Apparatus for manufacturing a two-sided product with an integrated device on a web of material, including: a first rotary micro scale structure formation unit for having a first structure for forming a first microscale structure on one side of a portion of web; a second rotary microscale structure formation unit having a second structure for forming a second micro scale structure on second side of the portion of the web; the first and second micro scale structures and the portion of the web between the first and second microscale structures together forming the integrated device; and a web feed system for feeding the web of material between the first and second rotary microscale structure formation units.

Apparatus for manufacturing a two-sided product with an integrated device on a web of material, including: a first rotary micro scale structure formation unit for having a first structure for forming a first microscale structure on one side of a portion of web; a second rotary microscale structure formation unit having a second structure for forming a second micro scale structure on second side of the portion of the web; the first and second micro scale structures and the portion of the web between the first and second microscale structures together forming the integrated device; and a web feed system for feeding the web of material between the first and second rotary microscale structure formation units.

A system for forming a security pattern by magnetic and optical fields includes: a printing substrate having an inducible ink pattern printed on its surface; and at least one set of security pattern forming units through which the printing substrate passes sequentially. Each set of security pattern forming units includes: a magnetic field and a light source each acting on a surface of the printing substrate, such that after the printing substrate passes through the security pattern forming unit, an inducible ink pattern on the surface thereof exhibits the effect of the dual function of the optical field and the magnetic field.

A system for forming a security pattern by magnetic and optical fields includes: a printing substrate having an inducible ink pattern printed on its surface; and at least one set of security pattern forming units through which the printing substrate passes sequentially. Each set of security pattern forming units includes: a magnetic field and a light source each acting on a surface of the printing substrate, such that after the printing substrate passes through the security pattern forming unit, an inducible ink pattern on the surface thereof exhibits the effect of the dual function of the optical field and the magnetic field.

An improved polymeric sheet material for use in making polymeric security documents such as banknotes is provided. The inventive polymeric sheet material has one or more integrated and/or applied optical security devices. Polymeric security documents made using these improved polymeric sheet materials are also provided.

An improved polymeric sheet material for use in making polymeric security documents such as banknotes is provided. The inventive polymeric sheet material has one or more integrated and/or applied optical security devices. Polymeric security documents made using these improved polymeric sheet materials are also provided.

There is described a printed security element (10; 10*; 10**) comprising a rainbow feature (15; 15*; 15**) exhibiting, at least in part, a gradual transition from a first colour (C1) to a second colour (C2) distinct from the first colour (C1), wherein the rainbow feature (15; 15*; 15**) extends over a colour-gradient area (A) of the printed security element (10; 10*; 10**) where first and second printed patterns (P1, P2) are partly superimposed or juxtaposed, each of the first and second printed patterns (P1, P2) comprising a first, respectively second set of linear or curvilinear elements (20, 30; 20*, 30*), the first and second printed patterns (P1, P2) being printed in register one with the other by means of two distinct printing plates (PP1, PP2) so that the first and second sets of linear or curvilinear elements (20, 30; 20*, 30*) are partly superimposed or juxtaposed in the colour-gradient area (A) and thereby generate the rainbow feature (15; 15*; 15**), the first printed pattern (P1) exhibiting the first colour (C1) and being printed by means of a first printing plate (PP1) and the second printed pattern (P2) exhibiting the second colour (C2) and being printed by means of a second printing plate (PP2), where at least the first or second printed pattern (P1; P2) exhibits, in the colour-gradient area (A), a modulation of line width or line structure such as to cause, when superimposed or juxtaposed with the other printed pattern (P2; P1), a gradual transition from the first colour (C1) to the second colour (C2), wherein, in the colour-gradient area (A), the second printed pattern (P2) is printed on top of the first printed pattern (P1) and wherein the second colour (C2) is darker than the first colour (C1). Also described is a method of producing the aforementioned printed security element.

A print quality examination device is provided in a printing machine (1) provided with a printing unit (3) that performs printing on a mirror-reflection member (5a) of a sheet (5) to which the mirror-reflection member (5a) is added. The print quality examination device of the printing machine is provided with an examination camera (18a) that images a picture printed on the sheet (5), a light source (18h) that irradiates the sheet (5) with light, and a print quality examination unit (18g) that examines the quality of the picture printed by the printing unit (3) based on image data imaged by the examination camera (18a). The examination camera (18a) or the light source (18h) is configured to be movably supported on an arc about a detection point (P) imaged by the examination camera (18a) for the sheet (5).

A screen-printing unit in a printing machine comprises a screen cylinder which carries a screen-printing stencil and in which a squeegee is moved, from the inside, into contact with, and away from the screen-printing stencil. The screen cylinder is moved into contact with an impression cylinder, such that a printing position is formed, and is moved away therefrom, such that a gap is formed. The screen cylinder is moved away from the impression cylinder, in a first phase, when the squeegee is in a non-contacting position. In a second phase, at least one sheet of printing material is passed through the printing position when the squeegee continues to be in a non-contacting position and the screen cylinder is at least temporarily in a contacting position. For subsequent sheets of printing material, in a third phase, the screen-printing unit is operated with the squeegee one of permanently and cyclically, such as at least once for each sheet of printing material, in a contacting position.

A screen-printing unit in a printing machine comprises a screen cylinder which carries a screen-printing stencil and in which a squeegee is moved, from the inside, into contact with, and away from the screen-printing stencil. The screen cylinder is moved into contact with an impression cylinder, such that a printing position is formed, and is moved away therefrom, such that a gap is formed. The screen cylinder is moved away from the impression cylinder, in a first phase, when the squeegee is in a non-contacting position. In a second phase, at least one sheet of printing material is passed through the printing position when the squeegee continues to be in a non-contacting position and the screen cylinder is at least temporarily in a contacting position. For subsequent sheets of printing material, in a third phase, the screen-printing unit is operated with the squeegee one of permanently and cyclically, such as at least once for each sheet of printing material, in a contacting position.