WO2012007420A1

WO2012007420A1 - Method for producing a security document having raised customized haptic markings and security document

Info

Publication number: WO2012007420A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/061740
Authority: WO
Inventors: Edward Springmann
Original assignee: Bundesdruckerei Gmbh
Priority date: 2010-07-12
Filing date: 2011-07-11
Publication date: 2012-01-19
Also published as: DE102010026949A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a security document (22) and to a method for producing a security document (22), comprising the following steps: producing or providing a document body (3) made of a plastic material, wherein at least one first area (14) and at least one second area (16) that is separate from the first area (14) are defined for at least one lateral face (10) of the document body (3), wherein the at least one first area (14) completely encloses the at least one second area (16) in the region of the lateral face (10); removing, by means of abrasion, the surface (19) in the at least one first area (14) to a substantially flat background level (15) such that the surface (19) of the lateral face (10) of the document body (3) protrudes in a raised manner in the at least one second area (16) as compared to the background level (15) and supplies haptically perceptible information.

Description

A method of producing a security document with raised individualized tactile marks and security document

The invention relates to a method for producing a security document with raised individualized tactile markings and to such a security document with raised individualized tactile markings.

Security documents are known in the prior art, which have tactile markings, in particular to enable persons with a visual impairment or low vision to receive information from information stored in the document. For example, from the prior art security documents are known which contain markings with Braille. On security documents comprising a document body made of a plastic, preferably in card form, the information is applied in the form of Braille with a printing ink which has a high surface tension. As a result, defined structures which have a substantially spherical surface contour can be applied to a surface of a side surface of the security document or of the document body. For this purpose, for example, ink jet printing methods are used, with which it is possible to print individualized information on each individual security document of a series production. It is disadvantageous in the case of security documents known from the prior art that the raised structures printed in this way have only a low durability against abrasion and / or detachment when using the security document, and thus a total stability of the security document is severely restricted. In addition, these documents have only a relatively low security against tampering with the tactile

stored information.

The invention is therefore based on the object to provide a method for producing a security document with raised individualized tactile markings and an improved security document, which do not have the disadvantages mentioned above.

Basic idea of the invention The invention is based on the idea of forming the tactile and preferably individualizing markings as monolithic constituents of the document body. To achieve this, a surface of a side surface of a document body in a first area is abraded abraded to a background level so as to leave one or more second areas of the surface of the side surface, which then project upwardly from the background level and represent the tactile information.

definitions

The security document refers to those objects which have at least one security feature. Examples of security documents are: identity cards, passports, ID cards, access cards, visas,

Control signs, tickets, driving licenses, motor vehicle papers, documents of value, such as banknotes, checks, postage stamps, credit cards, any chip cards and

Adhesive labels (for example for product protection). Such security documents typically comprise a document body which, in modern security documents, is made from one or more plastic materials, preferably in the form of a card or a card-like page for incorporating e.g. in a passport book are trained. In the

Document body can be incorporated more materials.

As a document body is here the physical body of a security document or a physical part of a security document, for example, understood in a passport, a plastic-based identity page.

As materials for producing a document body of a security document, a variety of plastics are considered. In particular, these are

Plastic materials which are based, for example, on a polymer material from the group comprising PC (polycarbonate), in particular bisphenol A polycarbonate, PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers), PE (polyethylene), PP (polypropylene), PI (polyimide), ABS

(Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene), PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and copolymers of such polymers may be formed. The document body is particularly preferably formed from one or more polymer layers based on the stated polymers, which are joined together, for example, in a lamination process.

2 A security feature is any feature that imitates and / or

Falsification and / or duplication of the security document is prevented or hindered. In addition, security features are also those features of a security document that enable a verification of the document with regard to its authenticity and / or an association with a person and / or an object.

Individually considered is information that is unique to a person or an object or a group of persons or objects from a larger total of persons or objects. For example, a code individualizing a group of persons within the total population of a country is the city of residence. An individualizing for a person code, for example, the number of the identity card or passport photo. A code individualizing a group of bills within a total number of bills is the value. Individualizing for a banknote is the serial number. Examples of non-individualizing information are, for example, a coat of arms, a sigla, a national emblem of an issuing authority, etc.

A structure is said to be raised and projecting when facing a surrounding surface level of a surface in the direction of the surface

Surface normal of the document body has a greater distance from a center of the document body than the surrounding level. A contrast to a raised projection is a depression.

As laser ablation, the process is called, in which by irradiation

electromagnetic radiation, in particular of light in the visible, infrared or UV wavelength range, material removed, in particular evaporated, is.

Preferred embodiment of the invention

In particular, a method for producing a security document comprising the steps of producing or providing a document body of a plastic material, wherein for at least one side surface of the document body at least a first area and at least a second, disjoint area of the first area are defined, the at least a first area that

3 completely encloses at least a second area in the area of the side surface;

abrasive removal of the surface in the at least one first region to a substantially planar background level, such that the surface of the side surface of the document body in the at least one second region opposite to the

Background level protrudes sublime and provides a tactile information. The advantage of the invention lies in the fact that the at least one second area, which projects from the background level, consists of the material of the document body and is not subsequently attached or applied thereto. As a result, a much greater resistance to abrasion or other

Wear achieved. Moreover, it is not possible to subsequently form other raised structures of the same type on the document body to the

To corrupt the security document. A side opposite the side surfaces is not affected.

By the term "one area completely enclosing another area in the area of the side surface" is meant that one boundary either separates the enclosed other area from the enclosing one area or coincides with a boundary of the side area itself.

For information, for example in the form of braille, which also as

Braille is called, on the at least one side surface of the

Document body is provided in a preferred embodiment that further second areas are defined for the side surface, which are disjoint from each other and from the at least one first area and the at least one second area and from the at least one first area in the region of the side surface completely are enclosed, so that the surface of the side surface of the

Document body also in the other second areas opposite the

Background level protrudes sublime and provides a tactile information. In each case, it is assumed that the at least one first area is a

represents coherent closed area. But there are others too

Embodiments are conceivable in which there are other first areas, which are then also abraded abraded to the background level and can enclose second areas, which then protrude from the background level raised and

Code information. As a rule, the at least one first area or

together with other first areas a larger area proportion of the side area

4 occupy as the second areas projecting above the background level. Preferably, the first area comprises the entire side surface except for the second areas enclosed therefrom. The first region is preferably configured so that the first region encloses a circumferential strip of the surface of the at least one side surface of the document body. In a particularly preferred embodiment, at least a part of the second regions has a round, preferably circular, shape. By means of such projections, for example, the Braille script can be optimally coded.

In order to facilitate tactility and, moreover, to be better protected against abrasion, the surface contour of the second regions is preferably also processed. This processing is also abrasive. Thus, at a

Embodiment provided that the surface is at least in the region of some, preferably all, second regions abraded to form a surface contour of the second regions, wherein the feature is maintained that the surface of the side surface of the document body in the second regions relative to the

Background level sublime projects.

Protrusions which have a rounded surface contour are perceived as being particularly pleasant for palpation. Therefore, in a preferred

Embodiment provided that the surface contour of the second regions as a body of revolution, preferably spherical, is formed.

For many security documents, only a portion of the information contained therein is in the form of tactile structures, i. above a background level of raised structures, stored. Since a full-surface removal of the surface except for a few second areas, which represent the information to be encoded, is very expensive, is in a

Embodiment of the invention provided that the document body is produced with at least one information area, which on the at least one

Side surface is formed and projecting towards a surrounding area of the at least one side surface before the abrasive machining and projecting the at least one first area and the at least one second area and

optionally the further second regions in the at least one

Information area are defined. In the case of abrasive processing of the information area, the material is preferably in the region of the at least one area in this way

5 removed that the background level is adjusted to the level of the surrounding area. This gives a document body which essentially has a uniform surface level both in the information area and in the field

Surrounding area after coding the information by means of the abrasive removal of the first area or the first areas, except those areas that project sublime and represent a coded information. The coding takes place here via the arrangement as well as the shape of the second regions in the at least one first region and optionally via a contouring, i. 3D design of the surface in the one or more second areas.

A high stability of the projecting second areas is achieved by producing or providing the document body in such a way that it is monolithic to a depth greater than or equal to the surface of the at least one side surface prior to abrading and / or abrasive machining a maximum abrasive removal is. This means that the raised projections, which the

Represent information, are formed in a monolithically formed portion of the surface of the document body. For example, when a document body is made from a plurality of plastic sheets in a lamination process, it has a monolithic layer which is only partially removed during abrasive removal so that the remaining second areas are well bonded to the document body. After the abrasive processing of the surface, it is possible to coat the document body with a scratch-resistant layer, preferably in the form of a lacquer. This increases the durability of the surface and thus the information that can be scanned on it.

According to the invention there is thus obtained a security document with tactile information, comprising a document body, on the at least one side surface of which at least a first area is formed, which defines a substantially level background level on a surface of the at least one side surface of the document body, and the at least one side surface at least a second, disjoint from the first area and in the region of the at least one side surface of the at least one first area enclosed area, wherein the at least one second area projecting above the background level and represents a tactile information. This information is preferably an individualizing information that, for example, individualizes the security document for an assigned owner. The surface in the at least one first region is formed by abrasive removal of the

6 Surface trained on the background level. It is understood that in a preferred embodiment of the security document there are further second areas of the side surface which are disjoint from each other and from the at least one first area and the at least one second area and of which

At least a first area in the region of the side surface are completely enclosed, so that the surface of the side surface of the document body protrudes sublime in the second areas relative to the background level and provides a tactile information.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the document body has a monolithic information layer whose thickness, measured along a

Surface normal of the background level, greater than a maximum height of the at least one second area and optionally greater than a maximum height of one of the further second areas from the background level. For example, if the document body is sealed with a scratch-proofing layer, then that is

Information layer is not necessarily the uppermost and outer layer of the

Document body.

It is understood that the document body may have a variety of other security elements and security features. For example, the document body may include electronic circuits, computer chips, antennas and holograms,

Metal threads and / or the like incorporated. Moreover, it is not mandatory that the document body as a whole constitute a monolithic body. In particular, when electronic components such as computer chips and antennas are or are integrated into the document body, it is advantageous to embed them in a more elastic material, which subsequently forms a core of the

Forms document body.

It should be noted that a large number of standardized security documents have a

Total material thickness (excluding raised tabs for tactile information) less than 1 mm total thickness. According to a standardization of

Braille, the individual raised projecting structures, which are designated there as dots, a height from the background level of at least 0.15 mm, but preferably from 0.2 to 0.45 mm. A center distance is 2.5 mm in Europe and 2.2 mm according to a Japanese standard. On the

7 Background level, the individual points (raised structures) one

Diameter of 1, 6 mm. A minimum height of the raised structures from the background level must be 0.12 mm for reliable tactability, but should generally be higher. It turns out, however, that security documents can be produced that remain within the maximum dimensions specified by the standards, including the raised structures.

An abrasive surface treatment that provides an attractive surface texture on plastic materials that is both optically and tactually pleasing represents laser ablation.

Other possible abrasive methods include, for example, engraving or other mechanical processing methods.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing. Hereby show:

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of an apparatus for producing a

Security document with a raised individualized

Tastmarkierung;

Fig. 2a is a schematic sectional view of a document body in front of a

processing;

2b is a schematic plan view of a side surface of the document body to illustrate different areas of the side surface.

Fig. 2c is a schematic representation of the sectional view after completion of the document body;

3a shows another schematic sectional view of a document body in front of a

processing;

3b is a schematic representation of a plan view for illustrating different areas of a side surface of the document body;

8th 3c is a schematic sectional view of the document body according to a

Processing and training of tactile characteristics;

4a is a schematic sectional view of a document body in front of a

processing;

Fig. 4b is a schematic sectional view after a processing of

Document body; and

Fig. 5 is a schematic sectional view of another document body after processing.

In Fig. 1, a device 1 for producing a security document with raised Tastmarkierungen is shown schematically. The device 1 comprises a

Transport device 2, via which a document body 3, which is not yet finished, is supplied. A controller 4 is supplied with individualizing information in the form of a data record 5. This is used to select which regions of a side surface after processing are to protrude above a background level. With the control, an abrasive processing device 6 is connected, which is controlled by the controller 4.

The abrasive processing device 6 comprises a laser 7, which is preferably designed as an excimer laser. Other embodiments may provide a C0 ₂ laser. Other lasers can be used. The abrasive machining device 6 further comprises a scanning device 8, which is designed to position a laser beam 9 on a side surface 10. The scanning device 8 can bring about a relative movement of the laser 7 to the document body 3 and / or a deflection of the laser beam 9 relative to the document body 3.

With the side surface 10, a coordinate system 1 1 with an X-axis 12 and a Y-axis 13 is linked. The scanning device 8 can thus position the laser beam 9 in the X-Y plane so that each position of the side surface 10 can be processed with the laser 7 abrasive in the form of a laser ablation. Over this, in a first region 14, a surface 19 of the document body 3 of the side surface 10 becomes abrasive

9 Background level 15 removed. Material removal takes place over a wavelength of the laser radiation, a pulse energy of the laser radiation and a number of pulses per

processed surface element influenced. Second regions 16 are not machined at all or only with regard to their surface contour, so that the document body 3 has a greater material thickness 17 than one in the area of the second regions 16

Background material thickness 18 in the region of the background level 15. After the abrasive machining of the surface 19 of the side surface 10 of the finished

Document body 3 removed from a work area 20. The document body 3 can then be subjected to further processing steps,

For example, be coated with a scratch-resistant paint, or another

Laser personalization are supplied, which causes local blackening in the interior of the document body 3 to store individualizing information.

FIG. 2a schematically illustrates a sectional view of a document body before a surface 19 of a side surface 10 has been abraded to store individualizing tactile marks in the document body 3, which in a finished state represents a security document 22. Identical technical features are identified in all figures with the same reference numerals.

FIG. 2 b shows a schematic plan view of the document body 3 according to FIG. 2 a. The side surface 10 has a first region 14 and second regions 16, each of which is disjoint. The second regions 16 are each completely enclosed by the first region 14.

In an abrasive machining of the surface 19 of the side surface 10 of the

Document body 3, the surface 19 is removed in the region of the first region 14 to a background level 15. This is shown in the schematic sectional view of Fig. 2c. In the second regions 16, only machining is performed in an abrasive manner so that the second regions 16 are given a spherical surface shape. By way of the arrangement of the second regions 16 on the side surface 10 and over a number of the second regions 16 and, if appropriate, their shape and dimensions, individualizing information is stored in the security document 22 in the form of tactile markings 21 which protrude from the level background level 15. As can be clearly seen in FIG. 2c, the surface 19 projects in the area of the second regions 16 of the side surface 10 raised in relation to the surface

10 Background level 15 of the first area 14. Characterized in that the document body 3 is abraded in the region of the first region 14, it is ensured that the second regions 16 are formed integrally with the document body 3 and therefore have a very strong connection with the document body 3 as its components.

In Fig. 3a is a sectional view of another embodiment of a document body 3 is shown schematically. In the embodiment of Fig. 3a, the

Document body 3 an information area 31 and a surrounding area 32. An information area material thickness 33 of the document body is larger than a surrounding area material thickness 34. Such a document body 3 can be produced, for example, by embossing during a lamination step in assembling a plurality of films, casting and / or injection-stamping the document body 3, or in any other manner. The surface 19 of the side surface 10 of the document body 3 has a shoulder 35 in such a case.

In the information area 31, tactile information, i.

individualizing Tastmarkierungen 21, introduced. For this purpose, a first area 14 and second areas 16 are defined in the information area 31, as shown in Fig. 3b. The second regions 16 are disjoint from each other and completely enclosed by the first region. Only a second area 16 'directly adjoins the edge of the information area 31 and is not enclosed by the first information area in the area of this border section 36. In the sense of a formulation that the second area within the information area 31 is completely enclosed by the first area 14, the second area 16 'is also completely enclosed by the first area 14, since the boundary area 36 which does not cover the second area 16' separates the first area 14, coincides with a boundary of the information area.

During abrasive removal of the surface 19, the first region 14 is on the

Background level 15 removed, which preferably to a

Background material thickness 37 of the document body 3 in the first region 14, which is adapted to the surrounding area material thickness 34. The abrasive removal preferably takes place by means of an excimer laser or another pulsed laser by means of laser ablation. In order to obtain a uniformly formed surface 19 in the information area 31 and in the surrounding area 32, it may be provided in individual embodiments that even a minimal material removal in the surrounding area 32

1 1 takes place. Nevertheless, much less material has to be removed by laser ablation in this embodiment, so that processing is accelerated.

In Fig. 3c, the document body 3 after the abrasive machining in one

Section view shown. The second regions 16 of the side surface 10 projecting above the background level 15 of the first region 14 represent individualizing information in the form of tactile markings 21. For example, the second regions may be arranged and configured such that they represent Braille characters, in particular Braille ,

FIG. 4 a shows a schematic sectional view through a document body 3 before machining the surface 19 of the side surface 10. The document body 3 is made of different material layers 41-44 in one

High-pressure high-temperature lamination process produced. For example, all layers 41 - 44 may be made of a polycarbonate material. By doing

In the illustrated embodiment, an uppermost film 44 has a material layer thickness 45 which is greater than a level difference between the background level 15 and the raised projecting second areas 16 and touch marks 21 after an abrasive treatment of the surface 19 the side surface 10 is. This condition is shown in Fig. 4b.

FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment in which the document body is assembled from layers 51 - 55. The layers 51 and 53-55 are made of a polycarbonate material, for example. A layer 52 in which a microchip 56 is integrated is made, for example, from a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). The document body is shown after the surface 19 has been removed to a background level 15 in a first region 14 and the surfaces are so abraded in the second regions 16 that they protrude above the background level 15 but have a rotationally symmetric surface contour, preferably a spherical one Surface contour, have. Although in the abrasive machining of the surface 19, material of the original layers 54 and 55 is removed, the remaining raised projections 21 in the region of the second regions 16 are monolithically formed with the document body 3, since the

12 Layers 54, 55 are joined together before processing to form a monolithic document body 3.

The information stored in the embodiments shown in the form of the tactile markings is, for example, a name of a person who produced the

Security document is assigned or is.

It is understood that only exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. The individual features illustrated may be used in any combination to practice the invention.

13 LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 Device for producing a security document

2 transport device

3 document bodies

4 control

5 record

6 abrasive machining device

7 lasers

8 scanning device

9 laser beam

10 side surface

1 1 coordinate system

12 X axis

13 Y-axis

14 first area

15 background level

16 second areas

17 material thickness

18 Background material thickness

19 surface

20 workspace

21 tactile markings

22 security document

31 information area

32 surrounding area

33 Informational material thickness

34 surrounding area material thickness

35 paragraph

36 border section

37 Background level material thickness

41 -44 layers

45 layer thickness

51 -55 layers

56 chip

14

Claims

claims

1 . Method for producing a security document (22) comprising the steps:

Producing or providing a document body (3) from a

Plastic material;

wherein at least one first area (14) and at least one second area (16) disjointed by the first area (14) are defined for at least one side surface (10) of the document body (3), the at least one first area (14) defining the at least one second area (16) in the region of the side surface (10) completely encloses;

abrasive removal of the surface (19) in the at least one first region (14) to a substantially planar background level (15), so that the

Surface (19) of the side surface (10) of the document body (3) in the at least one second area (16) protrudes from the background level (15) raised and provides a tactile information.

A method according to claim 1, characterized in that further second regions (16) are defined for the side surface (10) which are disjoint from one another and from the at least one first region (14) and the at least one second region (16), and of the at least one first region (14) are completely enclosed in the region of the side surface (10), so that the surface (19) of the side surface (10) of the document body (3) is also in the second regions (16) relative to the background level (15 ) protrudes sublime and provides a tactile information.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least a part of the second regions (16) has a round, preferably circular shape.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the surface (19) is at least in the region of some, preferably all second regions (16) abraded to form a surface contour of the second regions (16), the feature obtained remains that the surface (19) of the side surface (10) of the document body (3) in the second regions (16) projecting from the background level (15).

15

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the surface contour of the second regions (16) is designed as a rotational body, preferably spherical.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the document body (3) with at least one information area (31) is produced, which is formed on the at least one side surface (10) and against a surrounding area (32) of the at least one

Side surface (10) protrudes sublime before the abrasive machining, and the at least one first area (14) and the at least one second area (16) and possibly the other second areas (16) are defined in the at least one information area (31).

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the background level (15) during abrasive removal of the surface (19) is adjusted to a level of the surrounding area (31).

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the surface (19) abraded by laser ablation and / or abraded.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the document body (3) is prepared or provided that this before the abrasive ablation and / or abrasive machining on the surface (19) of the at least one side surface (10) into a depth is formed monolithic, which is greater than a maximum abrasive removal.

10. Security document (22) with tactile information comprising a

Document body (3), on whose at least one side surface (10) at least a first region (14) is formed, which is a substantially planar

Background level (15) on a surface (19) of the at least one

Defines side surface (10) of the document body (3), and the at least one side surface (10) at least a second disjoint from the first region (14) and in the region of the at least one side surface (10) of the at least one

16 the at least one second region (16) projecting above the background level (15) and presenting a tactile information that individualizes the security document, and the surface (19) in the at least one first region (14 ) is formed by abrasive removal of the surface (19) on the background level (15).

1 1. Security document (22) according to claim 10, characterized in that

further second regions (16) of the side surface (10) are present, which are disjoint from each other and from the at least one first region (14) and the at least one second region (16) and from the at least one first region (14) in the region of Side surface (10) are completely enclosed, so that the

Surface (19) of the side surface (10) of the document body (3) protrudes in the other second areas (16) relative to the background level (15) raised and provides a tactile information.

The security document (22) of claim 10 or 1 1, characterized in that the document body (3) has a monolithic information layer whose thickness, measured along a surface normal of the background level (15), is greater than a maximum height of the at least one second area (16) and, where appropriate, other second areas (16) in relation to

Background level (15).

17