Raised Pattern Elements with Internal Contrast Substance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing printed security features on valuable or security products, such as identity cards, struggle to create features that are both visually and tactically secure, while being easy to produce and resistant to forgery, without requiring complex apparatus or processes.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a transfer film with cavities loaded with a contrast substance is used to create raised pattern elements on a printed product, allowing for the formation of visually and tactically perceptible security features through thermal and mechanical transfer, ensuring the substance is internal to the pattern elements for enhanced security and adhesion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If thermal transfer method is used to produce printed security features, then visual security features can be created, but the features lack tactile perceptibility and are easy to forge
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer film is segmented into multiple functional layers: a porous support layer for structural integrity, a resin layer for adhesion, and a contrast substance layer for visual security. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining overall simplicity of the manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The transfer film combines multiple materials with different properties: a porous support material providing mechanical strength, a thermoplastic resin providing adhesion and tactile relief, and a contrast substance providing visual security features. This composite structure enables the film to simultaneously achieve visual perceptibility, tactile relief, and firm adhesion to the substrate.
2Reliability
If raised structures are created on the surface, then tactile security features are achieved, but the visual contrast and internal substance containment are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The contrast substance is positioned in the third dimension within the resin layer rather than on the two-dimensional surface. This allows the substance to be contained internally while the raised resin structure provides tactile relief, solving both visual security and tactile security requirements simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The contrast substance is nested within the resin layer, which itself is supported by the porous support layer. This nested structure ensures the contrast substance is contained internally within the raised feature, providing both visual security through the contrast and tactile security through the raised relief structure.
3Reliability
If contrast substance is applied on the surface, then visual security is achieved, but adhesion to substrate is weakened and features can be easily separated
Solution Approach 1:
The contrast substance is applied to the transfer film before the heating and transfer process. This preliminary positioning ensures the substance is accurately placed and will be transferred internally to the correct location on the substrate, achieving both visual contrast and strong adhesion simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermoplastic resin layer undergoes a phase transition from solid to molten state during heating, allowing it to flow and bond the contrast substance-containing raised features firmly to the substrate. Upon cooling, the resin solidifies, locking the contrast substance in place and creating strong adhesion.
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 enables the production of secure, visually perceptible, and haptically tangible security features that are difficult to forge, without the need for complex equipment, allowing for easy implementation in security document production, ensuring the features adhere firmly to the product and remain resistant to separation.
Implementation Method 1
Loading the cavities of the film with a contrast substance from a surface of the film forming a loading side, so that the contrast substance is distributed in a layer region arranged on the inside of the at least one pattern element
Implementation Method 2
Transferring at least one partial surface area of the transfer film to the main body of the printed product by mechanical and preferably additional thermal action
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(b)
Figure 2(a)~2(e)
Figure 3~4(e)
AI summary
The invention relates to a printed product (100) having an especially forgery-proof printed security feature (200), which can be produced by using simple means and without complex equipment. The printed product (100) has a printed-product main body (400) having a first and a second main side (410), wherein at least one pattern element (350) arranged in the form of a pattern (360) is located on at least one of the two main sides (410) and wherein the at least one pattern element (350) contains a contrast substance (K) at least in a layer region (320) arranged internally in the at least one pattern element (350). The at least one pattern element (350) is raised on the particular printed-product main side (410) and undetachably connected to the printed-product main body (400).