SUBSTRATE FOR PRODUCING VALUE PAPERS OR SECURITY PAPERS

Abstract

A substrate for producing papers of value or security papers is described. The substrate may include a carrier layer, at least one security element applied at least one of onto and into the carrier layer, and a primer. The primer may be applied onto at least one of a first substrate side and a second substrate side of the substrate. The primer may be arranged, at least in some sections, between the carrier layer and the at least one security element. Additionally and/or alternatively, the primer may cover the at least one security element and/or the carrier layer such that regions of the at least one security element covered by the primer are not as well visible as regions of the at least one security element and/or the carrier layer not covered by the primer. The at least one security element may include a partial, reflective layer forming an image.

Claims

1. A substrate for producing papers of value or security papers, the substrate comprising: a carrier layer; at least one security element applied at least one of onto and into the carrier layer; and a primer applied onto at least one of a first substrate side of the substrate and a second substrate side of the substrate at least in some sections; wherein at least one of: the primer is arranged, at least in some sections, between the carrier layer and the at least one security element; and the primer covers at least one of the at least one security element and the carrier layer at least in some sections, wherein regions of the at least one security element covered by the primer are not as well visible as at least one of (i) regions of the at least one security element not covered by the primer and (ii) regions of the carrier layer not covered by the primer; and wherein the at least one security element includes a partial, reflective layer forming an image.

2. The substrate according to claim 1, wherein the image formed by the partial, reflective layer is a mosaic-like image.

3. The substrate according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is one of a polymer substrate and a paper substrate.

4. The substrate according to claim 1, wherein the regions of the at least one security element covered by the primer are at least one of: not visible from a top view and are visible when looking through; and better visible when looking through than from a top view.

5. The substrate according to claim 1, further comprising a cover layer, wherein: at least one of the at least one security element, the carrier layer, and the primer are covered by the cover layer at least in some sections; and regions of the at least one security element covered by the cover layer are not as well visible as at least one of (i) regions of the at least one security element not covered by the cover layer, (ii) regions of the carrier layer not covered by the cover layer and (iii) regions of the primer not covered by the cover layer.

6. The substrate according to claim 1, wherein the primer is applied via a printing method.

7. The substrate according to claim 1, wherein the primer is printable.

8. The substrate according to, claim 1, wherein the primer fully covers at least one of a surface of the carrier layer and a surface of the at least one security element.

9. The substrate according to claim 1, wherein the primer covers at least one of the carrier layer and the at least one security element partially.

10. The substrate according to claim 1, wherein the primer diffusely scattering.

11. The substrate according to claim 1, wherein: the carrier layer is composed of plastic; and the carrier layer comprises at least one of polyimide (PI), polypropylene (PP), monoaxially oriented polypropylene (MOPP), biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP), polyethylene (PE), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyetheretherketone (PEEK) polyetherketone (PEK), polyethylene imide (PEI), polysulfone (PSU), polyaryletherketone (PAEK), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), liquid crystalline polymers (LCP), polyester, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamide (PA), polycarbonate (PC), cycloolefin copolymers (COC), polyoxymethylene (POM), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polyvinylchloride (PVC) ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyvinyl fluoride (PVF), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene-fluoropolymer (EFEP) and mixtures copolymers and composite materials thereof.

12. The substrate according to claim 1, wherein the carrier layer has a thickness of 5 μm to 700 μm.

13. The substrate according to claim 1, wherein the primer has a thickness of 1 μm to 60 μm.

14. The substrate according to claim 1, wherein the at least one security element includes at least one of: an optically variable feature; a feature that is optically discernible in at least one of transmission and reflection; a machine-readable feature; a feature readable via one or more substances and a features that at least one of absorbs and re-emits electromagnetic waves.

15. The substrate according to claim 1, wherein the partial, reflective layer comprises at least one of (i) a metallic material, (ii) at least one high refractive index dielectric material having a refractive index larger than 1.65, (iii) a plurality of layers of metal oxides, and (iv) at least one metal material of printing inks or lacquers with metal pigments.

16. The substrate according to claim 1, wherein: the image formed by the partial, reflective layer is formed of a plurality of image elements, which are of different sizes and shapes; each image element of the plurality of image elements is formed by a continuous area of the partial, reflective layer, and the partial, reflective layer is interrupted between two image elements of the plurality of image elements.

17. The substrate according to claim 16, wherein: the image formed by the partial, reflective layer is a mosaic-like image; and the plurality of image elements correspond to different mosaics of the mosaic-like image.

18. The substrate according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of regions interrupting the partial, reflective layer, which are formed via removing a plurality of portions of the partial, reflective layer.

19. The substrate according to claim 1, wherein: the partial, reflective layer includes a plurality of non-spared regions; and a thickness of the partial, reflective layer is the same in all of the plurality of non-spared regions of the partial, reflective layer.

20. The substrate according to claim 1, wherein: the partial, reflective layer includes a plurality of non-spared regions; and a thickness of the partial, reflective layer is different in at least two of the plurality of non-spared regions of the partial, reflective layer.

21. The substrate according to claim 1, wherein: the at least one security element includes at least one additional layers; and the at least one additional layers includes at least one of a protective lacquer, a heat-sealing lacquer, an adhesive, a primer, and a film.

22. The substrate according to claim 1, wherein the carrier layer and the primer composed of the same material.

23. A paper of value or a security paper, comprising the substrate according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] These show in a respectively very simplified schematic representation:

[0043] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a substrate in a top view,

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment of a substrate in a top view,

[0045] FIG. 3 shows four cross-sections of the substrate from FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] First of all, it is to be noted that in the different embodiments described, equal parts are provided with equal reference numbers and/or equal component designations, where the disclosures contained in the entire description may be analogously transferred to equal parts with equal reference numbers and/or equal component designations. Moreover, the specifications of location, such as at the top, at the bottom, at the side, chosen in the description refer to the directly described and depicted figure and in case of a change of position, these specifications of location are to be analogously transferred to the new position.

[0047] FIG. 1 shows a substrate 1 for producing papers of value or security papers. In this regard, it is provided that the substrate 1 comprises a carrier layer 2 and at least one security element 3, wherein the security element 3 is applied onto and/or into the carrier layer 2, and wherein a primer 4 is applied onto a first substrate side 5 and/or a second substrate side 6 of the substrate 1 at least in some sections. In this regard, the primer 4 covers the security element 3 and/or the carrier layer 2 at least in some sections, wherein regions of the security elements 3 covered by the primer 4 are not as well visible as regions of the security element 3 not covered by the primer 4 and/or as regions of the carrier layer 2 not covered by the primer 4. Additionally, it is provided that the security element 3 is formed having a partial, reflective layer 7 forming an image. In this regard, it is possible that the image formed by the partial, reflective layer 7 is embodied as a mosaic-like image.

[0048] In this regard, the regions of the security element 3 covered by the primer 4 may not be visible from a top view and visible when looking through it, or the regions of the security element 3 covered by the primer 4 may be better visible when looking through than from a top view. The primer 4 may be applied by means of a printing method. Additionally, the primer 4 may be formed to be printable.

[0049] In particular, FIG. 1 shows a cutout and/or partial region of a sheet of a substrate 1 in a top view, wherein the substrate 1 may be either a polymer substrate or also a paper substrate. In this regard, the substrate 1 and/or the sheet is divided into zones by means of finely dashed lines, which zones mark the regions for papers of value and/or security papers that can be tailored from the substrate 1 and/or from the processed substrate 1. In both columns shown, security elements 3 embodied as security threads are shown. The primer 4 may partially cover the carrier layer 2 and/or the security element 3. Such a partial covering of a security element 3 embodied as a security thread is shown in the first column. The security thread, on which the number ten is reproduced repeatedly by means of a partial, reflective layer 7 forming an image, is, in this regard, alternatingly covered or not covered by the primer 4. In the covered regions, the number ten is perceived, in each case, as a shadow image and/or watermark, and in the regions that are not covered as a “normal” and/or conventional image or also as a mosaic-like image and/or raster image. Thus, two security effects may be realized by means of one and the same security element 3. Regions or sections not covered by the primer 4 are perceived as so-called windows 12 by an observer looking at the substrate 1 from above. If these windows 12 are only on one side of the substrate 1, said windows 12 are also referred to as half windows. If the regions not covered by the primer 4 are opposite one another, the windows 12 formed thereby are referred to as full windows. The primer 4 may, however, also cover the carrier layer 2 and/or the security element 3 over its entire surface and/or completely. Such a full-surface covering of a security element 3 embodied as a security thread is shown in the second column of FIG. 1. Here, as well, the security thread repeatedly shows the number ten by means of a partial, reflective layer 7 forming an image, wherein the entire security thread can be perceived by an observer as a shadow image and/or watermark. The primer 4 may also be formed to be diffusely scattering. In particular, the primer 4 may have a white color impression in daylight.

[0050] The carrier layer 2 may be produced from a plastic, in particular a translucent plastic, wherein the carrier layer 2 may preferably comprise at least one of the materials from the group of polyimide (PI), polypropylene (PP), monoaxially oriented polypropylene (MOPP), biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP), polyethylene (PE), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyetheretherketone, (PEEK) polyetherketone (PEK), polyethylene imide (PEI), polysulfone (PSU), polyaryletherketone (PAEK), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), liquid crystalline polymers (LCP), polyester, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamide (PA), polycarbonate (PC), cycloolefin copolymers (COC), polyoxymethylene (POM), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polyvinylchloride (PVC) ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyvinyl fluoride (PVF), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), and ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene-fluoropolymer (EFEP) and/or mixtures and/or copolymers and/or composite materials of these materials or may be made of at least one of these materials.

[0051] The at least one security element 3 or at least one further security element 3 may be formed having an optically variable feature, having a feature which is optically discernible in transmission or reflection, having a machine-readable feature and/or by means of substances and/or features absorbing or re-emitting electromagnetic waves.

[0052] The partial, reflective layer 7 forming an image may comprise at least one metallic material, in particular selected from the group of silver, copper, aluminum, gold, platinum, niobium, tin, or of nickel, titanium, vanadium, chromium, cobalt and palladium, or alloys of these materials, in particular cobalt-nickel alloys, or at least one high refractive index dielectric material having a refractive index of larger than 1.65, in particular selected from the group of zinc sulfide (ZnS), zinc oxide (ZnO), titanium dioxide (TiO.sub.2), carbon (C), indium oxide (In.sub.2O.sub.3), indium tin oxide (ITO), tantalum pentoxide (Ta.sub.2O.sub.5), cerium oxide (CeO.sub.2), yttrium oxide (Y.sub.2O.sub.3), europium oxide (Eu.sub.2O.sub.3), iron oxides such as iron (II,III) oxide (Fe.sub.3O.sub.4) and iron (III) oxide (Fe.sub.2O.sub.3), hafnium nitride (HfN), hafnium carbide (HfC), hafnium oxide (HfO.sub.2), lanthanum oxide (La.sub.2O.sub.3), magnesium oxide (MgO), neodymium oxide (Nd.sub.2O.sub.3), praseodymium oxide (Pr.sub.6O.sub.11), samarium oxide (Sm.sub.2O.sub.3), antimony trioxide (Se.sub.2O.sub.3), silicon carbide (SiC), silicon nitride (Si.sub.3N.sub.4), silicon monoxide (SiO), selenium trioxide (Se.sub.2O.sub.3), tin oxide (SnO.sub.2), tungsten trioxide (WO.sub.3), high refractive index organic monomers and/or high refractive index organic polymers, or layers of metal oxides, like, for example, non-stoichiometric aluminum oxide, copper oxides, or chromium oxides, and/or may be made of at least one metal material of printing inks or lacquers with metal pigments, in particular selected from the group of aluminum, silver, copper, gold, platinum, niobium, tin, or of nickel, titanium, vanadium, chromium, cobalt and palladium, or alloys of these materials, in particular cobalt-nickel alloys.

[0053] Here, an embodiment would also be conceivable and advantageous, in which the security element 3 is formed having a partial, reflective layer 7 forming an image, wherein the layer 7 has a region, which comprises a metal material and has a further region, which comprises an HRI material. In this regard, the primer 4 may cover that region which comprises a metal material and leaves that region which comprises the HRI material. In the application true to register, this may take place without a displacement perceptible for an observer and/or with a very good optical congruence with the region margins and/or transitions. When observing such an arrangement in reflection, the image in the window 12, that is in the spared region comprising an HRI material, may be perceptible to an observer and be invisible in the bridge region, that is the covered region comprising a metal material. When observing this arrangement in transmitted light, an opposite optical effect may be achievable. In this regard, the image in the spared region comprising an HRI material would be invisible to an observer, and the image in the bridge region, that is the covered region comprising a metal material, would be perceivable as a watermark. In this regard, the image may be a continuous motive, which consists of multiple differently formed regions, or the image may be formed by multiple motives, symbols, or the like, wherein each motive or symbol may be formed by a separate region.

[0054] The carrier layer 2 and the primer 4 may comprise the same material, in particular the same cellulose-fiber based material. This may be useful especially when the substrate 1 is a paper substrate. In this regard, the paper substrate may be manufactured from a pulp, that is a watery suspension comprising a cellulose material, in a—preferably continuous—method step. In this process, the carrier layer 2 may be produced, wherein the security element 3 may be introduced and/or blown in, for example, in the form of a security thread, on which security element 3 a primer 4 formed of the same pulp may simultaneously be 4 applied partially or over the entire surface. The primer 4, which may be formed of a paper like the carrier layer 2, may, in this process, be printed on subsequently during a printing of banknotes.

[0055] The image formed by the partial, reflective layer, which image repeatedly reproduces the number ten according to the example in FIG. 1, may be formed by image elements 10 of different sizes and shapes, wherein an image element 10 may be formed by a continuous area of the partial, reflective layer 7 forming the image, and wherein the partial, reflective layer 7 forming the image may be interrupted between two image elements 10. Here, it may be particularly advantageous if the image formed by the partial, reflective layer 7 is embodied as a mosaic-like image. It is also possible that image elements 10 of different sizes correspond to different mosaics of the mosaic-like image. The regions interrupting the partial, reflective layer 7 forming an image may be formed by removing the layer 7, particularly by means of demetallization.

[0056] The security element 3 may have one or multiple additional layers, which additional layers may comprise, in particular, protective lacquers, heat-sealing lacquers, adhesives, primers and/or films. The substrate 1, as well, may have one or multiple additional layers, as is sufficiently known to the person skilled in the art. Hence, it is also possible that the security element 3 and/or the carrier layer 2 and/or the primer 4 are covered by a cover layer at least in some sections, wherein regions of the security element 3 covered by the cover layer may not be as well visible can be regions of the security element 3 not covered by the cover layer and/or as regions of the carrier layer 2 not covered by the cover layer and/or as regions of the primer 4 not covered by the cover layer. This is true, particularly when the primer 4 is arranged, at least in some sections, between the carrier layer 2 and the security element 3.

[0057] From the substrate 1 according to the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1, a paper of value or security paper having at least one security element 3 comprising the substrate 1 can be produced, wherein the substrate 1 is formed according to one of the claims.

[0058] In FIG. 2, as well as FIGS. 3A to 3D, a further and possibly independent embodiment of the substrate 1 is shown, wherein equal reference numbers and/or designations are used for equal parts as in FIG. 1 above. The substrate 1 may, in particular, be a polymer substrate or a paper substrate. In order to avoid unnecessary repetitions, at this point, it is therefore pointed to/reference is made to the detailed description in FIG. 1.

[0059] FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment of the substrate in a top view 1, wherein, in particular, a region, marked by dashed lines, of a paper of value or security paper that can be tailored from the substrate 1 is shown. A security element 3 in the form of a security thread is applied onto the substrate 1, which repeatedly reproduces a motive in the form of a temple. For this purpose, the security element 3 is embodied having a partial, reflective layer 7 that forms an image. The primer 4 covers the carrier layer 2 over its full surface the security element 3 partially. At the locations where the security element 3 is partially covered by the primer 4, the motive and/or the temple shown appears as a watermark and/or shadow image.

[0060] FIGS. 3A to 3D shown four cross-sections of the substrate 1 from FIG. 2, wherein the respective sectioning positions in FIG. 2 are marked, at the corresponding points, by means of arrows and letters. By way of example, the primer 4 is applied only on the first substrate side 5. Of course, however, it would also be conceivable and possibly useful if the primer 4 is also applied, at least in some section, on the second substrate side 6. Of course, it is also conceivable that the security element 3 one or multiple additional layers, which additional layers may comprise, in particular, protective lacquers, heat-sealing lacquers, adhesives, primers and/or films. For the sake of simplicity, and also because the formation of such layers and their technical advantages are sufficiently known to experts, the representation and conceivable arrangements of said layers in the Figures is dispensed with.

[0061] FIGS. 3A to 3D show that the image formed by the partial, reflective layer 7 may be formed of image elements 10, which may be of different sizes and shapes, wherein an image element 10 is formed by a continuous area of the partial, reflective layer 7 forming the image, and wherein the partial, reflective layer 7 forming the image may be interrupted between two image elements 10. Here, it may also be particularly advantageous if the image formed by the partial, reflective layer 7 is embodied as a mosaic-like image. It is also possible that image elements 10 of different sizes correspond to different mosaics of the mosaic-like image. The regions interrupting the partial, reflective layer 7 forming an image may be formed by removing the layer 7, particularly by means of demetallization.

[0062] FIG. 3A shows a longitudinal section through the security element 3 formed as a security thread. The areas not covered by the primer 4 are embodied as windows 12. FIG. 3C shows a longitudinal section through the substrate 1 in that region which is formed without a security element 3, wherein the primer 4 covers the carrier layer 2 completely. FIG. 3B shows a section through the temple motive of the security element 3, wherein the primer 4 and the security element 3 are not covered here and thus, a window 12 is formed. In that window 12, the temple motive is perceivable as a raster image. FIG. 3D shows a section through the temple motive of the security element 3, wherein the primer 4 covers the security element 3 completely in this case. Here, the temple motive is identifiable as a high-resolution shadow image and/or watermark.

[0063] The carrier layer 2 may have a thickness 8 of 5 μm to 700 μm, preferably 30 μm to 150 μm, particularly preferably 50 μm to 125 μm, in particular 65 μm to 90 μm. The primer 4 may have a thickness 9 of 1 μm to 60 μm, preferably 5 μm to 50 μm, particularly preferably 7 μm to 45 μm, in particular 10 μm and 40 μm.

[0064] A thickness 11 of the partial, reflective layer 7 forming the image may be the same in all non-spared regions of the layer 7—as is shown by way of example in FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3D. However, it is also possible that a thickness 11 of the partial, reflective layer 7 forming the image is different in at least two of the non-spared regions of the layer 7, wherein this conceivable embodiment is not shown by a figure.

[0065] The exemplary embodiments show possible embodiment variants, and it should be noted in this respect that the disclosure is not restricted to these particular illustrated embodiment variants of it, but that rather also various combinations of the individual embodiment variants are possible and that this possibility of variation owing to the technical teaching provided by the present disclosure lies within the ability of the person skilled in the art in this technical field.

[0066] The scope of protection is determined by the claims. Nevertheless, the description and drawings are to be used for construing the claims. Individual features or feature combinations from the different exemplary embodiments shown and described may represent independent inventive solutions. The object underlying the independent inventive solutions may be gathered from the description.

[0067] All indications regarding ranges of values in the present description are to be understood such that these also comprise random and all partial ranges from it, for example, the indication 1 to 10 is to be understood such that it comprises all partial ranges based on the lower limit 1 and the upper limit 10, i.e. all partial ranges start with a lower limit of 1 or larger and end with an upper limit of 10 or less, for example 1 through 1.7, or 3.2 through 8.1, or 5.5 through 10.

[0068] Finally, as a matter of form, it should be noted that for ease of understanding of the structure, elements are partially not depicted to scale and/or are enlarged and/or are reduced in size.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0069] 1 Substrate [0070] 2 Carrier layer [0071] 3 Security element [0072] 4 Primer [0073] 5 First substrate side [0074] 6 Second substrate side [0075] 7 Layer [0076] 8 Thickness [0077] 9 Thickness [0078] 10 Image element [0079] 11 Thickness [0080] 12 Window