APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A SECURITY PRODUCT

• US 20100090455A1
• Filed: 11/15/2007
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: BASF SE
• Original Assignee: Ciba Corp (BASF SE)
• Inventors: Boswell, David R., Dicker, Mark Robert, Winton, Steven, Villeneuve, Sébastien
• Application Number:
  US12/515,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20100090455A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 283/57
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 11/02 for securities security printing B41M3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 2205/12 Preparation of material for subsequent imaging, e.g. corona treatment, simultaneous coating, pre-treatments
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/52 Macromolecular coatings
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 7/0045 using protective coatings or film forming compositions cured by mechanical wave energy, e.g. ultrasonics, cured by electromagnetic radiation or waves, e.g. ultraviolet radiation, electron beams, or cured by magnetic or electric fields, e.g. electric discharge, plasma
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 7/009 using thermal means, e.g. infrared radiation, heat
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/20 Optical effects
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/29 Securities; Bank notes
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/405 Marking

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of printing, an apparatus for printing and to products obtained therefrom. In particular, the present invention relates to optically variable images, or devices applied to a substrate, such as a hologram, kinegram and the like. More particularly, the present invention concerns sub-microscopic, holographic, electron beam, mechanically ruled or other diffraction or straight line gratings.

Claims

1. An apparatus for forming a (security) product comprising a printing press and optically variable image forming means, wherein the optically variable image forming means comprise

a) a transparent carrier,

b) a transparent material which carries an optically variable image to be applied, and

c) means to dry or cure a varnish.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the transparent carrier is a cylinder, a belt or a plate.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the optically variable image forming means comprise

a) a transparent cylinder of quartz,

b) a transparent plastic material carrying the optically variable image to be applied, which is mounted on the surface of the quartz cylinder,

(c) means to dry or cure the varnish arranged within the transparent cylinder;

or

a) a transparent polyester belt,

b) a transparent plastic material carrying the optically variable image to be applied, which is mounted on the surface of the polyester belt,

(c) means to dry or cure the varnish arranged within the transparent cylinder.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the printing press comprises any one or more of a feed system;

means to carry an image to be printed;

means to apply an ink to;

means to dry or cure the ink; and

means to carry a printed security product.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the printing press comprises in line, the optically variable image forming means to transfer the optically variable image to a substrate.

6. A method for forming an optically variable image on a substrate comprising the steps of:

A) applying a curable compound, or composition to at least a portion of the substrate;

B) contacting at least a portion of the curable compound with optically variable image forming means;

C) curing the curable compound and

D) optionally depositing a metallic ink on at least a portion of the cured compound, wherein the optically variable image forming means comprise

a) a transparent carrier,

b) a transparent material which carrys an optically variable image to be applied, and

c) means to dry or cure a varnish.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the optically variable image forming means comprise

a) a transparent cylinder of quartz,

b) a transparent plastic material carrying the optically variable image to be applied, which is mounted on the surface of the quartz cylinder,

(c) means to dry or cure the varnish arranged within the transparent cylinder.

8. The method as claimed in claims 6, wherein a colored, or metallic ink is deposited on a substrate, on which the optically variable image is formed;

before forming the optically variable image on at least a portion of the colored, or metallic ink.

9. A method as claimed in any one of claim 6, wherein the substrate is a non-transparent (opaque) sheet material.

10. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the curable composition is a lacquer.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the curable composition is deposited by means of gravure or flexographic printing.

12. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the curable lacquer is cured by means of an ultraviolet (U.V.) light or an electron beam.

13. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the metallic ink comprises any one or more metal selected from the group comprising aluminium, stainless steel, nichrome, gold, silver, platinum and copper.

14. A (security) product obtained by the method as claimed in claim 6.

15. The (security) product as claimed in claim 14, which is a banknote, an identification document, a pharmaceutical, apparel, software, a compact disc or tobacco.

16. Optically variable image forming means, comprising

a) a transparent carrier,

b) a transparent material which carries an optically variable image to be applied, and

c) means to dry or cure a varnish.

17. The optically variable image forming means as claimed in claim 16 wherein the transparent carrier is a cylinder, a belt or a plate.

18. The optically variable image forming means as claimed in claim 16 wherein the optically variable image forming means comprise

a) a transparent cylinder of quartz,

b) a transparent plastic material carrying the optically variable image to be applied, which is mounted on the surface of the quartz cylinder,

(c) means to dry or cure the varnish arranged within the transparent cylinder;

or

a) a transparent polyester belt,

b) a transparent plastic material carrying the optically variable image to be applied, which is mounted on the surface of the polyester belt,

(c) means to dry or cure the varnish arranged within the transparent cylinder.