Valuable or security product and methods for its manufacture

Abstract

Method for manufacturing a valuable or secure product (100), comprising the steps: - Providing a core layer (102) of the value or security product (100), - Applying at least one laser-compatible foil layer (106) to the core layer (102) or to one or more polymer layers (104) applied to the core layer (102), - Incorporating person-specific and / or product-specific non-tactilely detectable information (108) into the laser-compatible foil layer (106) using a low-intensity laser beam, and - Forming person-specific and / or product-specific information in the form of at least one tactilely detectable Braille character (110) with a high-intensity laser beam which is higher than the low intensity, wherein a cover layer which is only partially opaque is applied to the laser-capable foil layer (106), and wherein the cover layer is opaque at least in one of the places where a blackening has been introduced into the underlying laser-capable foil layer (106) by the laser beam.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a valuable or security product in which Braille personalization is present. The invention also relates to a valuable or security product manufactured according to such a method.

[0002] Valuable or security documents can be, for example, an identity document, a check card, a non-personalized authorization card such as a ticket or means of payment, or a valuable or security element intended for product security.

[0003] It is known from the prior art to include Braille on valuables or security documents, for example, to reproduce data in plain text in Braille. Currently, such Braille on card bodies is only applied superficially by embossing with static content or subsequently by inkjet printing or by applying a sticker to the valuables or security product.

[0004] There is a need to produce individualized Braille fonts with the least possible manufacturing effort.

[0005] In DE 195 37 177 A1, an identity card, telephone card, credit card or health insurance card is described which has a relief structure created by means of laser radiation, which includes Braille characters.

[0006] German patent DE 10 2006 055 787 A1 describes an identity card with a contoured relief structure and a corresponding manufacturing process. This involves a foamed relief structure that is contoured by a discolored area, i.e., by a contour line.

[0007] US document 2011 / 0204617A1 describes an identity card printed with multiple layers of ink. Laser markings are also incorporated into a laser layer, creating a relief on the surface of the identity card.

[0008] German patent DE 37 31 853 A1 describes a multi-layered identification card that combines embossing and laser foaming. It also shows a card that includes a visually verifiable authentication feature created with a laser, the appearance of which can change depending on the viewing angle.

[0009] German patent DE 32 13 315 A1 describes a multi-layered identification card and a method for its production, in which a propellant for foaming by means of a laser is introduced at least partially into one layer of the card. For this purpose, the top layer is coated with the propellant so that the raised area is created when a laser is applied.

[0010] It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a value or security product that is easier to manufacture, as well as a simplified method for its manufacture.

[0011] This problem is solved by a method having the features of claim 1 and by a value or security product having the features of claim 8. Advantageous embodiments with expedient further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0012] The inventive method for manufacturing a valuable or secure product comprises in particular the following steps: - Providing a core layer of the value or security product, - Applying at least one laser-compatible film layer to the core layer or to one or more polymer layers applied to the core layer, - Incorporating person-specific and / or product-specific information that cannot be detected tactilely into the laser-compatible film layer using a low-intensity laser beam, and - Formation of person-specific and / or product-specific information in the form of at least one tactilely detectable Braille character using a high-intensity laser beam that is higher than the low-intensity laser beam.

[0013] This process makes it possible to integrate person-specific and / or product-specific information into the valuable or security product. This personalization, using Braille, can be carried out in a single step along with other optical personalizations. By employing a suitable diffractive optical element (DOE), it is also possible to simultaneously integrate both non-tactile and tactilely detectable information into the laser-compatible film layer. The optical and tactile personalization can also be performed sequentially.

[0014] It has proven advantageous to apply a transparent, non-laserable printed layer to the laser-compatible film layer before laser processing. This ensures that at least one Braille character is located beneath the printed film, resulting in better adhesion to the finished product.

[0015] It has proven beneficial to apply an outer protective layer to the transparent, non-laser-compatible printed layer before laser processing. Additional intermediate layers are also possible. The layer structure allows for targeted control of the stability of the at least one Braille character.

[0016] Preferably, a (gas) bubble is formed between the individual layers when the Braille character is created, which can then be detected tactilely through the individual layers. Here, too, the prominence of the resulting "bubble" and the resulting Braille character can be specifically influenced by the layer structure, with the prominence being less pronounced as the number of layers increases.

[0017] According to the invention, a cover layer, which is only partially opaque, is applied to the laser-compatible film layer. The cover layer allows for the selective covering of underlying areas with the opaque sections.

[0018] In this context, the invention provides that the cover layer is opaque at least at one of the points where the underlying laser-compatible film layer has been blackened by the laser beam. The blackening from the laser application can thus be deliberately "hidden" as a safety feature. The opacity of the material can be a film property achieved through fillers. Alternatively or additionally, the opacity of the material can be achieved using a suitable printing process. It is advantageous if the materials used for this purpose do not interact, or interact only minimally, with the wavelength of the laser used.

[0019] If the Braille is removed, a visually visible discoloration remains in the material, which can indicate that the product is counterfeit. The shape of the individual Braille dots of the Braille character can be precisely adjusted using a laser with a scanner and / or suitable diffractive optics. For example, it is possible to create elliptical, especially circular, Braille dots, or rectangular, especially square, Braille dots. The cross-section, and thus the dot geometry or dot profile, of the individual Braille dots of the Braille character can also be specifically modified.

[0020] A suitable material for a transparent, laser-compatible film layer could be, for example, a polyester (polyethylene terephthalate PET) material. These materials have proven advantageous for laser processing.

[0021] In principle, any laser of suitable power class can be used, provided its wavelength is wholly or partially absorbed by the material being processed. Preferably, a diode or fiber laser is used for laser processing. This can be configured as a femtosecond or picosecond laser. This ensures that, due to pulsed operation, only a small amount of heat is introduced into the layer stack and that the laser beam intensity is precisely directed where it is needed.

[0022] To increase process reliability and reduce waste, it has proven advantageous to thermally join the individual layers of the valuable or security product before incorporating the non-tactile, person-specific and / or product-specific information.

[0023] For the same reason, it has also proven advantageous to thermally join the individual layers of the valuable or security product before the person-specific and / or product-specific information is incorporated in the form of the tactilely perceptible Braille character.

[0024] The advantages, advantageous embodiments, and effects described in connection with the method according to the invention apply equally to the valuable or secure product according to the invention, which comprises an improved Braille character. This is better protected against counterfeiting, since removal still leaves behind a blackened material of the laser-compatible foil layer and therefore suggests an attempted tampering.

[0025] The security product can be a security document or a security element, i.e., an element that is attached to an item to be protected against counterfeiting, forgery, or falsification, such as a sticker, label, or the like. Examples of security products that could serve as security products include a passport, identity card, driver's license, or other ID card or access control card, a check card, bank card, credit or debit card, customer card, health insurance card, chip card, company ID card, authorization certificate, membership card, or other ID document, provided that it includes at least one Braille character.

[0026] Preferably, the security product is in ID 1, ID 2, ID 3, or any other format, for example, in booklet form, similar to a passport-style item. The security product is generally a laminate of several document layers that are precisely bonded together under heat and increased pressure. These products should meet standardized requirements, such as ISO 10373, ISO / IEC 7810, and ISO 14443.

[0027] Preferably, the product layers consist of a carrier material suitable for lamination. The value or safety product, however, may preferably be formed from a polymer selected from the group comprising polycarbonate (PC), in particular bisphenol A polycarbonate or a polycarbonate formed with a geminal disubstituted bis(hydroxyphenyl) cycloalkane, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), its derivatives such as glycol-modified PET (PETG), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinyl butyral (PVB), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyimide (PI), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polystyrene (PS), polyvinylphenol (PVP), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), in particular thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer (ABS) and its derivatives, and / or paper and / or cardboard and / or glass and / or metal and / or ceramics.Furthermore, the product can also be made from several of these materials. Preferably, it consists of PC, PVC, and PET. The polymers can be either filled or unfilled. In the latter case, they are preferably transparent or translucent. If the polymers are filled, they are opaque. The foregoing refers both to films to be bonded together and to liquid formulations that are applied to a precursor, such as a protective or topcoat. Preferably, the product is made from three to twelve, more preferably four to ten films. The films can also bear printed layers. A laminate formed in this way can finally be coated on one or both sides with the protective or topcoat or with a film. The film can, in particular, be a volume hologram, a film with a surface hologram (for example, a kinegraphic element), or a scratch-resistant film.Overlay layers formed in this way protect a security feature located underneath and / or give the document the necessary abrasion resistance.

[0028] The present invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures, the examples shown being merely illustrative and not representing any limitation as to the scope of the described invention. Specifically, the figures show: Fig. 1 a schematic isometric representation of a value or security product in the form of an identity card, Fig. 2 a schematic sectional view of the identity card along line II, Fig. 3 A schematic side view during the insertion of the non-tactilely detectable information with a laser beam (left) and during the formation of the at least one tactilely detectable Braille character with a laser beam (right), Fig. 4 the value or security product from Fig. 3 after laser processing, Fig. 5 one of the Fig. 3. Corresponding representation with a laminate of additional film layers, and Fig. 6 the result of the laser processing of the laminate from Fig. 5.

[0029] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a security product (value or security document 100). This security product can be a personal document, such as a passport, identity card, access card, or similar, a check card, a banknote, or any other document. All subsequent examples are described using such a card as a representative example of other document types.

[0030] In the Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 shows the valuable or security product 100 in the form of an identity card, comprising a core layer 102, which itself is, for example, a laminate of several inner polymer layers 130. The polymer layers can, for example, consist of PC and / or PET. The individual layers can be unfilled or filled with fillers. In the latter case, they are opaque; otherwise, they are transparent. The layers can preferably be bonded together in such a way that they form a monolithic block that is practically impossible to split.

[0031] In Fig. Figure 2 shows the layers as they were before lamination for illustrative purposes only. The interfaces are no longer visible in the finished laminate. The outer layers 114 of the card can be formed as a final protective plastic film or consist of a protective varnish applied to the card after lamination. The protective plastic film or varnish is transparent, allowing information underneath to be seen from the outside. In particular, one or more printed layers 112, e.g., of a portrait image 120, remain visible, preferably arranged directly next to or behind the outer layer 116.

[0032] The security product 100 has a top side 116 and a bottom side 118. The top side 116 contains the cardholder's face or portrait image 120, as well as data fields, namely, for example, a first data field 122 and a second data field 124 containing card and holder data in plain text. The data in the first and second data fields 122 and 124 are produced by printed layers located on an outer layer of the document, but directly beneath the outer protective layer 114. The data in a third data field 126 and a fourth data field 128 reproduce the personalization data, already in plain text, in Braille.

[0033] In order to make the production of the valuable or secure product 100 easier, the method according to the invention provides the following steps: - Providing the core layer 102 of the value or security product 100, - Applying at least one laser-compatible foil layer 106 to the core layer 102 or to one or more polymer layers 104 applied to the core layer 102, - Introducing person-specific and / or product-specific non-tactilely detectable information 108 into the laser-capable foil layer 106 with a low-intensity laser beam, thereby forming the optically detectable information, for example, of the first and second data fields 122, 124, and - Formation of person-specific and / or product-specific information in the form of at least one tactilely detectable Braille character 110 with a high-intensity laser beam, which is higher than the low-intensity laser beam, thereby generating the data fields 126, 128 in Braille.

[0034] The creation of individualization can be achieved, for example, by means of a map structure according to Fig. Figure 3 shows that the laser beam shown on the left has a low intensity for merely optical modification of the laser-compatible transparent film layer 106, and the laser beam shown on the right has a high intensity, which is higher than the low intensity. For example, an opaque, non-laser-compatible printed layer 112 is applied to the core layer 102, and a transparent, laser-compatible film layer 106 is applied to the non-laser-compatible printed layer 112.

[0035] The result of laser processing according to Fig. 3 is, for example, in Fig. Figure 4 shows the laser-compatible foil layer 106 being optically personalized or individualized at the points where the low-power laser beam was focused (left). A high-intensity laser beam leads to foaming or heavy scorching, causing a portion to protrude from the surface and thus be tactilely detectable (right).

[0036] In Fig. Figure 5 shows a further layer structure of the valuable or security product 100, comprising several transparent layers. Here, the laser-compatible film layer 106 is applied to the core layer 102, which in turn is covered by a transparent, non-laser-compatible printed layer 112. An outer protective layer 114 is applied to the printed layer 112. Again, the left laser beam illustrates that a low intensity is used for the optical individualization of the valuable or security product 100. The right laser beam, however, uses a laser with a higher intensity to form a tactilely detectable Braille character 110.

[0037] Fig.Figure 6 shows the result of the laser processing, in which a bubble 134 has formed in the area of ​​the layers treated with the high-intensity laser, extending across the individual layers. In this way, a Braille dot is formed that can be felt on the surface. In other words, the Braille dots and the blackened areas in different layers remain tactile even when the individual layers are ground down.

[0038] The shape of the dots can be modulated using different power densities, allowing for the creation of grayscale values ​​for the Braille dots. The shape of the Braille dots is customizable, enabling the use of ellipses, especially circles, or rectangles, especially squares. The edges of individual Braille dots can also be modulated.

[0039] As a result, the invention offers the advantage that optically detectable, but not tactilely detectable, individualizations can be made to the valuable or security product 100 using one and the same laser device, while the tactilely detectable information for Braille 110 can also be incorporated into the card structure using the laser. Using the laser for both optical and tactile information reduces the number of manufacturing steps and simplifies the production of the valuable or security product 100. REFERENCE MARK LIST 100 Value or security product 102 Core location 104 polymer layer 106 laser-compatible film layers 108 pieces of information that cannot be perceived tactilely 110 Braille characters 112 Pressure position 114 external protective position 116 upper substrate surface, upper map surface, top side 118 lower substrate surface, lower map surface, underside 120 face images 122 first data field 124 second data field 126 third data field 128 fourth data field 130 internal polymer layers 132 opaque printing layer 134 bladder

Claims

A method for manufacturing a valuable or security product (100), comprising the steps of: - providing a core layer (102) of the valuable or security product (100), - applying at least one laser-compatible film layer (106) to the core layer (102) or to one or more polymer layers (104) applied to the core layer (102), - introducing person-specific and / or product-specific non-tactilely detectable information (108) into the laser-compatible film layer (106) using a low-intensity laser beam, and - creating person-specific and / or product-specific information in the form of at least one tactilely detectable Braille character (110) using a high-intensity laser beam, which is higher than the low intensity, wherein a cover layer formed only partially opaque is applied to the laser-compatible film layer (106), and wherein the cover layer is opaque at at least one of those places,where a blackening was introduced into the underlying laser-compatible foil layer (106) by the laser beam. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a transparent, non-laserable printed layer (112) is applied to the laser-capable film layer (106) prior to laser processing. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that an outer protective layer (114) is applied to the transparent, non-laserable printing layer (112) before laser processing. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a bubble (134) is formed between the individual layers when the Braille character (110) is formed, which is tactilely detectable. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the material of the laserable film layer (106) is polyester or polyethylene terephthalate. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the individual layers of the value or security product (100) are thermally joined before the non-tactilely detectable person-specific and / or product-specific information is introduced. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the individual layers of the value or security product (100) are thermally joined before the person-specific and / or product-specific information is introduced in the form of the tactilely detectable Braille character. Valuable or security product (100), manufactured according to the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 .

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