 constitutes a guide for the cutting knives of the knife block 5.

In the illustrated embodiment, the number of knives 6 on the knife block 5 by 1 greater than the number of endless belts 14, in which the endless film 2 is divided, so that two edge strips 16,17 remain, which are wound on waste rollers 18. Finally, the endless belts 14 reach a device 7, which ensures that the endless belts 14 are brought together with the substrate 1 at a precisely defined distance from each other and at a precisely defined position. In the illustrated embodiment, this merging device 7 is designed as a feed roller, which has tracks 7a, in which the individual endless belts 14 run. However, other embodiments of this merger are conceivable.

The endless belts 14 are brought together on a deflection roller 8 with the substrate 1 unrolled continuously from a supply roll 9a. While the substrate 1, together with the endless belts 14, passes over the transfer roller 8, the diffraction structures 15 are transfered from the endless belts 14 to the substrate in the transfer process. Usually, the transfer roller 8 is heated so as to activate an adhesive layer on the endless belts.

The diffraction structures 15 are distributed over the substrate 1 in such a way that, after the substrate 1 has been cut into individual security documents, each of these security documents is provided with a security element consisting of the diffraction structures 15. The substrate equipped with the diffraction structures 15 is then wound onto a second supply roll 9b. The remaining carrier film 30 of the endless belts 14 is wound on a waste bobbin 10.

While the feed roller 7 is responsible for registering the endless belts 14 with the substrate 1 with respect to the transverse alignment in their tracks 7a, the longitudinal registration of the diffraction structures 15 relative to the individual security documents of the substrate 1 is determined and controlled by a register control device 11, which is shown here only in principle. A detected deviation to the predetermined register position is compensated by stretching the endless foil 2. This serves in the illustrated embodiment, in its vertical position (double arrow) displaceable expansion roller 12. Other constructive solutions for stretching the continuous film 2 are of course also applicable. This also applies to the register control device 11, which may in particular also be arranged at a location other than that shown in the figure.

The transmission device for the individual security elements can also be designed completely differently, if e.g. the structure of the endless film requires this. For example, unlike in the present example, the endless foil may also consist of a carrier foil which is provided over its entire surface with the layer structure of the security element, such as, for example, diffraction structures. If labels are also to be transferred to the substrate 1 from this endless film, then a transfer device is necessary which activates the adhesive of the transfer film only in regions and thus ensures that the layer structure only adheres to the substrate in this area and releases from the endless belt.

However, the invention can also be used very advantageously in the production of very small objects, such as stamps. For example, assuming a paper substrate with 20 rows of 20mm width and each benefit should be provided with a 10mm wide diffraction pattern, either 20 endless bands must be unwound or it must be transferred from a 400mm wide continuous sheet , with 50% of the endless film unused. With the invention, it is now possible to use a 200 mm wide continuous film, which is divided into 10 mm wide endless belts shortly before merging with the substrate. In this way, neither a variety of winding units are necessary, nor foil material must be wasted.

In Fig. 2 is shown schematically how the inventive method can be used in the production of security paper with at least partially embedded security threads. The layer structure of the security threads is here prepared as continuous foil 2 and brought to the paper machine 35. Shortly before the paper machine 35, the endless film 2 guided over a knife block 5 and cut there into the individual security threads 30. These individual security threads 30 are brought to the paper screen 32 via a corresponding clothing system, which is only indicated here by a deflection roller 31. This paper screen 32 is a round screen which rotates in a tub filled with pulp. For clarity, a representation of this tub was omitted. The principle of papermaking with security threads, for example, in the already mentioned EP 0 625 431 A1 explained in more detail. After bringing the security threads 30 to the paper screen 32, they are embedded in the forming paper web 33. In the example shown, the security threads 30 are only partially embedded in the paper web 33 and occur in certain areas, the windows 34, directly to the surface. Such embedded security threads 30 are called "window security threads". Again, the advantage of the invention is that a plurality of winding units for the individual security threads 30 can be saved.

If necessary, additional devices, such as pulleys or the like, may be provided between the splitter and the point of application to provide equally long feed paths for each endless belt.

Of course, the substrate need not necessarily be a paper web, but may be made of any other material, such as a plastic film. Likewise, it is not mandatory that the substrate is formed web-shaped. It can also be used arcuate substrates. It is only essential that the substrate has a width and / or length which is a multiple of a single security document.

Also, the cutting device for the endless foil shown as a knife block in the figures can be designed arbitrarily. For example, they may be rotating knives or the like.

Claims (17)

1. A method for producing a substrate with security elements, whereby at least two security documents each having at least one of the security elements can be formed from the substrate, characterized in that the security elements are present as a continuous foil with a given width, said continuous foil is brought toward the substrate, and the continuous foil is divided up into continuous bands over its width only shortly before substrate and continuous foil are brought together.
2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the dividing up of the continuous foil (2) is effected by means of cutting blades (6).
3. The method according to at least one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the continuous bands are brought toward the substrate in register.
4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the register control is effected on the basis of a continuous band (14).
5. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the continuous bands form security threads which are connected to the substrate as security elements.
6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the substrate is a paper web, and the security threads are embedded in the paper web completely or in certain areas during production of the paper web.
7. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the continuous bands are glued to the surface of the substrate.
8. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the continuous foil forms a transfer foil which consists of a carrier foil and the layer structure of the security element, whereby the layer structure of the security element is transferred at least partly to the substrate when the transfer band is brought together with the substrate, and the carrier foil is subsequently removed.
9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the substrate is a paper web, and the layer structure of the security element is transferred to the paper web in the form of continuous strips.
10. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the substrate is a paper web, and the layer structure of the security element is transferred to the paper web in the form of labels with a predetermined outline form.
11. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the continuous foil is formed as label material, and when the substrate and the continuous foil or continuous band are brought together, labels are punched out of the continuous foil or continuous band and transferred to the substrate as security elements.
12. An apparatus for producing a substrate with security elements, whereby at least two security documents each having at least one of the security elements can be formed from the substrate, the apparatus comprising the following devices:

    - a storage device for the security elements which are present there in the form of a continuous foil of given width which is a multiple of the width of a security element,

    - a feeding device for bringing together the substrate and the continuous foil,

    - a dividing-up device for dividing up the continuous foil over its width into continuous bands shortly before substrate and continuous foil are brought together.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the storage device is a coil on which the continuous foil is wound.
14. The apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the dividing-up device has cutting blades with which the continuous foil is divided.
15. The apparatus according to at least one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the feeding device between dividing-up device and substrate is formed in multitrack fashion to permit the continuous bands to be brought toward the substrate spatially separated from each other.
16. The apparatus according to at least one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that the apparatus has a register control for bringing together the continuous foil and/or continuous bands and the substrate in register.
17. The apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that the apparatus has a stretching device for stretching the continuous foil, the stretching device being controlled in dependence on the position of at least one continuous band as determined by the register control.

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