Magnetizing Device for Security Documents Using Dual Magnet Pairs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional checking arrangements for value documents face challenges in providing sufficient magnetic field strength for magnetizing high-coercive magnetic areas without reducing the distance between magnets and documents, leading to potential transport issues and inadequate magnetization.

Innovation Solution

A magnetization device comprising two pairs of magnets arranged along the transport path, where the interaction of the first and second magnet pairs generates a stronger magnetic field that is greater than either pair could produce alone, ensuring effective magnetization of both high- and low-coercive magnetic materials without reducing the distance between magnets and documents.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the distance between magnets and documents is reduced to increase magnetic field strength, then magnetization of high-coercive areas is improved, but transport reliability deteriorates due to increased risk of jamming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnetic field strengthVSAvoidtransport reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple magnet pairs (first and second magnet pairs) arranged along the transport path to generate magnetic fields that add up to a first magnetic field strength greater than what any single magnet pair could produce. This merging approach allows achieving the required magnetic field strength for high-coercive areas without reducing the distance between magnets and documents, thus maintaining transport reliability while improving magnetization capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Productivity

If a single strong magnetic field is applied to magnetize both high- and low-coercive areas, then magnetization speed is improved, but differentiation in magnetization directions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnetization speedVSAvoidmagnetization direction precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the magnetization process into two distinct stages using two different magnetic field strengths. The first magnet pair applies a stronger magnetic field for initial magnetization, while the second magnet pair applies a weaker magnetic field for directional differentiation. This segmentation allows both high- and low-coercive areas to be magnetized with appropriate field strengths, achieving both speed and precision in the magnetization process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different magnetic field strengths (first and second magnetic field strengths) at different locations along the transport path to meet the specific requirements of different magnetic material types. The first magnet pair provides stronger field for high-coercive areas, while the second magnet pair provides weaker field for low-coercive areas, ensuring each material type receives the appropriate magnetization treatment for optimal direction precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 configuration provides a sufficiently strong magnetic field to reliably magnetize high-coercive areas while maintaining the necessary strength for low-coercive areas, allowing for clear distinguishable signals to be detected and enabling accurate coding verification without increasing the risk of document jamming.

Implementation Method 1

For magnetizing the magnetic materials, the magnetizing device, along the transport path in the transport direction, comprises a first and a second magnet pair arrangement, each comprising magnets arranged on both sides of the transport path

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field: Magnetic Field

Implementation Method 2

a detector device for detecting magnetic signals emanating from the magnetized security element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic signal detection: Magnetometer

Data Source

PatentEP2742492B1Test configuration for testing security documents
Publication Date: 2021.02.17 GIESECKE & DEVRIENT CURRENCY TECHNOLOGY GMBH
  • EP2742492B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2742492B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2742492B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a testing configuration (30) for testing a security document (1), comprising a security element (2), which comprises a high-coercivity magnetic material and a low-coercivity magnetic material, to a device (40) comprising such a test configuration (30) and to a relevant test method. The high-coercivity and the low-coercivity magnetic material of the security element (2) are magnetized in a first direction by the interaction of a first magnet pair unit (20A) and a second magnet pair unit (20B), and subsequently the low-coercivity magnetic material is remagnetized in a second magnetization direction by means of the second magnet pair unit (20B). The magnet pair units are arranged with respect to one another in such a closely adjacent manner along the transport path of the security document that the first magnet field strength is greater than the magnet field strength provided by the first magnet pair unit (20A) alone and is greater than the magnet field strength provided by the second magnet pair unit (20B) alone.