Security document, method for producing a security document and the use of a security element

[0001] The invention relates to security documents of value documents such as banknotes, identity papers, access or covering (paper, paint, etc.) with certifying, secured labels or packaging, and the like. It ensures the receipt of documents with security, with increased resistance to counterfeiting, especially counterfeiting, the illegal use of elements of the production chain of secured documents, by customizing the "security chain" with the help of communication elements or security features, as well as how to produce said documents and the use of security elements in relevant security features, according to independent patent claims.

[0002] Documents with security, in particular documents with long life security requiring high resistance to counterfeiting, such as banknotes or identity documents, are usually protected by several layers of different security elements (security features), which are selected from different fields of technology, produced by various suppliers and introduced in various components of a secured document.

protection,

For the forger breaking a document would have to get all related materials and have access to the whole which is a difficult task for example, requires manufacturing technology, feasible.

[0003] Manufacture of banknote, special banknote paper (which may contain watermarks, threads, fibers, security prints, luminescent particles, windows, foils, decals, coatings, etc.), which must be printed with a specific degree of security. commercial ink applications (which may contain dyes, security pigments and additional security modifiers) using special gravure printing equipment and other high printing equipment. Unlike printing, security printing is based on several different printing methods combined together on the same document. For some time, banknotes also contain specific foils and other additions that must be applied by specialized equipment. These materials and equipment needed to make a banknote can be produced in a high security print shop by qualified operators.

[0004] Another traditional element of protection against counterfeiting of paper for banknotes and other documents with security is a security thread. Embedded security threads are particularly difficult to falsify because i) cannot be produced by the paper or substrate manufacturer, but ii) require incorporation into a printing substrate in a paper mill at the stage of substrate production. This necessary access to two different manufacturing technologies is an obstacle that in the past most counterfeiters could not overcome; for either imitating threads easily detectable printed illegal capture or security paper. The latter is currently becoming a special threat to secured documents.

[0005] The first generation security threads for means of payment were a metal or metallized polymer strip, completely embedded in the paper of the means of payment, and credible or were thus forced to security by counterfeits or to theft of authentic

Muck and S. partly threads in places, the surface of the paper has visual possibilities

US 5.509.691. radiation viewing in the lumen, or by detecting its electrical or magnetic properties using a suitable device. More advanced versions of the security thread included window threads described in EP 059 056 A1 (AJ Tooth and N. Pask); EP 518 740 B1 (M. Camus); EP 625 431 B1 (H.

Harms) and others. The window thread is embedded in the paper and partly laid on top of the paper surface, and thus allows direct visual identification of the explicit security features that appear on

As a direct consequence of identification, a large number of printed and / or partially demetallized threads have been patented, which are currently widely used in the banknote paper industry (see, for example, H. Muck and S. Harms; EP 625 431 B1).

[0006] To provide protection for security threads to be imprinted or otherwise incorporated in the security elements, the threads are preferably produced in the form of laminated sandwich structures, with security elements comprised between two thin layers of polyester film or other such plastic. Such laminated threads are described by W. Kaule et al in US 5,324,079 and bundle threads further described by J. Hilburger et al. In EP 1 348 576 A2. Said laminated threads may contain all types of security elements, such as infrared absorbers, luminescent compounds, magnetic compounds, metallic layers and optically variable layers.

Similar UV or electron laminated have been [0007] A specific window thread comprising an optically variable interference coating is described by JN Disano et al. In US 6,447,630. Said interference coating is produced by depositing in a high vacuum a multi-layer interference stack on a plastic carrier sheet and then securing by laminating a second plastic sheet on it. Paper for means of payment containing the said optically variable thread, which changes color depending on the angle of view, is currently produced by the Canadian company AGRA Vadeko Inc., and is used to produce a significant number of means of payment, including 100 NTD (New Taiwan Dollar - new dollar Taiwanese), which contains a thread that changes color from purple to green. The Vadeko window thread is available in a number of primary colors with corresponding color changes.

[0008] At present, it is a great concern of the broadcasting authorities to secure the sources of various items that are put together in the production of means of payment or other secured documents. It can be implemented by means of mutually matching (connected) security elements (features), i.e. by deliberately creating correspondence between two or more security elements, attached at different stages and in different places of production to different components of a secured document.

[0009] WO 98/55333 A1 describes a security paper that has a window thread matched in color and gloss to the surroundings in the visible spectrum, thus remaining invisible to the unaided eye, and additionally provided with a hidden security element for identification purposes, for example a compound luminescent, which when excited by UV light emits light with a greater wavelength, inside or outside the visible spectral range.

However, this security thread does not allow direct visual detection of paper purchased illegally, etc.

[0010] Another example of linked security features or features is the "Self-verifying security document" described by JC Taylor and others in WO 98/15418 A1: a security document, for example a banknote, contains a plastic window and printed indicators on the ground. The plastic of said window contains a dye constituting the optical filter, and said indicators are printed as a metameric color pair, i.e. using two inks of slightly different colors that are not distinguishable for the naked human eye (e.g. the first yellow and the second yellow). If said plastic banknote window is now folded over said metameric printed indicators, some of them remain visible and others disappear because the reflected light from them is filtered out through the plastic window. For the "self-verification" effect to work properly, the dye in the plastic window (which is introduced during the manufacture of the substrate) and the pair of metameric pigments in printing paints (selected by the paint manufacturer and applied in the printing house) must match.

[0011] The implementation of the linked security features may be of particular value in the case of optically variable paint (OVI®) on means of payment. The OVI® security features that are noteworthy allow you to quickly visually double check the authenticity of banknotes as means of payment. The already mentioned 100 NTD (New Taiwan Dollars) banknote contains, in addition to the window with the thread changing color from purple to green, also the gravure OVI® designation with shift purple - green denomination "100". However, the suitability of both security elements, i.e. their color match and angle-dependent color change, is not sufficient to allow cross-authentication. This is a consequence of the fact that both safety components were selected mutually independently and, as a consequence, have different parameters and nature.

[0012] It should be noted that said optically variable security thread comprises a homogeneous, natural, multi-layer, thin-film interference stack. Optically variable gravure, on the other hand, contains an imperfectly reproduced layer of thin-film interference plates of optically variable pigment. Only observation by a forewarned user when viewing and tilting said NTN 100 banknote is able to find a change in color from purple to green on both the thread and the denomination. However, he will not be able to determine whether these two variables optically correspond to each other to point to the same common source.

[0013] It would be highly desirable, in tracking the authenticity of the various components entering the banknote, for example printing and different modifiers, the security elements in the sense that they can paper, paint, attach the same element to several of these components in different places. For example, printing ink containing some optically variable security element could appear once on or on the security thread, and a second time in the form of a suitable printed pattern on the banknote backing, to allow easy visual comparison would allow the production of both. In addition to other benefits, better control and adaptation of specific issues of their banknote to the means of payment and their denominations, and thus would help the authorities fight the illegal access to paper and printing ink for means of payment.

[0014] The present invention provides a security document having combined security features embedded as security components in or on various components. Said security elements may consist of paint or a coating composition and may be of the explicit (i.e. visible to the naked human eye) or hidden (i.e. visible or detectable only by means of a certain device). Preferably, said security elements are selected from the group of optically variable elements, such as thin film pigments in the form of multiple layers. Their double inclusion makes it possible to establish an unambiguous connection between the means of payment and / or its component, e.g. thread, fibers, tablet, window, foil or security decal and / or printed indicators applied to said means of payment.

[0015] Said communicated security features are represented by security elements that are introduced at least twice, typically once during the production of the substrate or substrate component, and a second time by printing or coating during the printing of the substrate. The communicated security features may be made to some extent tailored to the user or to the application, so that the illegal acquisition or falsification of a secure document component, e.g. a printing ink or printing substrate, will immediately become visible to the unaided human eye in the event of an explicit feature, or easy to recognize with a suitable device in the case of a hidden feature.

[0016] The present invention therefore relates to a security document provided with associated security features that allow the immediate detection of illegal means of payment, for example paper, as well as a method for producing said security document and the use of security features as security features.

More specifically, a security document is proposed in which the same security element based on ink, preferably an optically variable element, occurs once on, or in, the substrate of the document with security either on or in a certain component thereof, e.g. a thread, window , security film, etc. and a second time in the paint or coating printed on the substrate of said security document. Said substrate may be a paper, cardboard, textile or polymer substrate.

[0017] Throughout this specification, the term "security element" of the material will be used for a specific example of a thin film interference pigment, luminescent material, selective spectral absorber, etc., which may be incorporated into a security document for authentication purposes. The term "identifiable properties" will include in the context of the present invention visual and / or other effects as exemplified by a security element, e.g., change in magnetic color, angle-dependent security, reflection of light emission, electrical or magnetic properties, absorption, temperature-dependent changes and other physical phenomena that can be recognized by a sensor or by a human being, especially by the human eye.

According to the invention, a security document, e.g. a banknote, security ID card, access card, label or security package, comprising a substrate selected from the group of papers, cartons, textiles and polymer sheets as the first component, and at least one other component selected from the group of printing inks, threads, fiber windows, boards, foil and security decals. Said security document has the first security element attached or inserted into one of its component parts and said security element has identifiable properties. These properties may include a change in color depending on the viewing angle of the optically variable pigments, a change in the color of the thermochromic or photochromic material, or the shape of the material hysteresis and can be used on the document

The term "introducing a safety element into a component" is intended to include, in particular, attaching or incorporating a safety element into said component.

for the first feature with protection.

[0019] At least one additional security element is attached or inserted into at least one other component of the security document, in principle having the same properties as the first security elements. These other security features serve as the second security feature in the security document. In this context, the term "substantially the same" means that, for example, the dependence on the viewing angle of optically variable pigments or the shape of the magnetic hysteresis are the same according to the technical conditions applicable to the secured document, even if the security elements are not manufactured in the same way .

[0020] In addition, security elements are attached or incorporated into the security document components in such a way that their properties can be compared. This comparison serves as the third safety feature because it is possible to directly identify the correspondence between these safety elements. If the safety components differ in their chemical or physical composition, it is nevertheless necessary for them to have comparable properties that can be used for identification purposes as described in this document.

[0021] It is advantageous if the security element attached or inserted to the different components of the security document is materially the same, which means that it has not only the same recognizable properties but also the same chemical and / or physical composition .

[0022] It is furthermore advantageous if at least one of said security elements is included in the printing ink or coating. The coating compositions have the advantage that they can be combined for application on a wide variety of materials and are therefore the ideal choice for at least two vectors required for the said safety element. In the present description, a vector for a security element is understood as a carrier material that includes a security element and is attachable.

[0023] In a specific embodiment, at least one of said security elements is attached or added for the first time to the substrate itself or its component selected from the group of printing inks, threads, fiber windows, boards, foil and security decals. Said component may here additionally constitute a laminated sandwich structure alternately of polymer and coating layers. Laminated or UV bonded polymeric coating polymer film, for example as described in US 5,324,079; US 5,599,691 and EP 1 348 576 A2 have the advantage of protecting the security elements contained therein against negative environmental influences, especially those that occur during the substrate production process, for example when incorporating a security thread in a printing substrate.

[0024] Said security elements can, however, also be applied to said substrate during its production process in a paper mill, for example as described in EP 490 825 B1.

[0025] It is advantageous if said security element is included said a second time in a combination or coating printed on said printable substrate by a security printer. Secure printing is usually the final stage of the secure document production chain, and is therefore the preferred stage to close the security chain by said second application of the security element.

[0026] Said security elements may have the nature of explicit (i.e. visible to the naked human eye) or hidden (i.e. visible by means of a certain device); may be selected preferably from the group consisting of optically variable pigments, multi-layer thin film interference pigments, liquid crystal pigments, holographic pigments and interference coated particles. More preferably, they are selected from the group consisting of multiple layers of thin film interference pigments, and most preferably from the group of pigments having a sandwich (reflector) / dielectric / absorber sandwich structure.

[0027] Said security elements can, however, also be selected from the group consisting of thermochromic and photochromic pigments. In addition, they can be selected from the group consisting of luminescent, infrared, UV absorbing and magnetic compounds. In addition, it is still possible to choose from a group of hidden security elements including flake pigments with micrograving or microtexturing and compounds for permanent identification. The paint or coating containing said security elements may additionally contain all types of additional explicit and hidden security elements. Decorative elements, for example motifs, markings, guilloche patterns, graphic signs etc. can also be placed on said at least two vectors of the security element in order to strengthen communication between them.

[0028] A method for producing a security document, for example a banknote, security document, identity document, access card, label or security package, comprising a printable substrate selected from a group of papers, cartons, textiles and polymer sheets as a first part is proposed component, and at least one second component selected from the group of printing inks, threads, windows, fibers, charts, foil and security decals. According to said method, a security document with identifiable properties is attached or inserted into one of the components of said document and at least one second security element with substantially the same identifiable properties is attached or inserted into at least one other component of said document in such a way that identifiable properties can be compared.

[0029] According to this method, it is possible to attach or introduce the same element to at least two different structural parts of a security document.

[0030] It is advantageous if at least one of said safety elements is attached in the coating procedure, optionally for the first time to the substrate itself or to a component of said substrate, said component of said substrate may be selected from the group of threads, windows, fibers, plaques , film and decals, and a second time by printing on said printable substrate by a security printer.

[0031] Furthermore, all coating or printing methods can be used to apply said security elements, in particular intaglio, offset, letterpress, screen, flexographic or inkjet printing etc. as well as roller, crevice, spray or powder coating etc.

[0032] The described method has the effect of more directly associating the paper or substrate preparation step with the safety chain, by creating a tailored connection between the safety substrate and some component of the safety substrate and at least one security element printed on said safety substrate by the safety printer. Furthermore, the use of the first and at least one other security element having substantially the same properties in or on two different components of the security document is described.

It is also possible to use the same security element on two or more different components of a secured document.

[0033] The invention is illustrated below with the help of drawings and embodiments.

Fig. 1 illustrates customizing the security chain by applying the same security element to two or more different components of the security document.

Fig. 2 schematically shows the passport page of the example shown.

Fig. 3 schematically shows the diploma certificate from another example.

Fig. 4 is a simplified representation of a banknote with linked security features.

Fig. 5 schematically shows another possible implementation of the banknote.

[0034] Fig. 1 is a simplified customization of the safety chain according to the needs. The security element S is attached or added to two or more different components 1, 2, 3 of the secured document. It is not necessary for the safety element S to be the same in different or different components 1, 2, 3, but the properties of the safety element S should be basically the same.

[0035] Fig. 2 shows a possible embodiment of the invention. The other side of the passport is usually used for identification purposes and contains a combination of security features created by various processes, for example offset, gravure and screen printing, using a prefabricated security substrate.

[0036] In this example, the print primer is a security paper that is already coated by the paper manufacturer, as described in EP 490 825 B1, with a customized strip containing particles with interference coating (e.g. a pigment obtained from or from a company Merck Engelhard (Iriodin®, (Mearlin®).

practically iridescent)

Colorcrypt®)

Said iridescent pigment is invisible under normal viewing, but has delicate colors depending on the viewing angle at certain angles. Pigments with different basic colors are available, and by mixing available pigments it is possible to obtain other typical user colors.

[0037] As shown in Fig. 2, on the paper substrate P, precoated in a paper mill, with a strip as a component 1 containing a user-typical pigment O, opalescent or optically variable, of a certain color under certain observation conditions, a screen-printed motif as another component 1; the screen printing ink also contained the same said pigment O. The screen-printed motif is arranged here adjacent to the pre-coated strip already on the paper.

[0038] Document authentication, implemented by observation and skewing, is that if there is no difference between the pre-printed strip and the screen-printed motif, under all observation conditions, the properties of the security elements are basically the same. This is a sign that the paper and screen printing ink, although manufactured and attached in different places, belong to the same individually adapted security chain, which serves as an additional security feature for the document.

[0039] Another example is shown in Figure 3. Holographic flake pigments are described in US 5,419,950 (JG King et al .; based on spatial holography), US 6,068,691 (RG Miekka et al; based on surface holography) as also in other documents. Such pigments can be made according to customer specifications in small to large amounts, and allow compositions to be made that exhibit light reflectance depending on the angle, and depending on the wavelength. [0040] The document of the present example, shown in Fig. 3, is produced in the following sequence of steps that can be performed independently of each other and at different places:

Stage 1: Printing

- offset printing of multi-colored B backgrounds on cotton-based security paper;

- screen printing of the motif as component 2 on an offset-printed background B, using solvent screen printing ink containing holographic pigment H, for example described in US 6,068,691;

- finishing operations, e.g. varnishing, cutting, etc.

Stage 2: Personalization

- filled in with relevant personal data D; optionally protected with transparent lamination film (not shown).

Stage 3: Approval

- application of a hot stamping (decal) as another component 1, also containing said user-adapted holographic pigment H.

[0041] The hot stamping (decal) is produced in a special factory, using a selected printing technique (solvent or UV inks) as for example described in US 6,174,634; US 6,143,407; US 5,681,644; US 4,322,467; US 4,299,644; US 3,847,725 and other documents. It contains the following layers (from top to bottom):

- non-stick coated polyester support sheet, approximately 100 μη thick;

- a polyester sheet with a thickness of about 10 μη, as the top protective layer of the decal;

- a customized decorative layer, said customized holographic pigment H, with a thickness of about 10 μη, applied by gravure printing;

- thermoadhesive layer.

[0042] Authentication of the finally received document requires that the screen-printed parts exhibit the same color, observing, since the elements containing the user's seal (decal) have basically the same properties regardless of the security angle. [0043] The preferred version for the banknote is shown in Fig. 4. Thin film pigments in the form of multiple layers for banknotes and other security applications are described in US 5,084.351 (RW Philps) and related documents.

[0044] The banknote of the present invention, with reference to Fig. 4, includes a window laminated security thread as component 1, and a screen printed motif with a denomination as another component 2, both of which contain optically variable paint from green to blue (OVI®, SICPA). The laminated security thread is manufactured in specialized plants by technology according to US 5,324,079; US 5,599,691; preferably EP 1 348 576 A2 or the like. The polymer layers of said interlayer film are typically on the order of 10 μm or below, and the cover layer is on the order of 100 μm; the overall thickness of the entire polymeric sandwich structure is in the order of 30 μη; and the thickness of the paper for payment means in which said polymeric interlayer film can be incorporated in the form of a thread is in the order of 100 pm.

[0045] One side of the 10 µm polyester film was printed with a layer of UV-curved gravure ink containing 20% ​​of the optically variable pigment from green to blue (supplied by FLEX Products Inc., Santa Rosa, CA) as a special user motif. A second, similar, film was stacked uniformly on one side with a layer of UV-curved intaglio ink containing 5% YVO4: Nd luminescent pigment emitting IR radiation as a hidden security feature. After joining the printed, appropriately coated sides of both films, the coating was cured by exposure of the film to UV light. The laminated sheet was then processed into security threads, supplied to the paper manufacturer for incorporation as window thread in banknote paper. [0046] The banknote substrate P thus obtained was printed in a printing works with secured printers by means of:

- two-sided multi-colored B offset background;

- two-sided gravure decoration I;

- a one-sided motif with a denomination, close to the safety thread, applied by screen printing with an optically variable ink containing 20% ​​of the optically variable pigment from green to blue (supplied by FLEX Products Inc., Santa Rosa, CA).

[0047] Banknote authentication requires that the screen-printed denomination and the window security thread exhibit the same color regardless of the viewing angle, because the security elements they contain have essentially the same properties.

[0048] The security thread further includes an UV-stimulated IR phosphor for machine authentication.

[0049] Another possible embodiment for the banknote is shown in Figure 5. A circularly polarized optically variable pigment based on a liquid crystal polymer as well as coating components containing it is described in US 5,362,315 (Ch. MallerRees et al.), US 5,683,622 (O. Kratschmar et al.), US 5,822,733 (J. Dobert et al.) And related documents. Such pigments and coatings are useful as security components because they can be authenticated by their color properties, color change properties and polarizing properties (cf. US 6,570,648 and related documents).

marking the coating by [0050] By A. Argoitia et al. in WO 03/11980 A1, US 2003/0031870 A1 and in related documents flakes of transparent marking pigment provided with an extruded micro pattern have been described. These petals bear markings of several micrometers that can be made according to the user's requirements. Petals from can be viewed and identified using an optical microscope with an axial illuminator or a scanning electron microscope. Suitable pigments are provided by FLEX Products Inc., Santa Rosa, CA.

[0051] A polymeric substrate for printing a banknote is described in WO 98/13211 A1 (BA Hardwick et al) and related documents. base substrate

It consists of a sheet-like transparent plastic with a thickness of 100 μm. Said plastic sheet is preferably a biaxially optically oriented polymer which does not disturb the optical polarization of the underlying security elements. Said base substrate, which can be a single layer of laminated sheet, is covered on both sides with an opacifying layer, which can be realized by means of paint and applied by gravure printing. Plastic corona pre-treatment can be used and adhesion promoters can be introduced into the paint in a known manner. Selective windows or semi-windows may remain open in this coating process, and the window areas may be made with designated security elements. Polymer banknote substrates are available, for example under the trade names Guardian®, Sentinel®, Garrison®, etc. from Securency Pty Ltd., Australia.

[0052] In the present example, with reference to Fig. 5, the banknote comprises a polymer substrate with a transparent W window with an optically variable security pattern printed as component 1, and further with an optically variable denomination designation as another component 2 printed on the same type of optically variable paint on a cloudy part of its surface.

[0053] The banknote polymer substrate was prepared as follows: A corona-processed, transparent biaxially oriented polypropylene film with a thickness of 100 Pm (obtainable from UCB) served as the base substrate. A special user motif was printed on one-sided area of ​​said base substrate, using solvent-based inks, containing 15% of the red-green liquid crystal pigment with left-hand polarization (obtained from WACKER Chemie; US 5,362,315), together with 5% transparent pigment containing flakes with an embossed micro pattern containing a 7 μm repeating "F" mark (obtained from FLEX Products Inc.). A solvent-based matting white gravure coating was applied in two passes on each of the two sides of the base substrate, leaving an open circular window area around the printed optically variable feature.

[0054] The banknote substrate P was then printed at the printing works by:

- on both sides, on the front and back side, offset multicolor background B; providing a black N surface for placing the later motif with the denomination;

- bilateral, front and rear, intaglio printing pattern I;

- on the back side a motif with a denomination, applied to the already made black surface N, by screen printing of an optically variable water-based ink containing 15% of the liquid-changing pigment with redness turning left-hand polarization (obtained from WACKER Chemie; US 5.362.315) , together with a 5% transparent pigment containing flakes with an embossed micro pattern containing a 7 μm repeating "F" mark (obtained from FLEX Products Inc.).

[0055] The optically variable pigment contained in the security window is normally transparent; for authentication, the window is placed on a black surface, with the banknote authentication requiring the screen printed motif with the denomination and the optically variable window to display the same color regardless of the viewing angle. This also results from the fact that the safety components have essentially the same properties.

[0056] A transparent marking pigment with an embossed micro pattern is invisible to the unaided human eye, but can be validated both in the security window and on the motif with a denomination, using an axial lighting microscope (at 500x magnification).

V1940PL00 / FM

EP 1 687 152 B1