Producing an optical security element

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method for supplying an optical security element in a value document, as well as to an accordingly devised apparatus for adjusting an optical security element as well as to the value document per se. According to the invention a method is proposed which makes it possible to supply a known optical security element in an especially simple technical way, without a vapor deposition of embossed structures being necessary in this connection. Further the present invention is directed to a computer program product having control commands, which executes the method or operates the proposed apparatus.

Claims

1. A method for supplying an optical security element in a value document, having: supplying a foil stack having two consecutive transparent foils, laminating the foil stack for supplying a card body, wherein a silver ink and at least one structure layer are incorporated at the two transparent foils such that in interaction with the two transparent foils, the optical security element has a three-dimensional optical impression upon viewing, and wherein the silver ink is incorporated into the at least one structure layer.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the structure layer is supplied by means of a relief lacquer and/or an embossed layer.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein an effect ink is incorporated between the transparent foils.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the structure layer is configured to be transparent or semi-transparent.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the structure layer is configured as glazing in color.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the structure layer is provided as an embossed foil.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the structure layer is supplied using relief printing.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the silver ink is incorporated into the card stack above or below the structure layer.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the optical security element is generated by means of the silver ink and/or by means of the structure layer.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein an outer transparent foil is configured with respect to the card body as a protective layer.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the silver ink is incorporated by means of screen printing technology.

12. A value document formed from a laminated foil stack forming a card body having an optical security element, having two consecutive transparent foils, wherein a silver ink and at least one structure layer are incorporated at the two transparent foils such that in interaction with the two transparent foils, the optical security element has a three-dimensional optical impression upon viewing, and wherein the silver ink is incorporated into the at least one structure layer.

13. An apparatus for supplying an optical security element in a value document, having: a supplying unit devised for supplying a foil stack having two consecutive transparent foils, a lamination unit devised for laminating the foil stack for supplying a card body, wherein a silver ink and at least one structure layer are incorporated at the two transparent foils such that in interaction with the two transparent foils, the optical security element has a three-dimensional optical impression upon viewing, and wherein the silver ink is incorporated into the at least one structure layer.

14. A computer program product having control commands which implement the method according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantageous embodiments are explained in more detail on the basis of the enclosed figures. There are shown:

(2) FIG. 1: an advantageous layer construction for generating an optical security element according to an aspect of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2: an advantageous layer construction for generating an optical security element according to a further aspect of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 3: a layer construction according to a further arrangement according to an aspect of the present invention;

(5) FIG. 4: an arrangement which provides an embossed structure according to a further aspect of the present invention;

(6) FIG. 5: a varied arrangement of the embossed structure according to a further aspect of the present invention;

(7) FIG. 6: the arrangement according to the invention with an embossed structure of the optical security element according to an aspect of the present invention;

(8) FIG. 7: a further arrangement of features according to the invention between a transparent and an opaque layer according to an aspect of the present invention;

(9) FIG. 8-12: respectively a further arrangement of features according to the invention according to a further aspect of the present invention; and

(10) FIG. 13: a flowchart of a method for supplying an optical security element according to one aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

(11) FIG. 1 shows an laminated foil element having a transparent emboss lacquer which, for example, is laminated on a polycarbonate foil having previously printed silver. In this connection it is possible, for example, to partially demetallize the silver region by means of a laser. In the present FIG. 1, and unless stated otherwise in the further figures, a layer construction is indicated for which a front side of a card body is displayed above and a back side below. Consequently the representation is thus a cross-section along at least a section of e.g. a chip card or a credit card or an identification card or in general a value document. In this connection five layers are displayed in the present case by way of example, wherein the two uppermost and two lowermost layers are configured transparently. The middle layer is an opaque layer. An opaque layer can act as a carrier layer in this connection.

(12) It is especially advantageous in the proposed construction that the continuous line between the uppermost and second transparent layer is a silver ink or an effect ink. The dashed line is a relief print. In the present case the silver ink is thus displayed as a continuous line below the uppermost transparent layer. Further, below the uppermost transparent layer, a structure layer, which resulted from a relief print, is drawn in by means of the dashed line. Consequently the silver ink and the structure layer thus form the desired optical security element having a three-dimensional optical impression upon viewing, e.g. a hologram.

(13) The optical security element is therefore perceptible from outside the card body, because the transparent layers are arranged on a front side of the card body and are not covered by a further layer.

(14) FIG. 2 shows a similar arrangement as is shown in FIG. 1, wherein now the silver ink, in the present case drawn in by means of a continuous line, is attached to the second foil from above, and the relief print, the present case drawn in by means of the dashed line, is attached to the first transparent foil. In contrast to this, FIG. 1 shows that both the relief print as well as the silver ink are arranged on the second foil from above. Consequently it is advantageous according to FIG. 2 that the uppermost transparent foil can be printed by means of relief print and independently thereof silver ink can be attached to the second-uppermost foil. Consequently the uppermost foil and the second uppermost foil can thus be supplied independently from each other and be laminated to each other in a subsequent method step. In this connection the skilled person recognizes that the relief print pre-specifies a certain pattern and the silver ink brings about a reflection. As a result of this, the desired optical security element arises.

(15) FIG. 3 in turn shows a varied application, wherein now the silver ink or the effect ink is attached to the uppermost transparent foil. The relief print is attached to the second foil from above.

(16) FIG. 4 now shows an analog representation, wherein the now dashed line is an embossed structure which brings about the desired pattern of the optical security element.

(17) FIG. 5 shows a similar embodiment as is shown in FIG. 4, wherein, however, the arrangement of the silver ink or effect ink and that of the embossed structure is inverted, so that now the silver ink is attached to the uppermost transparent layer.

(18) FIG. 6 shows an embodiment example in which the dashed line is an embossed structure of the optical security element.

(19) FIG. 7 shows an analog arrangement, wherein the continuous line is a silver ink or an effect ink and a relief print is attached hereupon. As is evident in the present FIG. 7, the silver ink or the structure layer is now attached to the two transparent foils such that these elements are attached below the two foils and in addition the opaque layer is used for this.

(20) FIG. 8 shows an analog arrangement to FIG. 7 and shows with the continuous line the silver ink or the effect ink, and with the dashed line the relief print.

(21) FIG. 9 shows an alternative embodiment, wherein the continuous line shows the silver ink or the effect ink and the dashed line the relief print. Here, too, those elements which supply the optical security element are arranged below the transparent foils, wherein the silver ink or the effect ink is arranged on a transparent foil and the relief print on the opaque foil.

(22) FIG. 10 shows an alternative embodiment, wherein the continuous line shows the silver ink or the effect ink and the dashed line an embossed structure.

(23) FIG. 11 shows, by means of the continuous line, a silver ink or an effect ink and, by means of the dashed line, an embossed structure, wherein the arrangement of the two elements with respect to FIG. 10 is inverted.

(24) FIG. 12 shows, by means of the continuous line, a silver ink and, by means of the dashed line, an embossed structure of the optical security element, e.g. of a hologram.

(25) Consequently a plurality of possibilities is taught to the skilled person how he or she can arrange the silver ink or the structure layer with respect to the transparent foils. This, however, is not an exhaustive enumeration, but rather the average skilled person recognizes further possibilities how he or she arranges the silver ink and the at least one structure layer with respect to the transparent foils to create a very appealing or forgery-proof optical security element.

(26) FIG. 13 shows a flowchart of a method for supplying an optical security element, e.g. a hologram, in a value document with low technical effort, with a supplying 100 of a foil stack having two consecutive transparent foils, a laminating 101 of the foil stack for supplying a card body, wherein at the two transparent foils a silver ink is incorporated 100A and at least one structure layer is incorporated 100B such that in the interaction with the two transparent foils, the optical security element has a three-dimensional optical impression upon viewing 102.