Security element with features which can be recognised under a specific viewing angle

0001The invention relates to a security feature with certain Viewing angles, especially in transmitted light visually recognizable Features.

0002From EP 330 733 B1 is a security element in the form of a thread or Strip to be embedded in security documents known which consists of a light-permeable plastic film is provided with an opaque coating is provided and comprises recesses, wherein at least in the Recesses congruent areas coloring and / or are luminescent substances present, under appropriate Lighting conditions of the opaque coating in color contrasting different form.

0003From EP 613 786 A are safety elements in the form of security threads are known which have a covered substrate in the form of a grid, said gaps in the form of characters, patterns or the like are provided.

0004The object of the invention to provide a security element which under a certain viewing angle, especially in transmitted light, optically recognizable features, for example in the form of characters, letters, Patterns, lines and the like and optionally additionally has functional characteristics.

0005The invention is therefore a security element under a defined viewing angle optically recognizable features, characterized in that the optically recognizable features by two or multiple tab applied layers are formed.

0006The printed tab layers can optionally Spacer layers to be separated.

0007As substrates for example, come carrier films, preferably flexible transparent or translucent plastic films, for example of PI, PP, MOPP, PE, PPS, PEEK, PEK, PEI, PAEK, LCP, PEN, PBT, PET, PA, PC, COC, POM, ABS, PVC in question. The carrier films preferably have a thickness of 5-700 .mu.m, preferably 5-200 .mu.m, more preferably of 5 - 50 microns.

0008The substrates may additionally have a varnish layer Be unstructured or structured, for example embossed or diffraction grating may have. The lacquer layer may, for example, an adhesive his paint layer or a release-capable transfer lacquer layer, it can carry Radiation, for example UV radiation, or thermally cross-linked or reactive be networked and additional properties such as scratch-resistant and / or have antistatic properties or chemical resistance. Are suitable both aqueous and lösungsmittelhältige paint systems, in particular also coating systems based PE - acrylate, PET-acrylate, urethane acrylate, PVC, PMMA or epoxy acrylate.

0009On the carrier substrate or on optionally on the carrier substrate existing coatings is a partial layer of a preferably opaque paint or a varnish printed. In one or more further layers are then accurate register more items applied and in such a way that the elements when viewed in complementary transmitted light to an optically detectable feature.

0010An example of such a layer arrangement is shown in FIG. 1.

0011Here, the first partial layer and printed in register Layers may be different or the same either. The layers may either metallic or metallic appearance layers, black his or colored layers. In this case, can in particular also in the individual Layers of different colors are used, depending on the choice of Colors when viewed from different viewing angles either can yield characteristic mixed colors or to a Light extinction occurs.

0012Examples of such layered structures are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

00131 means the support substrate 2, for example. A red layer, 3 for example. A green layer and a spacer layer 4.

0014In FIG. 2 appears when viewed at an angle of 90 °, the printing colored, at an angle of <90 ° (as shown) appears as the printing black.

0015In Fig. 3 appears when viewed at an angle of 90 °, the printing black, at an angle of <90 ° (as shown), the printing appears in the respective applied paint.

0016Optionally, the printed layers in register additional functional features, for example electrically conductive and / or have magnetic properties, whereby an additional machine-readable identifier is given.

0017To adjust the electrical properties of the applied Ink or paint applied, for example, graphite, carbon black, conductive organic or inorganic polymers, metal pigments (for example, Copper, aluminum, silver, gold, iron, chromium and the like), Metal alloys such as copper-zinc or copper-aluminum or else amorphous or crystalline ceramic pigments such as ITO, ATO, FTO and the like be added. Furthermore, doped or non-doped semiconductors can such as silicon, germanium or doped or undoped polymeric semiconductors or "ion conductors such as amorphous or crystalline metal oxides or metal sulfides are used as additives. Further, to adjust the electrical properties of the layer polar or partially polar Compounds such as surfactants, or non-polar compounds such as silicon additives or hygroscopic or non-hygroscopic salts used or the Paint are added.

0018Further, as the electrically conductive layer, an electrically conductive Polymer layer can be applied. The electrically conductive polymers For example, polyaniline or polyethylene dioxythiophene and its its derivatives. Particular preference is as electrically conductive polymer PEDT / TS or PEDT methanol used.

0019To adjust the magnetic properties, paramagnetic, diamagnetic and ferromagnetic materials such as iron, nickel, barium, and cobalt or their compounds or salts (for example, oxides or Sulfides) are used. Particularly suitable are Fe (II) - and Fe (III) oxides, Barium or cobalt ferrites, rare earths and the like.

0020It is also possible of the magnetic ink used, for example, carbon black, or Graphite add, creating a simultaneously magnetic and electrically conductive layer can also be produced in a defined encoding.

0021These printed layers in the register may also through transparent Spacer layers to be separated.

0022As spacer layers come, for example, layers with optical Properties (color, luminescence, pearlescence), with optically active Properties (diffraction gratings, holograms), optically variable Properties (color or paint with optically variable pigments) or electrically conductive polymer layers in question. Further, as Spacer layer and a transparent optionally colored Carrier substrate, optionally having also functional layers, be used.

0023The optical properties of a further layer can be visible through Dyes or pigments, luminescent dyes or pigments, which in visible, fluoresce in the UV range or in the IR region or phosphoreszieren, effect pigments, such as liquid crystals, pearl luster, bronzes and / or multilayer color change pigments and heat-sensitive color or pigments influence. These are in all possible combinations usable. In addition, phosphorescent pigments alone or used in combination with other dyes and / or pigments will.

0024Other suitable spacer layer and surface relief structures, For example, diffraction gratings, holograms and the like in question, which be these structures optionally also be metallized or partially metallized can.

0025To produce such surface structures will first UV-curable thermoformable paint applied. Then, for example, a Surface structure by casting a die in this varnish, which for Time the impression is precured to the gel point, produced, whereupon Subsequently, the radiation-curable varnish after application of the Surface structure is fully cured.

0026By using the UV-curable lacquer are, after curing, it applied layers, also a possibly introduced Surface structure, stable even under temperature stress.

0027The sheet material then displays when viewed vertically in transmitted light, the in more layers applied to patterns, characters, letters and like complementary feature. If the sheet material is not perpendicular, but viewed at an angle <90 °, so there are additional Transmission paths for the light passing through. The contrast between the opaque multilayer printing and the recesses is reduced, depending on the distance layer used enter additional defined effects For example, optical effects (luminescence when excited, metallic Gloss) optically variable or optically active effects.

0028Furthermore, additional layers of electrically conductive and / or magnetic properties on the substrate may be present, or are subsequently applied.

0029The inventive security element can include one or both sides with a be provided protective lacquer layer, which may optionally be pigmented.

0030Furthermore, the inventive security element may with one or more carrier substrates, which, if appropriate, functional and / or comprise decorative layers, optionally with the use of a its laminating adhesive laminated.

0031Furthermore, the inventive security element can have one or both sides with a hot or cold-seal adhesive or a self-adhesive coating to Application to be provided or to be embedded in a substrate, said Glue or adhesive coatings can be pigmented.

0032The security elements or the film material are optionally after appropriate converting as security motifs in Data carriers, in particular security documents such as ID cards, maps, Banknotes or labels, seals and the like, but also as Packaging material , for example in the pharmaceutical, electronics and / or food industry, for example in the form of blisters, Folding boxes, covers, film packaging and the like.

0033For use as security features, the substrates or - as 048 sheet materials preferably in strips or threads or patches cut, wherein the width of the strips or threads preferably from 0.05 to 10 may be mm and the patches preferably have average widths and lengths of 2-30 mm.

0034For use in or on packaging the sheet material preferably cut into strips, ribbons, threads or patches, the Width of the threads, strips or ribbons preferably 0.05 - 50 mm and the patches preferably have average widths and lengths of 2-30 mm exhibit. A corresponding security thread or strip can be used as Edge reinforcement of packaging, value documents and the like in Region of the edges as well as, for example, longitudinal or transverse - Reinforcement are used in the packaging or in the document of value, whereby each multiple threads or strips at a defined distance may be provided to each other.