EP1878589A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: EP1878589A1
Application number: EP06116927A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Maila Korhonen; Vesa Haapa-Aho; Toni Kaskiala
Original assignee: Setec Oy; Gemalto Oy
Current assignee: Gemalto Oy
Priority date: 2006-07-11
Filing date: 2006-07-11
Publication date: 2008-01-16
Anticipated expiration: 2026-07-11
Also published as: ATE434530T1; DK1878589T3; NO20090601L; WO2008006942A1; BRPI0714183A2; EP1878589B1; DE602006007460D1; NO339782B1; MX2009000381A; WO2008006942A8; ZA200900100B; BRPI0714183B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing an information page (1) for a security document, said method comprising: producing an information part (3) for said information page, and producing a flexible and bending resistant attachment part (2) by utilizing a material (5) having a net-like structure, and attaching said attachment part to said information part (3). In order to obtain an information page with desired properties said material (5) having a net-like structure is, during manufacture, supported by attaching (D) a support layer (6) to the material (5) having a net-like structure.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information page for a security document, such as a passport.

2. Description of Prior Art

Properties required from an information page of a security document are partly contradictory. First, the structure of an information part of the information page should make it impossible for a forger to disassemble the information part. A further requirement is that at least some of the information of the information page can be entered thereto by utilizing laser engraving. In order to achieve these goals, in practice the information part has to be manufactured of a material whose bending properties and bending resistance are poor.

However, an information page should have good bending properties as well as good bending resistance. Consequently, it is necessary to fasten a flexible and bending durable connecting part to the information part so as to enable the information page to be connected to the security document. In order to achieve a sufficient security level, the information part of the information page is to be connected to the connecting part in a manner not allowing these parts to be detached from one another without leaving visible marks to reveal this.

A solution is previously known where a material having a net-like structure is utilized in producing an attachment part. Advantages obtained with such a solution are good bending properties and a good bending durability. However, a drawback with this solution is that the material having a net-like structure is more difficult to handle during the manufacturing process of the information page, since even relatively small undesired stretching of the material leads to changes in shape or breakages of the material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to solve the above mentioned drawback and to provide a solution which makes it possible to obtain an information page with desired properties. This object is achieved with a method of producing an information page according toindependent claim 1 and with an information page according toindependent claim 8.

In the present invention, a support layer is used for supporting the material having a net-like structure. This support layer is attached to the material having a net-like structure during the manufacturing process in order to obtain an attachment part which is easier to handle during subsequent manufacturing steps and which ensures that the produced information page has the desired properties. Also after the production process during use of the security document, the support layer provides support for the material having a net-like structure.

Preferred embodiments of the method and information page are disclosed independent claims 2 to 7, 9 and 10.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, the present invention will be described in closer detail by way of example and with reference to the attached drawings, in which

Figure 1 shows a security document with an information page according to the invention,
Figure 2 illustrates a first embodiment of the invention,
Figure 3 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention,
Figure 4 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention, and
Figure 5 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF AT LEAST ONE EMBODIMENT

Figure 1 shows aninformation page 1 according to the invention, which has been connected to a security document. In the example of Figure 1, the security document is a passport whereto theinformation page 1 has been fastened by means of its connectingpart 2. Theinformation page 1 can be fastened to the security document e.g. by means of a stitch, i.e. in the same manner as other pages included in the security document.

An upper surface of aninformation part 3 of the information page shows identification information provided on the information page, such as the name, date of birth, photograph, et cetera of the passport owner. Some of the information may have been entered utilizing e.g. laser engraving technology while some of the information may have been entered utilizing a printing ink.

Figure 2 illustrates a first embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 shows steps A to F for producing an information page.

In steps A and B aninformation part 3 is produced. In this embodiment, the information part is manufactured by arranging at least twomaterial sheets 4 on top of each other and by attaching these sheets to each other at a raised temperature by laminating. A suitable material for thesheets 4 is polycarbonate (PC), for instance. In such a case, at least one of thesheets 4 is preferably made of clear carbonized polycarbonate. Thus, energy originating from a laser beam causes the plastic material to darken at points at which energy has been directed. Consequently, desired information can be written and drawn by laser engraving to the information page. After lamination, auniform information part 3 is obtained.

It is shown by way of example in connection with steps A and B of Figure 2 that theinformation part 3 is produced to have a step in the lower left corner. Though such a step makes it possible to produce an information page with a smooth lower surface in Figure 2, as the attachment part can be received in the step, this step is not absolutely necessary. In the example of Figure 2, the step is produced by attaching to eachother material sheets 4 of different sizes. This is, however, only one alternative. Another alternative is to utilize material sheets of a corresponding size, preferably of a size which is sufficient to produce a plurality of information parts. In such a case, the sheets are attached to each other by laminating. After lamination, the attached sheets are cut down into a plurality of information parts. Finally, the single information parts are processed in a suitable manner to produce a step as shown in Figure 2. A prior art solution for such processing in order to achieve a step in the information part is known from EP-A-1380442, for instance.
In step C, amaterial 5 having a net-like structure is put to use. The term "net-like structure" refers to a material layer with holes through it, such as to a perforated sheet, to a fabric or to a woven material layer consisting of a plurality of intersecting threads. In order to make it easier to handle thematerial 5 having a net-like structure, asupport layer 6 is placed on top of it. Thesupport layer 6 is then attached to thematerial 5 having a net-like structure by laminatinglayers 5 and 6 to each other, for instance. If lamination is used, the lamination process can be carried out with a hot roll laminator, for instance. During the attachment step, the size of thematerial layers 5 and 6 is preferably sufficient to produce a plurality of attachment parts for a plurality of information pages. Examples of materials suitable forlayers 5 and 6 include a polyester fabric (woven) for thematerial 5 having a net-like structure and a copolyester film for thesupport layer 6.
In connection with step C, a predetermined pattern or text can be printed on one of thelayers 5 or 6 before or after these layers have been attached to each other. In such a case, the attachment part will have a pattern or a text when the manufacturing process is completed. If a forger attempts to manipulate the attachment part in order to change the information page of the security document, for instance, such an attempt is easier to detect since the printed pattern or text may change its shape during the attempted forgery.
In order to avoid practical difficulties while printing on the material having a net-like structure, the printing is preferably provided on thesupport layer 6 instead. One preferred alternative is to print on the surface of thesupport layer 6 which comes in contact with thematerial 5 having a net-like structure aslayers 5 and 6 are attached to each other. In such a case, at least one of thelayers 5 or 6 has to be transparent in order for the printed pattern to be visible. One alternative is to utilize a combination of white polyester as the material having a net-like structure and a transparent copolyester film as the support layer, for instance.
In step D, the layer consisting of thematerial 5 having a net-like structure and of thesupport layer 6 is cut into a plurality ofattachment parts 2 each having a predetermined shape. Therefore, the size of thesupport layer 6 is substantially the same as the size of thematerial 5 having a net-like structure.
In step E, one of theattachment parts 2 is placed against the surface of theinformation part 3, and theattachment part 2 is attached to the information part. The attachment can be carried out by raising the temperature in the area indicated byarrows 7 for instance in a laminating phase or in a welding phase. Practice has shown that a very advantageous way of attaching theattachment part 2 to theinformation part 3 is ultrasonic welding. Preferably, thesupport layer 6 is thick enough to give support to thelayer 5 during manufacture, but thin enough to let the material of the information part 3 (polycarbonat, for instance) partially penetrate through it to the holes of thelayer 5 while the attachment part is being attached to the information part (during ultrasonic welding, for instance). This is achieved by using alayer 5 with a thickness of 250 µm and alayer 6 with a thickness of 75 µm, for instance.
In a preferred embodiment, a tool which is pressed against the surface of theattachment part 2 at the location of thearrows 7 in order to apply heat to theattachment part 2 may be shaped in a predetermined shape. In such a case, a predetermined surface pattern is created on the surface of theattachment part 2, which makes forgery even more difficult.
After step E, the manufacturing process may end, as the information page is ready to be attached to a security document. However, in a preferred embodiment, asurface layer 8 may still be attached to the information page in an additional step F. One alternative is to use a surface layer made of a transparent or non-transparent polyester (PET), for instance. Thesurface layer 8 preferably covers at least aseam 9 between theinformation part 3 and theattachment part 2. If a transparent material is used for thesurface layer 8, one advantage is that a forgery attempt to break theseam 9 between theinformation part 3 and theattachment part 2 is easier to detect, since theseam 9 is visible through the transparent surface layer.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention asurface 10 of theinformation part 3 to which theattachment part 2 is to be attached may be shaped to have a predetermined shape including protrusions, grooves or cavities, for instance. This improves the attachment of theattachment part 2 to this surface during welding, for instance.
Figure 3 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention. More precisely, Figure 3 shows an information page 1', which is very similar to the one shown in connection with step F in Figure 2 and which is manufactured in a way similar to that shown in Figure 2.
A difference between the embodiment in Figure 3 and the embodiment of Figure 2 is that thelayers 5 and 6 are arranged in a different order. In this embodiment, thematerial 5 having a net-like structure is on top of thesupport layer 6 while in the embodiment of Figure 2 the order is opposite. The information page 1' can be manufactured exactly as explained in connection with Figure 2, with the exception that in step E theattachment part 2 is arranged in an upside down position, as compared to that illustrated in connection with step E in Figure 2.
The information page 1' in Figure 3 is shown to have asimilar surface layer 8 to that shown in Figure 2. However, as in Figure 2, it is not absolutely necessary to have such asurface layer 8 in the embodiment of Figure 3.
Figure 4 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention. The embodiment of Figure 4 is in several ways similar to the one explained in connection with Figure 2, and therefore the embodiment of Figure 4 is mainly explained by pointing out the differences between these embodiments.
Steps A' and B' for manufacturing theinformation part 3 correspond to steps A and B described in connection with Figure 2.
In step C', the attachment part consists of thematerial 5 having a net-like structure alone, and this material is attached to theinformation part 3. The attachment can be carried out by laminating or welding, for instance.
In step D', asupport layer 6 is attached to thematerial 5 having a net-like structure. The attachment can be carried out by laminating or welding, for instance.
In step E', layers 5 and 6 are cut in order to obtain an attachment part with a predetermined shape. Thesupport layer 6 supports thematerial 5 having a net-like structure during cutting in order to ensure that thelayer 5 does not change its shape or break during the cutting. In addition, step E' may include attachment of asurface layer 8 to cover at least theseam 9 between the attachment part and the information part 1'. However, such a surface layer is not absolutely necessary.
Figure 5 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the invention. Theinformation page 1" shown in Figure 5 mainly corresponds to the previously described embodiments. However, in the case of Figure 5, theattachment part 2 is arranged to penetrate into the material of theinformation part 3, instead of laying against the top or bottom surface of the information part as in the previous embodiments. Thelayers 5 and 6 of the attachment part can be arranged as shown in Figure 5 or, alternatively, in an opposite order, in which case thelayer 6 is on top of thelayer 5.
The manufacture of theinformation page 1" of Figure 5 can be carried out by first producing theattachment part 2 as shown in steps C and D of Figure 2, for instance. Then, theattachment part 2 is arranged to penetrate between sheets which, after lamination, form theinformation part 3. In that position, the sheets are laminated to each other and to theattachment part 2.
It is to be understood that the above description and the accompanying figures are only intended to illustrate the present invention. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the invention can be varied and modified also in other ways without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

A method for producing an information page (1, 1', 1") for a security document, said method comprising:
producing an information part (3) for said information page, and
producing a flexible and bending resistant attachment part (2) by utilizing a material (5) having a net-like structure, and
attaching said attachment part to said information part (3),
characterized in
supporting, during manufacture of said information page (1, 1',1"), said material (5) having a net-like structure by attaching (D, D') a support layer (6) to the material (5) having a net-like structure.
A method according to claim 1,characterized in that said support layer (6) is attached (D) to the material (5) having a net-like structure prior to attaching (E) said attachment part (2) to the information part (3).
A method according to claim 1,characterized in that
said attachment part with a material (5) having a net-like structure is attached (C') to the information part (3) prior to attaching (D') said support layer (6) to the material (5) having a net-like structure, and
said attachment part is cut (E') into a predetermined shape after said support layer (6) is attached (D') to the material (5) having a net-like structure.
A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3,characterized in that said method comprises printing a predetermined pattern or text on said material (5) having a net-like structure or on said support layer (6).
A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4,characterized in that said method comprises attaching (F, E') a surface layer (8) to said information page (1, 1') to cover at least a seam (9) between said information part (3) and said attachment part (2).
A method as claimed in claim 5,characterized in that said surface layer (8) is made of a transparent material.
A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6,characterized in that said attachment part (2) is attached to said information part (3) by ultrasonic welding.
An information page (1, 1', 1") for a security document, said information page comprising:
an information part (3), and
an attachment part (2) for attaching said information page to said security document, and which attachment part (2) is attached to said information part (3), said attachment part (2) comprising a material (5) having a net-like structure,characterized in that
said attachment part (2) comprises a support layer (6) which is attached to said material (5) having a net-like structure and which is of substantially the same size as said material (5) having a net-like structure.
An information page as claimed in claim 8,characterized in that said information page (1) comprises a surface layer (8) covering at least a seam (9) between said information part (3) and said attachment part (2).
An information part as claimed in claim 8 or 9,characterized in that said attachment part (2) is provided with a predetermined pattern or text.