Abstract:
A method is provided by the invention for making a security document comprising a thermoplastic substrate with a UV light cured printed image that is less likely to result in splitting of the ink of the UV light cured printed image during the lamination step of forming the thermoplastic substrate. The UV light cured image is applied to an interior thermoplastic layer surface of a stack of thermoplastic layers configured to form a thermoplastic substrate upon lamination of the stack and comprises numerous small sub-portions having small gaps between them sufficient to permit relative movement of individual sub-portions during lamination, the thermoplastic layer(s) from the ultraviolet light cured image to an exterior surface of the stack being sufficiently see-through that the image is visible upon viewing the security document. Alternatively, or additionally, the image is applied to an interior surface of an outermost thermoplastic layer of the stack adjacent an intermediate thermoplastic layer of the stack wherein the outermost thermoplastic layer has a higher melting point than the melting point of at least the adjacent intermediate thermoplastic layer.
Abstract:
Ultraviolet light-curable deposits are printed onto a substrate in a predetermined pattern to make tactile marks (e.g.Braille-like resin dots) for use by people with impaired vision to, for example, recognize the denominations of banknotes. The deposit demonstrates high adhesion due to: (1) presence of 20 - 80% (wt.) of a low viscosity acrylate component to provide a substrate-penetrating property; and, (2) 2-30% (wt.) of an adhesion-promoting acid acrylate. The deposit material further includes 1-30% (wt.) of urethane acrylate, 1-30% by weight of reactive diluent, photoinitiator and 1-10% (wt.) of rheological adsorbing additive. Optimally, the adhesion promoter is added after the other components have been mixed with the rheological additive. The printing step may be followed by heating before the curing step to increase penetration of the ink into the substrate. The deposit may comprise a taggant for use as a security feature.
Abstract:
A security device for security documents providing an angle-dependent Moiré effect. A security device for a security document and method for making the security device are provided. At least two interlaced laser engraved images forming an angle dependent parallax effect. First and second images are laser engraved at a substrate of the security document and the substrate comprises a non-laser- engravable layer between laser engravable layers.
Abstract:
A security document (e.g. passport) comprising a protective feature for authenticating a laminate data sheet thereof and method for making the same. A metalized flexible hinge attached to the laminate data sheet is used to bind the laminate data sheet into the passport with one or more other sheets at a binding of the passport such that at least a portion of the metalized surface of the flexible hinge is visible proximate to the laminate data sheet. Personalization data is etched on the visible portion of the metalized surface of the flexible hinge and matches personalization data of the laminate data sheet.
Abstract:
A method is provided for laminating a thermoplastic layer to at least a print area of a printed thermoplastic substrate (e.g. a polycarbonate substrate and laminate layer). A printed thermoplastic substrate comprises a print area on which an image (e.g. a portrait) is printed (e.g. by inkjet printing), the print area comprising a pattern of recessed cells separated by bridges. Each cell comprises recessed image receiving surfaces below a nominal surface of the print area for holding the ink of the printed image. The bridges have surface areas above the ink and the surface areas of the bridges comprising enough of the print area to provide lamination bonding areas. Using heat and pressure, a thermoplastic layer is laminated to at least the print area of the thermoplastic substrate to form lamination bonding between the thermoplastic layer and the lamination bonding areas provided by the surface areas of the bridges.
Abstract:
The invention provides an optically variable printed feature for security documents providing a kinetic appearance of a moving image, optionally with colour shifting, as one views the feature from different angles. A plurality of substantially parallel lines (and/or line segments) are printed on a front surface of a transparent substrate and a corresponding plurality of substantially parallel lines (and/or line segments) are printed on the back surface, located in at least near perfect registration to form sets of lines, each set comprising a predetermined pattern of at least one front surface printed line and at least one back surface printed line. The image of the optically variable feature is defined by a plurality of image pixels each of which comprises a predetermined area of the substrate extending from the front surface to the back surface of the substrate and comprising one set of the predetermined pattern of lines.
Abstract:
Improved ultraviolet light-curable compositions are provided for printing onto a security document substrate in a predetermined pattern to make tactile features for use by people with impaired vision to, for example, recognize the denominations of banknotes. The improved compositions substantially comprise an acidic trifunctional acrylate ester, preferably in an amount of 60-80 wt%, and include urethane acrylate and effective amounts of flexibilizer (e.g. low viscosity aromatic monoacrylate having an elongation parameter of about 200), photoinitiator and a rheological additive (e.g. silica). The composition unexpectedly provides flexibility and is particular useful for printing tactile features in the form of relatively large continuous graphical patterns.
Abstract:
Printed products such as security documents may require security features which are difficult to copy in order to prevent copying or counterfeiting of such documents. The present invention provides a printed product and method of printing/metallization to produce such a security feature. The security feature may comprise visible print/image in registration with metallization on a transparent or semi-transparent substrate.
Abstract:
The present invention provides improved methods for making a multiple layer thermoplastic security document having a window using CO 2 laser cutting and engraving in combination with a vision system for precision registration of cut windows of each layer and layer to layer registration and further provides application and registration of security features between layers within the security document body including an embedded gray scale watermark.
Abstract:
A method is provided for laminating a thermoplastic layer to at least a print area of a printed thermoplastic substrate (e.g. a polycarbonate substrate and laminate layer). A printed thermoplastic substrate comprises a print area on which an image (e.g. a portrait) is printed (e.g. by inkjet printing), the print area comprising a pattern of recessed cells separated by bridges. Each cell comprises recessed image receiving surfaces below a nominal surface of the print area for holding the ink of the printed image. The bridges have surface areas above the ink and the surface areas of the bridges comprising enough of the print area to provide lamination bonding areas. Using heat and pressure, a thermoplastic layer is laminated to at least the print area of the thermoplastic substrate to form lamination bonding between the thermoplastic layer and the lamination bonding areas provided by the surface areas of the bridges.