Digital Adhesion Promoter for Individualized Security Features
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a constant need for new, cost-effective, and easily implementable security features for valuables and security products that can encode properties of the products or associated individuals or objects, while also enhancing security against counterfeiting and falsification.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a digital printing process to create a security feature using an adhesion promoter applied in a structured manner to a substrate or application element, allowing for the formation of individualizing patterns without the need for embossing tools, enabling flexible and inexpensive production of security features that can be applied using cold or hot foil finishing methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional cold foil transfer methods are used with pre-printed adhesive patterns, then the production process is standardized and reliable, but the flexibility to create individualizing security features is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical embossing system with a digital printing system that deposits adhesive material selectively on the substrate surface. Instead of using physical embossing tools to create security features, the invention uses digital printing technology to pattern the adhesive, which then bonds application elements in desired configurations, enabling flexible and individualized security feature creation without mechanical complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the state of the adhesive material from a pre-printed static pattern to a digitally controllable variable pattern. By controlling the deposition parameters of the digital printing process, the adhesive can be applied in any desired configuration, allowing dynamic adaptation of security feature designs without changing physical tooling or device complexity.
2Ease of manufacture
If embossing tools are used to create security features, then the production process is simple and direct, but the cost of tooling and the time required for tool changes increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for physical embossing tools by substituting them with a digital printing system. The adhesive pattern is created through digital deposition rather than mechanical embossing, which removes the requirement for physical tooling and the associated time losses from tool changes. The digital system can be reconfigured instantly for different security feature designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The digital printing system serves multiple functions: it acts as both the patterning mechanism and the adhesive application system. This universal approach replaces the need for specialized embossing tools for each different security feature design, allowing a single device to produce varied security features without tool changes, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing time losses.
3Reliability
If standardized security features are used, then the production process is efficient and cost-effective, but the security level against counterfeiting is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating unique adhesive patterns in specific locations on the substrate that form individualizing security features. Each security feature can have its own distinct adhesive configuration, allowing for localized customization without affecting the overall production process. This enables high-security individualized features to be produced efficiently alongside standardized document elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention performs preliminary action by pre-patterning the adhesive on the substrate before applying the application elements. This preliminary adhesive patterning allows for precise positioning and individualization of security features to be established in advance, enabling efficient production where the complex security customization is prepared beforehand rather than during the assembly process.
4Adaptability or versatility
If digital printing is used to create adhesive patterns, then individualizing security features can be created flexibly, but the production cost and process complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical patterning systems with digital printing technology. Instead of using mechanical embossing or mask-based systems that require expensive tooling and setup, the invention uses digital printing to directly deposit adhesive material in desired patterns. This substitution reduces manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining the ability to create individualized security features flexibly.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method allows for the creation of flexible, inexpensive, and highly secure security features that can be easily integrated into various security documents and products, enhancing their authenticity and protection against counterfeiting by encoding specific information and patterns.
Implementation Method 1
Creating a layer of an adhesion promoter on at least one of the surfaces of the substrate or on the back of the application element, so that the adhesion promoter is exclusively in at least one adhesion area
Implementation Method 2
The at least one layer of the adhesion promoter is produced in process step (c) by means of a digital printing process
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
In order to produce a security feature 200 of, in particular, individualizing nature for a valuable and/or security product 100, the following method is proposed: (a) provision of a substrate 105 which has surfaces 101; (b) provision of at least one application element 210 which has a front side 211 and a rear side 212; (c) production of in each case one layer of an adhesion promoter 220 on at least one of the surfaces 101 of the substrate 105 or on the rear side of the application element 210, with the result that the adhesion promoter 220 is situated exclusively in at least one adhesion region 230 which is delimited by one or more free regions 240 on the at least one surface 101 of the substrate 105 or on the rear side 212 of the application element 210, but not in the at least one free region 240; (c) application of the respective application element 210 with the rear side 212 thereof to the at least one surface 101 of the substrate 105, which at least one surface 101 is provided with the respective layer of the adhesion promoter 220, or application of the application element 210 with the rear side 212 thereof which has the adhesion promoter 220 to one of the surfaces 101 of the substrate 105; (d) connection of the respective application element 210 in the adhesion regions 230 to the at least one surface 101 of the substrate 105, wherein the respective application element 210 does not remain connected to the at least one surface 101 of the substrate 105 in the free regions 240; and (e) mechanical removal of parts of the application element 210 which are not connected to the at least one surface 101 of the substrate 105. The at least one layer of the adhesion promoter 220 is produced in method step (b) by means of a digital printing method.