Method for changing an edge of a portable card-shaped data carrier

Abstract

A method for changing a geometry of an edge of a portable data carrier, wherein the geometry of the edge is changed in order to work on the edge and the outer side of the data carrier proceeding from a common side, without a spatial location of the data carrier being changed.

Claims

1. A method for changing a geometry of an edge of a portable data carrier, the method comprising: changing the geometry of the edge of the portable data carrier by removing material of the edge, the changed edge comprising at least four edge segments defining a perimeter of an outer side of the data carrier; and marking the changed edge and the outer side of the data carrier without a spatial location of the data carrier being changed; wherein the geometry of the edge is changed in order to mark the edge and the outer side of the data carrier proceeding from a common side, without the spatial location of the data carrier being changed; wherein the portable data carrier comprises at least two foil layers, the changed geometry of the edge extending through each of the at least two foil layers; wherein the changed edge and the outer side of the data carrier are marked in the same marking operation; and wherein a geometric form of at least one of the at least four edge segments varies relative to a geometric form of another of the at least four edge segments.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the edge is marked by printing the edge by means of a printing method.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the edge is marked by marking the edge by means of a laser method.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the geometry of the edge is changed such that it is diagonal and/or circular with regard to the outer side of the data carrier.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein a data carrier is employed which has in its interior at least one white foil and an overlay foil as an outermost foil.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the changed geometry of the edge extends through a total height of the data carrier.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the changed geometry of the edge extends through only a part of a total height of the data carrier.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the changed geometry of the edge includes a bevel formed on the outer side of the data carrier and an opposing side.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the changed geometry of the edge includes a rounded form.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the geometric form passes from a circular form to a beveled form.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the changed geometry of the edge includes a rounded form and a beveled form.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the geometric form of the at least one of the four edge segments varies relative to a geometric form of another of the four edge segments prior to the marking of the changed edge.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the geometric form of at least two of the four edge segments varies relative to a geometric form of another of the four edge segments.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the geometric form of each of the four edge segments varies relative to a geometric form of each of the other edge segments.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the changed edge comprises at least six edge segments defining the perimeter of the outer side of the data carrier.

16. A method for changing a geometry of an edge of a portable data carrier, the method comprising: changing the geometry of the edge of the portable data carrier by removing material of the edge, the changed edge comprising four edge segments defining a perimeter of an outer side of the data carrier; and marking both the changed edge and the outer side of the data carrier from a common side without a spatial location of the data carrier being changed; wherein the portable data carrier comprises at least two foil layers, the changed geometry of the edge extending through each of the at least two foil layers; wherein the changed edge and the outer side of the data carrier are marked in the same printing operation; and wherein a geometric form of at least one of the four edge segments varies along the outer side of the data carrier.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the geometric form of at least two of the four edge segments varies along the outer side of the data carrier.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the geometric form of each of the four edge segments varies along the outer side of the data carrier.

19. A method for changing a geometry of an edge of a portable data carrier, the method comprising: changing the geometry of the edge of the portable data carrier by removing material of the edge; and marking the changed edge and an outer side of the data carrier without a spatial location of the data carrier being changed; wherein the geometry of the edge is changed in order to mark the edge and the outer side of the data carrier proceeding from a common side, without the spatial location of the data carrier being changed; wherein the portable data carrier comprises at least two foil layers, the changed geometry of the edge extending through each of the at least two foil layers; wherein the changed edge and the outer side of the data carrier are marked in the same marking operation; and wherein the changed edge has a geometric form which varies along the outer side of the data carrier and passes from a circular form to a beveled form.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a schematic construction of a card-shaped data carrier according to prior art in cross section.

(2) FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 show respectively a construction of a data carrier according to the invention having different geometrical edge forms in cross section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

(3) FIG. 1 shows a card-shaped data carrier 2 according to prior art. The data carrier 2 comprises in the interior of the data carrier 2 e.g. two white foils 4. The white foil 4 is a dyed foil as it is commercially available. On the two outer sides of the composite, consisting of the two white foils 4, respectively an overlay foil 6 and 8 is arranged as an outermost foil layer. To e.g. print or mark the circumferential edge, it is necessary that the portable data carrier is moved such that the edge can be worked on, e.g. by means of a printing method or laser method. This is very elaborate and represents a disadvantage of the prior art, which is overcome by the present invention.

(4) The FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 disclose respectively an embodiment example of a card-shaped data carrier 12 according to the invention having different geometrical form of an edge 24. The data carrier 12 according to the invention has two white foils 14 in its interior. A first overlay foil 16 is arranged on an upper side of the upper white foil 14. A second overlay foil 18 is arranged on an underside of the lower white foil 14. The geometrical form of the edge 24 is represented as a dashed line. The geometrical form of the edge 24 can be configured during and/or after the manufacturing of the portable data carrier 12. For this purpose, for example, mechanical methods, e.g. a milling method, are suited, or a laser method or any other suitable method to generate the geometrical form of the edge 24. The edge 24 can be printed, e.g. to create a colored border of the portable data carrier. As a further alternative, the edge 24 can e.g. be marked or personalized by means of a laser, to write e.g. user-specific data on the edge 24 of the portable data carrier 12. The effect essential to the invention is that through the geometrical form of the edge 24, at least one outer side 26, 28 as well as the edge 24 itself can e.g. be printed and/or be marked by means of a laser, without the spatial location of the portable data carrier having to be changed. A further advantage of the invention is that the edge 24 can also be manufactured and worked on after the manufacturing of the portable data carrier 12, e.g. printed and/or marked or personalized by means of a laser.

(5) A further advantage of the invention is that the geometrical form of the edge 24 of the data carrier 12 leaves an optical impression upon viewing the data carrier 12 so that when a viewer views an outer side 26, 28 of the data carrier 12, the viewer then simultaneously sees the edge 24 and thus obtains moreover an optical impression of an e.g. colored and/or personalized edge 24 of the data carrier 12. There are different possibilities for the geometrical form of the edge 24. By way of example there are stated in the FIGS. 2 and 3 a form beveled on one side, in FIG. 4 a form beveled on both sides, and in FIG. 5 a rounded form. FIG. 2 shows how the edge 24 extends over the total height of the portable data carrier 12 and all foils of the data carrier 12, and FIG. 3 shows how the edge 24 extends only over a part of the foils or the height of the data carrier 12. All other suitable geometrical forms are likewise possible for the edge 24. Further, it is possible that the edge 24 keeps or changes the geometrical form in its course along the first and second outer side 26 and 28 so that e.g. a circular form passes into a beveled one.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(6) 2 card-shaped data carrier according to the prior art

(7) 4 white foil

(8) 6 overlay foil

(9) 8 overlay foil

(10) 12 card-shaped data carrier according to the invention

(11) 14 white foil

(12) 16 overlay foil

(13) 18 overlay foil

(14) 24 geometrical form of the edge

(15) 26 first outer side

(16) 28 second outer side