Folded Carrier Arrangement for Identification Documents
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing carrier arrangements for identification documents, such as passports, exhibit rigidity issues that cause self-opening and require excessive force to fold, making them inconvenient for handling and storage.
Innovation Solution
Introducing a profiling method into the fold area of prelaminates, which reduces rigidity and allows for easy folding, with the option to heat and cool the profiling to create a self-retaining shape memory effect, enabling automatic folding and self-closure of the document.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a multi-layer prelaminate structure is used to provide rigidity and protect transponder units, then structural strength and security are improved, but the document becomes difficult to fold and exhibits self-opening effect
Solution Approach 1:
The prelaminate structure is segmented into multiple layers with different rigidity characteristics. A first prelaminate layer with higher rigidity provides structural strength, while a second prelaminate layer with lower rigidity enables easy folding. This layer segmentation resolves the contradiction by distributing different functional requirements to different layers.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the carrier arrangement are given different rigidity properties. The fold area specifically uses the more flexible second prelaminate layer to enable bending, while other areas maintain the stronger first prelaminate layer for structural support. This local differentiation allows the document to be both strong and foldable.
2Stability of the object's composition
If heat treatment is applied to create shape memory effect, then self-retaining folded state is achieved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The physical state of the prelaminate material is changed through temperature parameters. Heating above the glass transition temperature allows the material to be molded into the desired folded shape, and cooling below this temperature locks the shape in place. This parameter change enables self-retaining folded state without complex mechanical retention mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The prelaminate material itself provides the shape retention function through its thermoplastic properties, eliminating the need for additional complex retention mechanisms. The material automatically retains the folded shape after cooling, making the system self-sufficient for maintaining the folded state.
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
The profiling method allows for reduced folding force and minimizes self-opening, enabling the carrier arrangement to maintain a folded state with reduced rigidity, ensuring easy handling and secure storage while maintaining the functionality of embedded transponder units.
Implementation Method 1
Heat is introduced into the fold area of the carrier arrangement, so that the profiling takes place under the influence of temperature
Implementation Method 2
Heat is introduced into the fold area of the carrier arrangement, so that the profiling takes place under the influence of temperature. This makes it possible for the original rigidity of sheet formats of a prelaminate to be used after so-called 'reshaping' so that the carrier arrangement holds itself in the folded state
Implementation Method 3
Heat is introduced into the fold area of the carrier arrangement, so that the profiling takes place under the influence of temperature
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a method of producing a folded carrier arrangement (17), in particular for further processing in an identification document or document of value or for completing as an end product of an identification document or document of value, in the case of which the carrier arrangement (17) is in the form of a bonded composite comprising at least two layers and is laminated or pressed to form a prelaminate and, during the operations of laminating and pressing the at least two layers, a profiling (31) is introduced into a folding region (32) of the prelaminate for the purpose of forming the folded carrier arrangement (17), or in the case of which the carrier arrangement (17), as prelaminate, is provided in a sheet format and in the case of which a profile (31) is introduced into a folding region (32) of the prelaminate for the purpose of forming the folded carrier arrangement (17).