Method of making laminated plastic cards

• US 4,096,015 A
• Filed: 07/12/1976
• Issued: 06/20/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kawamata, Toshio, Inaba, Yutaka, Morishita, Shigeru, Shiroishi, Kuniyasu
• Primary Examiner(s): Klein, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wityshyn, M. G.
• Application Number:
  US05/704,402
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 156/273, 156/272, 156/298, 156/300, 156/309, 156/277, 40/2.2, 283/7, 428/67, 428/212, 428/217, 428/916
• US Class Current: 156/274.4
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2035/0811 using induction
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2038/0064 Smoothing, polishing, making a glossy surface
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2305/34 Inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2310/028 using vibration, e.g. sonic or ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2425/00 Cards, e.g. identity cards, credit cards
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/06 characterised by the heating method
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/185 Laminating sheets, panels or inserts between two discrete plastic layers
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/00 Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof printing processes to produce identification or security features B41M3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/23 Identity cards
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/309 Photographs
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/455 using heat
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/46 using pressure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/901 Printed circuit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/916 Fraud or tamper detecting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1093 with covering of discrete laminae with additional lamina

Abstract

At least one thermoplastic sheet is interposed between a pair of transparent thermoplastic cover sheets with a photograph interposed between the cover sheet and the thermoplastic sheet. The sheet assembly together with the photograph is pressed between a pair of flat electrodes of a high-frequency dielectric heating device. Then, the assembly is subjected to high-frequency dielectric heating.

Claims

1. A method of making a laminated plastic card of a uniform thickness having an identification member interposed between layers thereof comprising the steps of:

interposing at least one thermoplastic sheet between a pair of thermoplastic cover sheets, at least one of said pair of thermoplastic cover sheets being transparent,

inserting an identification member having smaller surface dimensions than said sheets and smaller thickness than the total thickness of said sheets between said at least one transparent cover sheet and said sheet interposed between said cover sheets,

sandwiching said sheets and member between a pair of flat electrodes of a high-frequency dielectric heating device,

exerting a pressure uniformly on the sheets and member with said electrodes, and

applying a high-frequency wave to the electrodes to heat the sheets and member from inside,

said thermoplastic sheet interposed between the cover sheets being made of a material which is more easily softened by high-frequency dielectric heating than the material of which said cover sheets are made.

2. A method of making a laminated plastic card as defined in claim 1 wherein three thermoplastic sheets are interposed between a pair of thermoplastic cover sheets, and the central sheet interposed betweenthe other sheets of said three thermoplastic sheets is made of a material which is more easily softened by high-frequency dielectric heating than the material of which said the other sheets of said three thermoplastic sheets are made.

3. A method of making a laminated plastic card as defined in claim 2 wherein the outer surface of at least one of said other sheets is provided with printed information.

4. A method of making a laminated plastic card as defined in claim 1 wherein said identification member is a photograph having a thickness of not larger than 250 microns.

5. A method of making a laminated plastic card as defined in claim 4 wherein said photograph has surface irregularities.

6. A method of making a laminated plastic card as defined in claim 1 wherein the inside surface of at least one of said cover sheets is provided with printed information.