EP2943351B1 - Data carrier in the form of a card with a relief - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a multilayer card-shaped data carrier with a core layer of paper, which carries an individualization by which it is associated with a person or an institution. In particular, the invention relates to payment cards, e.g. Credit cards or bank cards, entrance tickets, identity cards or data pages for passport books.

Especially when individualized to individuals or institutions cards is always desired to secure against counterfeiting or manipulation of all kinds. It should be ensured that only authorized persons or institutions can produce and issue such identification cards.

From the WO 03/022598 A1 For this purpose, a card-shaped data carrier constructed from a plurality of plastic layers is known, which carries on an inner layer a security element which can only be counterfeited at great expense. In the covering layer lying above the inner layer, a lenticular lens structure is also formed just above the security element. The crests of the lenticular lens structure rise above the surface and form raised ribs. The lenticular lens structure causes a viewing angle-dependent optical effect. Depending on the design of the lenticular lens structure, various effects can be achieved. Among other things, the effect of an apparent movement or a color effect can be achieved.

From the EP 323 108 A2 Furthermore, a multi-layer card-shaped data carrier in the form of a security card is known, the upper side of which is formed over its entire surface as a lenticular lens structure. The lenticular lens structure is here set up such that an individualization applied to an inner layer can be recognized only at a certain viewing angle.

DE 10 2009 004128 A1 shows a data carrier based on a multilayer composite containing at least one layer of paper. The data carrier is printed and embossed with a relief which, together with the print, produces a viewing-angle-dependent effect. Printing and embossing can be done in any order. In one variant, the stamping is used as a security feature. The solution can be combined with holograms or other diffractive structures.

DE 44 41198 A1 describes a card with a card body, in the top of which a lens structure is embossed. The lens structure penetrates a paint layer applied to the upper side.

From the WO 2013/045055 A1 and the EP 2173567 B1 It is known to produce security elements by embossing in paper layers, which show an optically variable effect.

The document DE 10 2009 004 128 A1 discloses a data carrier according to the preamble of claim 1. The known solutions significantly increase the level of difficulty to emulate appropriately equipped media. But they are especially suitable for plastic structures. On the other hand, in multilayer constructions whose core layer is a paper layer, they do not offer effective protection against attacks aimed at separating the layer structure in the paper layer. A known attack here is to remove the cover layer together with any security elements thereon, such as a lenticular lens structure, from the paper layer. If this succeeds, it becomes possible to manipulate applied, then exposed, individualizations on the paper layer, eg a name or address information. On the manipulated disk, the previously separated cover layer together with security elements are reapplied so that the originally existing security functions are preserved.

It is an object of the invention to provide a data carrier with a paper-based core layer whose manipulation is further complicated.

This object is achieved by a data carrier with the features of claim 1. The object is further achieved by a method having the features of claim 10. The data carrier according to the invention provides an effective mechanical Trennennschutz between a cover layer with security elements and provided with an individualization core layer paper-based. At the same time an additional security element is provided in an advantageous manner, which is visually verifiable without tools. The invention provides a connection between the cover layer with the security elements and the paper core layer provided with an individualization, which is not reversibly separable. In a separation either the individualization is at least partially irreversibly destroyed or the cover layer with the security elements is impaired so that a reconnection with a previously separated paper layer is immediately recognizable or the paper core layer breaks when separating at some points, so that an uneven separation surface arises, which is easily recognizable when recombined with another layer of paper. This is achieved by embossing at least in a part of the surface of the data carrier to form a relief which extends into the core layer and which preferably almost completely punctures the core layer at some points. The relief is from the cover side or from the back impressed forth and can miterFassen existing security elements on the top.

In a preferred embodiment, the texture depth of the relief relative to the total thickness of the data carrier is relatively large and may correspond to it, i. the texture depth can be up to 100% of the total thickness of the undeformed media.

The relief furthermore preferably has a viewing angle-dependent optical effect which superimposes the pattern or motif formed by the relief in such a way that both the relief and the viewing angle-dependent optical effect can be recognized. Preferably, regardless of the individualization and existing security elements, it carries its own information, which becomes visible in a relay-specific optical effect. Suitably, the effect is that the relief produces a different visual impression at different viewing angles. In particular, it can be provided that a first information is visible under a first viewing angle and a second information is visible at a second viewing angle. In an expedient embodiment, the relief specifically detects part of the individualization. As a result of the resulting relatively strong deformation of the individualization, it is impossible or at least considerably more difficult to expose the individualization in the relief area by separating the cover layer of the paper layer clean.

It was surprisingly found that the individualization despite the comparatively strong impairment by the relief formation remains well recognizable.

In a particularly expedient manner, the core layer consists of paper and the individualization is carried out in the form of an inkjet printing or by a thermal transfer process.

The relief is carried out in an advantageous manner as stamping. In an advantageous embodiment, the relief has height differences and structural widths of up to 200 μm; expedient amount height differences up to 100 microns, particularly expedient up to 80 microns. The relief embossing can take place in embodiments in such a way that it not only covers the cover layer and the core layer, but also continues into the lower-side protective layer, so that the relief can also be perceived on the underside of the data carrier in a weakened form.

In an advantageous embodiment, it is provided that together with the relief at the same time other embossed structures are generated in the data carrier, which show other optical effects. This is preferably done with a single die in which all or at least several embossed structures are applied at the same time. In an expedient embodiment, it is provided that the die has the same size as the data carrier. The cover layer has a particular useful embodiment, a thickness of 1 to 10 microns and the core layer has a thickness of 50 to 200 microns.

Fig.1

einen Querschnitt durch einen Datenträger vor Durchführung der Verformung,

Fig. 2

einen Querschnitt durch einen Datenträger nach Einbringung eines Reliefs,

Fig. 3

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Datenträgers mit einem Relief, das einen betrachtungswinkelabhängigen optischen Effekt aufweist,

Fig. 4

eine Gestaltung von Unterstrukturen zur Erzeugung eines überlagerten optisch variablen Effektes, und

Fig. 5

weitere Gestaltungen von Unterstrukturen zur Erzeugung eines überlagerten optisch variablen Effektes.

With reference to the drawing, an embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail below. Show it:

Fig.1

a cross-section through a data carrier before performing the deformation,

Fig. 2

a cross-section through a data carrier after the introduction of a relief,

Fig. 3

a perspective view of a data carrier with a relief having a viewing angle-dependent optical effect,

Fig. 4

a design of substructures for generating a superimposed optically variable effect, and

Fig. 5

further designs of substructures for generating a superposed optically variable effect.

Fig. 1 shows in a representation not to scale - this also applies to the other figures - a cross section through a card-shaped multi-layer disk 1 before forming a relief 10. The disk 1 may be, for example, a data page for a passport, an identity card, a ticket, a credit card or a Bank card. He includes in the presentation of the Fig.1 a core layer 2, an overlying bonding layer 3, an overlying top layer 4 thereon, and a lower-side protective layer 8; The terms "upper side" and "lower side" used in the following also refer only to the figures and are to be understood relative. On the core layer 2, a subsurface design printing layer 9 is formed on the upper side of the bonding layer 3. An individualization 5 is further applied over the design printing layer 9. At the top 6 of the cover layer 4, which also forms the top of the finished data carrier 1, a security element 7 is formed in the form of an optically variable element. For a part of the production phase, a carrier layer 15 is also located on the cover layer 4.

The in Fig.1 shown structure is understood as the simplest possible basic structure. All shown layers 2, 3, 4 and 8 may be formed in practical embodiments in the form of several individual layers. The lower-side protective layer 8 may also be omitted in some embodiments. Furthermore, additional layers can be provided with additional functions, for example, a textile layer between the core layer 2 and cover layer 4 can be attached to stabilize the structure of the data carrier 1.

The core layer 2 is preferably made of paper or based on paper. The paper may contain additives, e.g. Added security substances. In practical embodiments, it typically has a thickness of from 70 to 200 μm, preferably from 90 to 150 μm, particularly preferably from 100 to 130 μm. On its upper side, the core layer 2 is often provided with a background design printing layer 9 which covers the entire area of the data carrier 1 or at least the largest part thereof. The design print layer 9 is difficult to reproduce and, in addition to its optical effect, also constitutes a security feature.

The bonding layer 3 is a transparent or semi-transparent adhesive sheet, e.g. made of a hotmelt material. It has a thickness of 1 to 10 microns, suitably from 3 to 8 microns.

The cover layer 4 is likewise transparent or semitransparent and is expediently based on an embossing lacquer. It is dimensionally stable against temperatures and pressures occurring during lamination and has a thickness of from 10 to 40 μm, preferably from 20 to 30 μm. The optically variable element 7 is preferably a diffractive surface relief, such as a hologram, or a kinegram. Suitably, the cover layer 4 is executed shiny, ie they shows a directional reflection. In the cover layer 4 further security elements can be created.

The bonding layer 3 and the cover layer 4 with the optically variable element 7 inserted therein are not compulsorily but expediently provided together as a precursor on a carrier layer 15. The support layer 15 is suitably made of plastic and has a thickness of 30 to 100 microns; it is soluble after lamination of the cover layer 4 and is removed.

The lower-side protective layer 8 is preferably made as an opaque or transparent plastic layer, e.g. made of polycarbonate or PET. It suitably has a thickness of 50 to 300 microns. In some embodiments, the lower-side protective layer 8 is designed as a decorative layer and carries its own individualizing information, security elements and / or decorative elements. The lower-side protective layer 8 is basically optional and can also be omitted.

The entire data carrier 1 typically has a thickness D of 100 to 300 μm, preferably of 120 to 180 μm, without carrier layer 15.

The individualization 5 is formed on the top surface of the core layer 2 to the top 6 back. It is designed so that it is visually recognizable by cover layer 4 and compound layer 3. The customization 5 includes, for example, address or name information, individual key figures, the reproduction of handwritten signatures or photos.

The formation of the individualization 5 happens before the bonding layer 3 and the cover layer 4 are applied. As in Fig. 1 indicated, the individualization 5 can partially penetrate into the core layer 2. Suitably, the individualization 5 is carried out in the form of an inkjet print or transferred by a thermal transfer method. Other methods for customization are also possible.

In a part of the data carrier 1, a relief 10 having a three-dimensional structure is applied to the upper side 6. This is in Fig. 2 illustrated.

The formation of the relief 10 is expediently carried out after the data carrier 1 has been individualized, connecting layer 3 and the cover layer 4 have been applied and the carrier layer 15 has been removed.

In a variant, the formation of the relief 10 takes place before the removal of the carrier layer 15, e.g. during a lamination process for applying the cover layer 4.

The relief 10 is tactile perceptible. Its three-dimensional structure is also such that it additionally produces an optically variable effect, which depends on the viewing angle. The optically variable effect superimposed on the relief 10, which shows, for example, a wave pattern. Suitably, the viewing angle dependent optical effect is the representation of two different pieces of information that are visible at different viewing angles. For example, the optical effect is to provide viewing angle dependent alphanumeric and / or graphical information. In a preferred embodiment, the information applied in the relief 10 is designed such that at a first viewing angle, a first alphanumeric information or a first graphical pattern is recognizable and at a second viewing angle a second alphanumeric information or a second graphical pattern. The additionally optically variable effect brought about by the relief 10 also superimposes the effect of the optically variable element 7 formed in the cover layer 4. Both are perceptible simultaneously or independently of one another, depending on the design.

The relief 10 is applied in an expedient embodiment in an area of the data carrier 1 in which there is no individualization 5. The surface area of the relief 10 is selected accordingly. Suitably, the selected area is specially prepared, e.g. by printing a suitable base color instead of the design print 9 or above. The base color is preferably a metallic shiny, reflective color, e.g. a gold or silver color. In a variant, a metallization may also be formed on the underside of the cover layer 4. In an expedient embodiment, a security element 7 can also be located in the selected area.

In another expedient embodiment, which also in Fig. 2 is indicated, a region of the data carrier 1 is selected for the relief 10, in which a part of the individualization 5 is located. Preferably, in this case, an area is selected in which parts of an image or an alphanumeric individualization information lies, in which the mean line thickness of the individual characters is greater than the structural depth of the relief 10; For an ID card, for example, a validity period can be selected. If the relief 10 detects the individualization 5, the detected part is co-deformed in accordance with the relief 10.

The formation of the relief 10 takes place by means of a stamping tool. This consists, as in the Fig. 2 indicated, suitably from a die 20 and a counter-pressure element 22. The die 20 carries on its surface a negative 21 of the relief 10 to be produced; the counter-pressure element 22 is expediently a flat surface. In order to obtain particularly good embossing results, the counter-pressure element 22 can also be designed to be compressible

The formed on the surface of the die 20 negative 21 of the relief 10 to be produced is designed so that it can be transferred to the disk 1 in a high quality embossing process. It has correspondingly no undercuts and the structures are shaped so that the relief 10 produced has no cracks. The negative 21 has depressions and elevations which, when embossed in the surface of the data carrier 1, produce corresponding elevations / depressions with low points 11 and high points 12, the height difference of which may be of the same order as the thickness of the core layer 2. The generated low points 11 and high points 12 expediently form a recognizable to the naked eye, plastically acting pattern or motif, the nature of which is different from the adjacent top 6. The pattern may be, for example, a serrated pattern or a [] wavy pattern.

Suitably, the negative 21 has at least one peak structure 23 which projects beyond the elevations and depressions and which, during embossing, penetrates more than 66% into the core layer 2 and thus almost punctures it. Although complete punch-through is generally not actually present, the counter-mold 19 produced by the tip structure 23 in the relief 10 is nevertheless referred to below as punch-through. At least one flank of the tip structure 23 is also provided with a steep flank angle α from 70 ° to 90 °, based on the top 6, executed. As a result, the core layer 2 tears at these points in an attempt to separate them and a uniform separation practice over the total area is no longer possible.

The negative 21 further has structural elements which produce in the relief 10 substructures 13 which influence the reflection behavior of the relief 10 and produce an optically variable effect which superimposes the pattern formed by the relief 10. The substructures 13 are formed on the flanks of the elevations / depressions. The substructures 13 are small in comparison to the height differences between low points 11 and high points 12.

Fig. 4 shows enlarged in perspective view an example of a design of the formed in the relief 10 substructures 13. From the flanks of the increase / depression two pyramidal or prismatic substructures 13 are formed on both sides, which are small compared to the structural depth of the relief 10. The substructures 13 each have a first edge 16 which is oriented approximately perpendicular to the top 6, and a second edge 17 which is aligned parallel or nearly parallel to the opposite flank of the elevation / recess. By reflection of the incident on the differently inclined flanks 16,17 of the substructures 13 light in different angular ranges results in a tilting effect.

Another example of a design of the substructures 13 is shown in FIG Fig. 5 shown. The substructures 13 here consist of dormer-like structures, which are each formed out of a flank of the elevation / depression. The substructures 13 can be configured, for example, as a quarter sphere or as a quarter ellipse, as in FIG Fig. 5a indicated, where also arbitrary other sections or parts of a sphere or ellipse are possible. Or they can have the shape of a saddleback roof as in Fig. 5b hinted that jumps out of the increase / depression. The main axes of the substructures 13 can be arranged in any desired angular positions relative to the longitudinal axis of the elevation / depression.

Further embodiments and details of the design of the substructures 13 can be found in the documents WO 2013/045055 A1 and EP 2173567 B1 , In an expedient embodiment, at least some of the elevations and depressions of the negative 21 are designed specifically as sharp and steep structures with flank angles α of 70 ° to 90 °, which at least in places cause a stamping effect during the embossing process, which leads to elevations of the cover layer 4. The cover layer injuries are intended. In addition, they complicate the separability of the core layer 2 and the cover layer 4 or the possibility once assembled layer parts together again to the initial state.

With the embossing tool 20, 22, the relief 10 is impressed from the top 6 ago by pressure in the data carrier 1. In this case, depressions 11 are produced on the one hand, whose low points are up to 100 μm, advantageously 30 to 50 μm, below the level of the upper side 6 of the undeformed data carrier 1. On the other hand, high points 12 are generated, which protrude by as much above the level of the upper side 6 of the undeformed data carrier 1. Based on the total thickness D of the data carrier 1 in the undeformed state, the texture depth h of the relief 10 is therefore up to 100%, ie it is up to 200 μm in the exemplary embodiments considered here. Typically, it is between 10 and 100 microns, especially useful between 10 and 80 μm. The average structure width b of the relief 10 is expediently slightly below the order of magnitude of the structure depth h and amounts to approximately% thereof, ie the structure width b is expediently up to 150 μm; particularly expedient it is between 10 and 70 microns. Larger structure widths b of up to 300 μm are also possible.

At the punctures 19, the distance of the troughs 11 from the level of the undeformed data carrier 1 is more than half the thickness of the data carrier. Suitably, the residual material thickness at the punch-throughs is 33% to 0%, preferably 70% and 90% of the thickness D of the data carrier 1. The core layer 2 is thus almost severed at the punch-throughs 19. In relation to the exemplary embodiments, this means that the deep points 100 to 200 μm, preferably 140 to 180 μm, are below the level of the undeformed data carrier 1 at the punch-throughs 19.
The embossing process for producing the relief 10 can be carried out at room temperature. Preferably, however, it is carried out at an elevated temperature of 50 to 200 ° C, preferably at 80 to 140 ° C. The pressure is basically chosen so that the deformation does not lead to cracks in the cover layer 4 or in the core layer 2; suitable pressures are, for example, 0.1 to 1.0 t / cm ² , corresponding to about 1 to 10 MN / m ² . In some cases, deformation-related cracks in the cover layer 4, however, may also be intended in order to further increase the security against tearing attempts. In such cases, higher pressures are also considered.

Preferably, the deformation for relief formation takes place so that on the opposite side of the data carrier 1, ie on the side of the lower protective layer 8, the relief 10 is no longer perceptible and the underside of the data carrier 1 rather remains smooth. This is achieved by the counter-pressure element.

In another embodiment, the deformation of the data carrier 1 in the region of the relief 10 is carried out so that it continues at least weakened even into the lower-side protective layer 8. At least the system of the relief 10 is thereby still tactile perceptible on the opposite side of the data carrier 1.

In a particularly expedient embodiment, it is provided that embossing tool 20, 22 has the same or a similar size as data carrier 1. Then further embossed structures 14 can be applied simultaneously with relief 10 in other subregions of data carrier 1, the other structural depths and have broad and cause other physical or optical effects. For example, in another subregion of the data carrier 1, a microlens structure-with microlenses having a diameter of, for example, less than 50 μm-can be applied, a matt structure or a blaze grating, as are known, for example, from the prior art described at the beginning. Or it can, as in Fig. 3 indicated, in a different part of a micro-microprint 14 are impressed. By thus possible simultaneous production of different embossed structures 10, 14 in just one embossing process, it is achieved that all embossed structures 10, 14 are placed in exactly defined relation to one another.

Fig. 3 shows an example of a data page for a passport, in which a relief 10 and at the same time a micro-font structure 14 are created. The relief 10 overlays a part of the individualization 5. Under the example of the Fig. 3 A view angle α oriented along the longitudinal axis of the data page shows a different information for a viewer than at the angle of view β. Other angles and angular orientations are of course readily possible.

While maintaining the basic idea of impressing a relief in a portion of a data carrier provided with an individualization, the invention allows a number of further appropriate embodiments which are not described individually here. For example, there is some latitude in the materials of the layers. In particular, additives can be added to individual layers, such as security elements, or they can undergo a special upstream processing. The embossing tool may also contain purely design embossing elements, such as a frame enclosing the embossed area, in further embodiments. It can also be provided that the embossing tool simultaneously with the reliefs at predetermined locations of the data carrier breakthroughs, for example generated in the form of slots or holes. Further, it is further possible to design the viewing angle dependent optical effect so that more than two different pieces of information become visible at more than two different viewing angles.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1. 1 disk
2. 2 core layer
3. 3 connection layer
4. 4 cover layer
5. 5 Individualization
6. 6 top cover layer
7. 7 security element
8. 8 protective layer
9. 9 Underground design print layer
10. 10 relief
11. 11 lows
12. 12 high points
13. 13 substructures
14. 14 embossed structures
15. 15 carrier layer
16. 16 first flank
17. 17 Second flank
18. 18
19. 19 Punching
20. 20 embossed stamp
21. 21 negative
22. 22 counter-pressure element
23. 23 lace structure

Claims (12)

1. A multilayer card-shaped data carrier (1) with a core layer (2) and a cover layer (4), wherein
at least a part of the area of the data carrier (1) is deformed into a relief (10), characterized in that
the core layer (2) has an individualization (5) that is visible through the core layer (4), and the relief (10) additionally has a superimposed viewing angle-dependent optical effect which is independent of the individualization (5) and which extends into the core layer (2) through the cover layer (4), wherein it includes and also deforms a part of the individualization (5).

The data carrier according to claim 1, characterized in that the relief (10) has at least one punch-through (19) on which the residual material thickness of the core layer (2) amounts to between 33% and 0%, preferably between 30% and 10%, based on the thickness (D) of the data carrier (1).

The data carrier according to claim 1, characterized in that the core layer (2) is based on paper.

The data carrier according to claim 1, characterized in that the relief (10) is produced by an embossed print.

The data carrier according to claim 1, characterized in that the structure depth of the relief (10) corresponds to 20 to 100% of the total thickness of the data carrier (1), preferably 30 to 60%.

The data carrier according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover layer (4) carries in the region of the relief (10) an optically variable element (7) which is deformed in accordance with the relief (10).

The data carrier according to claim 1, characterized in that at least some of the elevations and depressions of the relief (10) are configured as sharp and steep structures with flank angles α of 70° to 90°.

The data carrier according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a protective layer (8) on the opposing side of the cover layer, and the deformation also includes the protective layer (8).

The data carrier according to claim 1, characterized in that another part of its area is likewise deformed into a relief whose structure depth is different from that of the relief (10) and has another optical effect.

A method for manufacturing a multilayer card-shaped data carrier (1) with a core layer (2) and a cover layer (4) having the steps of

- supplying a core layer (2) based on paper,

- supplying a transparent or semitransparent cover layer (4),

- forming an individualization (5) in the core layer (2),

- connecting the cover layer (2) with the core layer (4), characterized by the following further steps of:

- deforming at least a part of the area of the cover layer (2) and of the core layer (4) into a relief (10) which additionally has a superimposed viewing angle-dependent optical effect which is independent of the individualization (5) and which extends into the core layer (2) through the cover layer (4), wherein it includes and also deforms a part of the individualization (5).

The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the connection of core layer (2) and cover layer (4) is effected by lamination, and the deformation into a relief (10) happens upon the laminating operation.

The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the core layer (2) is embossed upon deforming at least at one place up to a residual material thickness of 33% to 0%, preferably 30% to 10%, based on the thickness (D) of the data carrier (1).

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