Security Element Double Groove Foil Embedding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing security elements and valuable documents face challenges in achieving high durability, reproducibility, processability, and low costs, particularly in maintaining flatness and quality amidst various interactions during their lifecycle.
Innovation Solution
A security element featuring a double groove-double foil concept, where two elongate foils are embedded in opposing grooves on a fibrous substrate, with the foils' thickness only partially compensated by the grooves' dimensions, ensuring improved durability, reproducibility, and processability while maintaining sufficient flatness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a foil or security element is attached to a substrate to prevent counterfeiting, then security features are improved, but the additional thickness reduces flatness
Solution Approach 1:
The foil is embedded within a groove formed in the substrate, nesting the security element inside the substrate structure rather than attaching it on the surface. This allows the foil to be housed within the substrate's own geometry, maintaining external flatness while preserving internal security features
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves from a surface-level attachment (2D problem) to a three-dimensional embedded structure. By creating a groove with specific depth and width dimensions, the foil is positioned in a recessed volume, transforming the flatness issue from a surface problem to a volumetric solution where the foil's thickness is accommodated within the groove's depth
2Shape
If the foil thickness is fully compensated by groove dimensions, then flatness is improved, but durability and processability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of fully compensating for the foil thickness (which would create an overly deep groove), the invention applies partial compensation. The groove depth is dimensioned to provide sufficient flatness while leaving the groove wider than the foil, creating optimal bonding conditions without excessive groove depth that would compromise structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The groove dimensions are optimized locally at the foil-substrate interface. The groove width is specifically designed to be larger than the foil width, creating a localized bonding zone with optimal adhesive distribution. This local quality enhancement improves both durability through better bonding and processability through controlled adhesive flow
3Reliability
If a complex manufacturing process is used to achieve high quality security elements, then durability is improved, but costs and processability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The groove is pre-formed in the substrate before the foil is applied. This preliminary structuring of the substrate creates a ready-made receptacle for the foil, eliminating the need for complex post-assembly operations. The groove geometry is designed to automatically guide foil placement and adhesive distribution, simplifying the manufacturing process while ensuring high quality results
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a security element for a valuable document comprising a substrate, a first groove on a first surface of the substrate, a second groove on a second surface of the substrate, the second surface being opposite to the first surface wherein the first groove and the second groove are aligned with each other such that first groove and the second groove are substantially superposed and a first foil is arranged in the first groove and a second foil is arranged in the second groove such that the thickness of the first foil and the thickness of the second foil are partially compensated by the dimensions of the first groove and the second groove. The invention also relates to a valuable document comprising the security element as well as to methods of manufacturing the security element and the valuable document.