Composite Page Production for Book Security Documents

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Solution Overview

Problem

The production of book security documents, such as passports, faces issues with material wastage and misallocation due to batch size limitations and the need for distinct substrate layers with security prints, leading to increased production costs and reject rates.

Innovation Solution

The method involves producing composite pages with uniform security features and easily recognizable distinguishing features, using a status variable to assign a type to each page, and incorporating personalization data with a unique identifier, allowing for color-based identification to match the cover type, thus eliminating the need for special processing and reducing waste.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If different substrate layers with security printing are used for different passport types, then security against forgery is improved and document types are distinguishable, but material waste increases and production costs rise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity against forgeryVSAvoidmaterial waste
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the type identification function into the personalization data record itself. A status variable (flag) is incorporated into the personalization data to indicate the passport type, eliminating the need for separate substrate layers with security printing for each passport type. This allows all passport types to be produced using the same substrate layer while maintaining distinguishability through the digital status variable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal substrate layer that can be used for all passport types. The personalization data record serves multiple functions: it stores individual passport information and simultaneously contains a status variable that identifies the passport type. This multi-functional approach replaces the need for type-specific substrate layers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Quantity of substance

If passport types are produced in small batch sizes to match demand, then inventory control is improved, but production efficiency decreases and waiting times increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebatch size matching demandVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables dynamic production where passport types are not fixed in advance but are determined during the personalization process. The status variable in the personalization data record allows the system to flexibly assign different passport types to individual documents as needed, enabling production to dynamically adapt to demand without being constrained by pre-defined batch sizes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter that defines passport type from a physical substrate property to a digital status variable. This parameter change allows the system to produce any passport type using the same physical materials, enabling demand-matched production quantities without the constraints of type-specific production lines.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If type-specific substrate layers are used, then document types are easily distinguishable, but quality control complexity increases and reject rates rise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedocument type identificationVSAvoidquality control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical/physical system of type-specific substrate layers with a digital information system. The status variable in the personalization data record provides type identification through digital data rather than physical differences. This substitution simplifies quality control as the system can automatically read and verify the status variable without complex physical inspection of substrate characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3259141B1Method and device for producing book-like security documents
Publication Date: 2019.11.20 BUNDESDRUCKEREI GMBH
  • EP3259141B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3259141B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a method (100) for producing different types of book security documents, in particular passbooks, each of which comprises a plurality of pages joined together as a book, of which pages a composite page is designed having at least one personalised security feature, wherein the different types of book security documents differ at least with regard to a colour of a binding, wherein a standard type and a plurality of special types of book security documents exist, comprising the steps: separate producing of personalised composite pages (110) and remaining semi-finished book products (400), and joining together (600) of each already personalised composite page comprising one or more semi-finished book products for a book security document, wherein the producing (110) of each of the composite pages comprises: receiving (120) of one personalisation data set; printing (250) of at least one substrate layer comprising personalising information according to the personalisation data set; joining together (270) of the at least one printed substrate layer comprising one or more further substrate layers to form the personalised composite page, wherein for every personalisation data set a status variable is set (140), which states the type of the associated book security document, and the printing (250) of the at least one substrate layer comprising personalising information is achieved by means of multi-colour printing and together with the personalising information, if the type of the associated book security document is one of the special types, an identification print is additionally carried out in colour, in particular an identification field is printed such that the colour of the identification print, in particular of the printed identification field, corresponds to the colour of the binding of the associated type of book security document.