EP0522217B2 - Fiduciary document or security document bearing an anti-forgery device and process for the manufacture of such a document - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to fiduciary documents or security, especially documents having an anti-counterfeiting device. The documents concerned are all documents of value or trustees who, because of their nature or rights that they may confer, must be protected from counterfeits, falsifications or reproductions. This is so by example of titles, checks and traveller's checks, stamps, credit cards, vouchers or security documents such as identity cards, passports ..., this list is not exhaustive.

It has already been proposed to use a metallic wire totally or alternatively integrated in the paper of a document, said thread being able to be coded thanks to a discontinuous coating of a material wire non-ferromagnetic by a ferromagnetic material (see for example English patents N ° 1,095,286 and No. 1,127,043).

This technique has been used for a long time, but it invariably remains associated with authentication of the document by a specially detector adapted to the wire concerned, and does not allow to resist effectively to a photocopy of the document: the image of the wire remains extremely thin, and not only draws little attention by examining the naked eye, but provides a reflective surface extremely weak with little impact on reprography of the document.

We have also proposed various techniques using special inks, especially so-called changing effect inks, allowing example of going from a blue color to a green color depending on the inclination of the document, or more inks showing a color only under a certain irradiation (radiation UV for example). We could for example refer to American patent N 4 175 776 and to European patents N 0 327 788 and N 0 0 340 163. These techniques are generally expensive, so we limit their use to areas of very small dimensions compared to dimensions of the document.

It has also been proposed to combine these techniques, applying a pattern by transfer continuous repetitive strip on part of the document, and overprinting this part with usage security ink (see for example the European patent N ° 0 093 009). As a variant, we have proposed, to better resist color photocopying, an overlay of small areas with a ink containing a reflective substance possibly colored, for example powder aluminum (see for example US patents No. 4,066,280 and No. 4,352,706).

Mention should also be made of the techniques providing for the document to be coated with a film very thin metallic, then printing and embossing said document (see for example the patent American N ° 4 420 515), as well as the techniques using the application of holograms on a document (see for example French patent N ° 2 535,864, English Patent No. 1,517,840 and the U.S. Patent No. 4,171,864) or intaglio printing (see for example the patent French N ° 2 192 496).

We finally know by EP-A-0 070 172 a document fiduciary or security having the particularities of the preamble of claim 1.

In this document, we incorporate in the layer a metallic or metallized strip of paper, which is however partially exposed on the surface to form individual reflective elements aligned.

However, all of these techniques allow probably catch the eye of an observer warned, but remain relatively expensive and do not do not always resist photocopying documents concerned.

The object of the invention is to produce a document fiduciary or security whose device anti-counterfeiting performs better than systems aforementioned, both with regard to an examination to the naked eye than with modern techniques reprographics.

The object of the invention is also to produce a document which, while easily manufactured with constant quality, ensures a degree high protection against reprography.

The invention also aims to achieve a document whose anti-counterfeiting device is able to be set up as well continuously on a continuous strip of paper, that on documents in sheets already cut, the work on reel being however generally preferred when possible.

The object of the invention is finally to produce a document to which the anti-counterfeiting device adheres perfectly to that document, and be able to resist wear and / or chemical attack by solvents usually used in the field from the printing press.

Thus the invention provides a fiduciary document or security as defined in the claim 1.

Preferred aspects of this document are defined in subclaims 2 to 8.

The invention also provides methods of making such a document, as set out in claims 9, 10, 11 and 15.

Preferred aspects of these methods are defined in claims 12 to 14 and 16, 17

• la figure 1 est une vue en plan d'un document comportant un dispositif anti-contrefaçon conforme à l'invention ;
• la figure 2 illustre, à plus grande échelle, deux éléments individuels réfléchissants faisant partie du dispositif anti-contrefaçon précité ;
• la figure 3 illustre une variante de la figure 2, dans laquelle le contour des éléments individuels réfléchissants est rectangulaire ;
• les figures 4a et 4b sont deux coupes selon IV-IV de la figure 1, illustrant deux variantes respectivement sans et avec vernis de protection ;
• les figures 5a et 5b sont deux coupes illustrant la structure multicouche de deux variantes d'une bande de support de départ conforme à l'invention, ladite bande de support étant utilisée pour obtenir le transfert du dispositif anti-contrefaçon, respectivement sans et avec vernis de protection (ces figures étant ainsi à rapprocher des figures 4a et 4b précédentes montrant le document après transfert dudit dispositif anti-contrefaçon) ;
• la figure 6 illustre schématiquement le transfert continu du dispositif anti-contrefaçon par passage entre deux cylindres, dont un cylindre de pression et un cylindre chauffant de contre-pression ;
• la figure 7 est une vue de profil illustrant les cylindres précités entre lesquels passent en continu la bande de papier, et la bande de support de départ portant le dispositif anti-contrefaçon à transférer ;
• les figures 8 et 9 illustrent deux variantes de la figure 7, avec un cylindre de pression comportant une piste de pression qui est respectivement discontinue et continue ;
• la figure 10 est une vue générale montrant une machine pouvant être avantageusement utilisée pour effectuer en continu le transfert du dispositif anti-contrefaçon sur une bande de papier en défilement continu.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly in the light of the description which follows and of the appended drawings, relating to a particular embodiment, with reference to the figures in which:

• Figure 1 is a plan view of a document comprising an anti-counterfeiting device according to the invention;
• FIG. 2 illustrates, on a larger scale, two individual reflective elements forming part of the aforementioned anti-counterfeiting device;
• FIG. 3 illustrates a variant of FIG. 2, in which the outline of the individual reflecting elements is rectangular;
• Figures 4a and 4b are two sections on IV-IV of Figure 1, illustrating two variants respectively without and with protective varnish;
• Figures 5a and 5b are two sections illustrating the multilayer structure of two variants of a starting support strip according to the invention, said support strip being used to obtain the transfer of the anti-counterfeiting device, respectively without and with varnish protection (these figures being thus to be compared with the preceding figures 4a and 4b showing the document after transfer of said anti-counterfeiting device);
• FIG. 6 schematically illustrates the continuous transfer of the anti-counterfeiting device by passage between two cylinders, including a pressure cylinder and a counter-pressure heating cylinder;
• Figure 7 is a side view illustrating the aforementioned cylinders between which pass continuously the paper strip, and the starting support strip carrying the anti-counterfeiting device to be transferred;
• Figures 8 and 9 illustrate two variants of Figure 7, with a pressure cylinder having a pressure track which is respectively discontinuous and continuous;
• FIG. 10 is a general view showing a machine which can advantageously be used for continuously transferring the anti-counterfeiting device onto a strip of paper in continuous travel.

Figure 1 distinguishes a document D, presented here in the form of a sheet rectangular 1, including an anti-counterfeiting device 100 according to the invention.

In accordance with an essential characteristic of the invention, the anti-counterfeiting device is present as a reflective surface discontinuous 100, constituted by a succession individual reflective elements 101, organized according to a general direction DG of orientation predetermined with respect to the edges 11, 12 of the document. As will be described in more detail away, the individual reflective elements 101 are applied by transfer (preferably to hot) on one side 10 of document D. In addition, each individual reflective element 101 presents both a dimension, assessed transversely to the DG, several millimeters, and optimal compactness for given reflection area, evaluated by a coefficient corresponding to the reflection area / perimeter ratio, in such a way that the phenomenon of reflection clearly visible to the naked eye and blinds known reprographic systems or optical analysis, in particular thanks to a strong reflection efficiency and reflection surfaces relatively large. Considered satisfactory any value at least equal to 0.5 mm for the aforementioned report.

Document D includes a graphic here printed G, and a discontinuous reflective surface 100 whose DG is parallel at the small side 11 of said document. Such a provision is of course only one possible example, but the DG orientation chosen parallel to one edges of the document, here the small edge, is advantageous when it is planned to pass the document in an automatic processing machine, the document then scrolling alongside one of its edges.

Each individual element 101 can thus form a mirror capable of reflecting all lengths visible wave. Preferably then, individual reflective elements 101 will formed by a thin metallic layer, and particularly with a thin layer of aluminum. As indicative, this layer may have a thickness on the order of 0.05 µm. The choice of aluminum is advantageous for its reflection coefficient very high, but it stands to reason that one could choose other metals, such as chromium for example. The mirror formed by at least some of the elements individual reflective 101 is preferably full or flat, without being disturbed by geometric elements covering at least partially said mirror.

The discontinuous surface 100, consisting of a plurality of individual reflective elements 101, thus allows a significant glare of the system reprographic analysis, thanks to the dimension important of each of the individual elements reflective 101 in a transverse direction to the DG. It is suitable for this title to observe that the known technique consisting alternately to drown a ribbon in the paper metallic did not allow to obtain a ribbon whose width exceeds one millimeter. In this case, it is possible to use, thanks to a technique of transfer, a discontinuous surface whose width exceeds 3 mm, even being able to go up to 10 mm.

In addition, always with the aim of obtaining a maximum glare of the analysis system or of reprography, each individual reflective element 101 must have optimal compactness for a given reflection area. This means that the surface of each individual reflective element 101 is as large as possible for a given perimeter, or that the diameter of the largest circle writable in the outline of a individual reflective element, for an area of given reflection, is maximum.

FIG. 2 illustrates on a larger scale two individual reflecting elements 101 forming part of the aforementioned anti-counterfeiting device 100, each individual reflecting element 101 having in this case a contour C in the form of a quadrilateral, and more precisely here in the form of a parallelogram. Each individual reflecting element 101 is thus distributed discontinuously between two lines 105, 106 which are parallel to the general direction DG of the discontinuous surface 100. It is alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 3, providing a contour C in shape of a rectangle, one edge of which (here the edge 103) is parallel to the general direction DG. The embodiment of FIG. 2 is however preferable insofar as it makes it possible to have a small leading edge at an end point of each individual reflecting element, and thereby even better resist a risk of detachment metal particles transferred to the document. In the case of FIG. 2, the edge 103 of each individual reflecting element 101 is parallel to the direction DG, with a dimension L which is preferably of the order of 2 to 10 mm, while the small edge 104 is inclined at an angle determined a relative to this general direction DG, said angle preferably being close to 45 °. The dimensions of the individual rectangular reflecting elements illustrated in FIG. 3 are preferably identical to the previous ones, with a width 1 of the order of 2 to 10 mm (this width corresponding to the distance separating the contour lines 105, 106), and a length L of the order of 2 to 10 mm. These dimensions will be chosen so that a minimum surface of 10 mm ² is obtained for each individual reflecting element.

Such individual reflective elements allow obtain a specular reflection coefficient extremely satisfactory because the effective width of each of these is relatively important, said effective width also being considerably larger than that could get with an alternately drowned ribbon in the document paper.

Figure 1 highlights the existence of a discontinuous surface 100 constituting the device anti-counterfeiting on one side 10 of document D, but it goes without saying that it is possible to foresee such a anti-counterfeiting device on both sides of the document, each anti-counterfeiting device is having the form of a reflecting surface discontinuous, the two devices then being preferably made up of individual reflective elements 101 identical. This provides a phenomenon of reflection that appears so visible to the naked eye and blinds the systems known from reprography or optical analysis, what whatever the faceting of the document.

As mentioned above, the estate of individual reflective elements 101 is applied by transfer, preferably hot, on one side of the document. Transfer application direct on one side of the document can be continuous, so the intermediate spaces 102 between adjacent individual reflecting elements 101 have a non-reflective coating, but nevertheless visible, coming from a band of starting support with a discontinuous pattern at to transfer. Figure 6 schematically illustrates a such continuous transfer of the anti-counterfeiting device (whose pattern is here discontinuous) by passing between two cylinders, including a pressure cylinder and a back pressure heating cylinder. We distinguish indeed in Figure 6 a coil 310 of which is unrolled a strip of paper P passing over successive rollers 311, 312, 313, before arriving between a pressure cylinder 300 and a cylinder counter pressure heater 301. One strip of starting support F carrying the pattern to be transferred is unwound from a reel 314 to also pass between cylinders 300 and 301, both bands P and F thus being pressed one against the other, with application of a determined temperature, for the hot transfer of the discontinuous pattern, so as to obtain the discontinuous reflecting surface 100 sought, with its succession of elements reflective individual 101. Downstream of the transfer, the support strip F, or more precisely the residual part of it which was used to convey the discontinuous pattern to be transferred, is wound on a coil 315. In this case, we use two smooth cylinders 300 and 301, as is visible in Figure 7. We obtain a transfer to sharp edges, without embossing the paper. After the transfer, the paper is however highly satiny (its smoothing has become significantly multiplied by 5), the paper thickness has decreased (significantly 10%), and the paper has grown very slightly in the direction of travel (an elongation of the order of 2 ‰ is usually encountered). When document D also has a watermark, this is particularly the case for banknotes bank, the watermark then lost its sharpness after transfer of the discontinuous reflective pattern.

It is possible to improve the transfer of this discontinuous pattern with a pressure cylinder slightly different, as shown in FIG. 9: the pressure cylinder 302 comprises indeed here a continuous pressure track 303 which presses the starting support strip F against the strip of paper P, pressing on the 301 back pressure heating cylinder. then retains the advantage of a transfer on board neat and without embossing the paper, but you get moreover, due to the pressure exerted locally, absence of satin-finish of the paper and conservation the clarity of the watermark when it is planned.

However, it is also possible to use a starting support strip F comprising a continuous reflective tape to transfer to the document.

We can then choose either a continuous transfer continuous reflective tape on the paper, and then organize a special operation on the continuous reflective tape transferred to achieve the intermediate spaces between individual elements adjacent, or alternatively provide a transfer discontinuous portions of reflective tape continuous to then directly get the spaces intermediaries between adjacent individual elements.

When choosing a continuous application continuous reflective tape, we can then plan to create the intermediate spaces 102 between adjacent individual elements 101 per print with white ink of a discontinuous pattern on the transferred continuous reflective tape, or alternatively make these intermediate spaces by partially dissolving the reflective tape continuous transferred.

In the case of a discontinuous application, we may plan, as shown in the figure 8, that the discontinuous nature of the pattern results from passage of the starting support strip F to continuous reflective tape and paper tape P between a pressure cylinder 304 with track discontinuous pressure 305 and a heating cylinder back pressure 301. The discontinuous nature of the pattern then comes from knurling by the track discontinuous pressure 305 of the reflective tape continued. It is however difficult to avoid tearing random reflective matter scales at the limits of the contours of the individual elements reflective, such scales can disturb subsequent offset printing of the document. It is easy to understand that the transfer of a ribbon discontinuous by continuous pressure cylinder (figure 7) or by cylinder with continuous pressure track (Figure 9), avoids the creation of such scales of reflective material.

As a variant of direct transfer of the rotary type which has just been described, it will naturally be possible provide for a direct transfer resulting from the strikes the starting support strip with a application matrix on a sheet of paper, as part of a transfer on sheet. This technique, not shown here, is well known to printing specialists, and she can also well concern the transfer of a reflective tape continuous on paper (the application matrix being so be continuous if we plan an operation subsequent printing with white ink on the transferred continuous reflective tape, or partial dissolution of continuous reflective tape transferred, or discontinuous if we want to avoid such operations), that the transfer of a reflective tape discontinuous (the application matrix being preferably preferably continues).

We will now describe the multilayer structure a starting support strip conforming to the invention, said support strip being used to obtain the transfer of the anti-counterfeiting device mentioned above, this being valid for a continuous pattern than discontinuous to transfer.

The section in FIG. 5a thus illustrates a starting support strip F comprising successively an upper layer 200 serving as vehicle, a layer 202 of wax or glue hot melt, a very thin metallic layer for example aluminum 201 constituting the ribbon reflecting to transfer, and finally a layer 203 hot melt glue. Layer 200 will be preferably plastic, being example a polyester layer of 10 to 15 µm thick, while the metallic layer 201 will be around a few hundredths of a micron, for example 0.05 µm. The corresponding wax or glue at thickness 202 serves to ensure separation between the 200 polyester layer and the layer metallic 201 during hot transfer, and its thickness will be of the order of 2 to 5 μm. Glue constituting the layer 203 is used to ensure the adhesion of the metallic layer 201 on the paper, and its thickness will also be around 5 µm. It will be advantageous to provide that the constituent material of the layer 202 melts at a temperature T1 lower than temperature T2 at which melts the adhesion layer 203, in order to obtain separation of the metal layer 201 with the 200 polyester layer just before transfer of said metal layer. For information, the transfer will be made with temperatures ranging from 110 to 150 ° C. After transfer, the document presents itself in section in accordance with this which is illustrated in FIG. 4a: a distinction is thus made a succession of individual reflective elements 101, separated by intermediate spaces 102, and there are also traces 203 ' from glue 203, which got inside paper 1 just below the face top of the document. Intermediate spaces 102 between individual elements 101 adjacent may have a non-reflective coating, but nevertheless visible, coming from the band starting support F with pattern discontinuous to transfer. The non-reflective coating in this case will include application glue hot 203 ', but also possibly a protective varnish as will be described in the following variant.

Figure 5b illustrates a support strip (S) with a more complex multilayer structure than the previous one, as far as it is provided two layers of protective varnish.

We find the upper polyester layer 200 serving as a vehicle, and layers 202 and 203 hot melt glue, with the latter a choice of materials such as adhesion on the paper is stronger than adhesion on the support polyester. However, the corresponding metallized area at layer 201 is here sandwiched between two layers of varnish 204 and 205, of which the thickness is of the order of 1 to 5 μm. Layer varnish upper 204 ensures protection of individual reflective elements transferred 101, with high resistance abrasion and solvents. The bottom layer varnish 205 also protects the metallized area corresponding to layer 201 avoiding that metal particles do not enter the paper during transfer. After transfer, the document presents itself in section as it is illustrated in Figure 4b: we find as before individual reflective elements 101 separated by intermediate spaces 102, as well as the traces of glue 203 ′ coming from the layer 203. However, and unlike the section of figure 4a, we now find a film protector from layers of varnish 204 and 205, the upper layer corresponding to the layer protection of the entire surface discontinuous reflective. In this case, the spaces 102 intermediates have a coating non-reflective which is perfectly visible to the naked eye, a coating that includes varnish protection as well as traces of the application adhesive hot. However, it should be noted that varnish thicknesses decreased during transfer, due to pressure and temperature applied.

In the case of a discontinuous application of individual reflective elements by direct transfer on one side of the document, the intermediate spaces 102 between individual elements 101 adjacent are practically free of any coating.

Always in order to get a glare maximum optical analysis systems or of reprography, it would be better to provide a number as high as possible of individual items reflective 101 for a given dimension of document. Preferably then, the spacing 102 between adjacent individual elements will be around of a fraction of the length of the outline of these elements, considered in a parallel direction to the general direction of DG orientation. So with a rectangular document such as a bank note having a width of the order of 80 mm, we can have at least five individual elements reflective to form the surface discontinuous reflective forming the anti-counterfeiting device.

We will now describe, with reference to the Figure 10, a machine can advantageously be used to continuously transfer of the anti-counterfeiting device according to the invention on a strip of paper running continuously.

The transfer machine 400 has a frame 406 supporting a reel 401 of paper, from which is unrolled a strip of paper P. La strip of paper P first goes through a succession of rollers forming part of a set 402 belt tension regulation, then at an assembly 403 providing guidance side to correctly position the strip of P paper before transferring the device anti-counterfeiting. It is also provided for in minus a reel of film 430 on which is wound the starting support strip F carrying the anti-counterfeiting device to be transferred. In this case, four coils 430 are provided, to be able to simultaneously transfer four reflective tapes for a given width of paper strip corresponding to the strip wound on the reel 401. The strip of paper P and the strip of starting support F meet at a guide roller 404, against the periphery of which they are applied correctly thanks to a downstream roller 405.

The two bands P and F thus arrive at the post of transfer proper, which is constituted by a hot transfer assembly with its cylinder 407 which is for example heated by a circulation hot water, the associated circuit not being shown here. The two bands are applied against a significant part of the cylinder surface heating 407 thanks to a roller system 408 pressers carried by movable brackets 409: FIG. 10 shows the two positions of the set of pressure rollers 408, the position of work corresponding to the application of these rollers against the surface of cylinder 407, while the rest position corresponds to the initial insertion of the two bands F and P under said cylinder. The passage from one position to another is done through application cylinders 410 and 411, which allow raise or lower, and tilt the 409 brackets supporting the rollers 408.

Downstream of this transfer station, the band of paper (onto which the surface has been transferred reflective) and the residual part of the strip starting support (this residual part does not having more than the polyester layer having served as a vehicle) pass around a first cylinder cooling 414 against which they are applied by an applicator roller 412 which is carried by an articulated lever 413, lever whose position is controlled by an associated jack 427. The two bands also pass over a second cooling cylinder 415, the passage on the two cooling cylinders doing according to an S to get as well this is well known in the printing business, a satisfactory contact and tape blockage. The cooling cylinders 414 and 415 will be by example cooled by cold water, the associated circuit not being shown here. The strip of paper P bearing the anti-counterfeiting device 100 pass then on a set 418 serving as a regulator tension for rewinding and then against a guide cylinder 431 against which it is applied by a roller 419 carried by a lever articulated 425 whose position is controlled by a associated cylinder 426. The paper strip P carrying the anti-counterfeiting device 100 then goes through a 420 lateral guide assembly, to arrive here at a slitting station at which it is possible cut several strips longitudinally adjacent parallels, for example four bands, each comprising a reflective tape (continuous or discontinuous): this slitting station, which is of course in no way obligatory, is consisting of a support roller 422 and wheels cutting 421. The cut strips pass finally on guide rollers 423, before a final rewind on a reel 424.

The remaining part of the support strip (film polyester 200 used as a vehicle) pass meanwhile, after the cooling cylinder 415, on a guide roller 416 before arriving finally at a film rewinding station 417 polyester 200.

It goes without saying that other types of machines could be considered to carry out the transfer continuous or discontinuous reflective tape, but the transfer station previously described allows to obtain particularly satisfactory results. As such, reference may be made to the European patent N ° 0 089 494 in which a device is described such a hot transfer.

The invention is not limited to the modes of realization which have just been described, but encompasses on the contrary any variant taking over, with equivalent means, essential characteristics set out above.

Claims (17)

1. Fiduciary or security document (D) including an anti-forgery device in the form of a discontinuous reflecting surface (100) consisting of a succession of individual reflecting elements (101) organized along a predetermined general direction (DG), each individual reflecting element (101) having both a dimension, transverse to the said general direction, of at least three millimetres and optimal compactness for a given reflection area, that is to say a coefficient corresponding to the area/perimeter ratio of the said given reflection area at least equal to 0.5 mm, characterized in that each individual reflecting element (101) forms a uniform mirror capable of reflecting all visible wavelengths, the mirrors formed by at least some of the individual reflecting elements (101) being full mirrors, in that the reflecting elements are transfer elements applied by transfer from a support strip (F) onto a face (10) of the document, and in that the reflecting elements (101) have a quadrilateral-shaped contour (C), the length of this contour, considered in a direction parallel to the said general direction (DG) of orientation of each of the reflecting elements (101) lying between four and ten millimetres.
2. Document according to Claim 1, characterized in that each individual reflecting element (101) is coated with a protective varnish (204) resisting abrasion and solvents.
3. Document according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the individual reflecting elements (101) consist of a metallic layer, and preferably of a layer of aluminium.
4. Document according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the contour (C) is in the shape of a rectangle, one edge (103) of which is parallel to the general direction (DG) of orientation of the individual reflecting elements (101).
5. Document according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the contour (C) is in the shape of a parallelogram, one edge (103) of which is parallel to the general direction (DG) of orientation of the individual reflecting elements (101).
6. Document according to Claim 5, characterized in that the other edge (104) of the parallelogram is inclined by a defined angle (a) with respect to the said general direction (DG) of orientation, this angle preferably being close to 45°.
7. Document according to one of Claims 1 to 6, the shape of which is rectangular, characterized in that the general direction (DG) of orientation of the individual reflecting elements (101) is parallel to the small side (11) of the said document.
8. Document according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises an anti-forgery device on its two faces, exhibiting the form of a discontinuous reflecting surface (100), these two devices preferably consisting of identical individual reflecting elements (101).
9. Method of manufacturing a document according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the individual reflecting elements (101) are applied on to the face (10) of the document (D) by direct and continuous transfer from an initial support strip (F) having a discontinuous pattern of individual reflecting elements (101), so that the intermediate spaces (102) between adjacent individual elements (101) include a non-reflecting, but nevertheless visible, coating applied to the document (D).
10. Method of manufacturing a document according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the individual reflecting elements (101) are applied to the face (10) of the document (D) by direct and continuous transfer from an initial support strip (F) having a continuous reflecting ribbon, the intermediate spaces between adjacent individual elements (101) being produced after the transfer, by printing a discontinuous pattern, with white ink on to the continuous reflecting ribbon.
11. Method of manufacturing a document according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the individual reflecting elements (101) are applied to the face (10) of the document (D) by direct and continuous transfer from an initial support strip (F) having a continuous reflecting ribbon, the intermediate spaces between adjacent individual elements (101) being produced by partial dissolution of the reflecting layer after transfer of the continuous reflecting ribbon on to the face (10) of the document.
12. Method according to one of Claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the reflecting elements (101) are transferred directly from the support strip (F) on to a paper document (D) by making the initial support strip (F) and a paper strip (P) pass between a pressure cylinder (300) and a heating, counter-pressure cylinder (301).
13. Method according to one of Claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the reflecting elements (101) are transferred directly from the support strip (F) on to a paper document (D) by passing the initial support strip (F) and a paper strip (P) between a pressure cylinder (302) with a continuous pressure track (303) and a heating, counter-pressure cylinder (301).
14. Method according to one of Claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the reflecting elements (101) are transferred directly from the support strip (F) on to a paper document (D) by striking the initial support strip (F) with a die for continuous application on to a sheet of paper.
15. Method of manufacturing a document according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the individual reflecting elements (101) are applied discontinuously by direct transfer on to a face (10) of the document (D), so that the intermediate spaces (102) between adjacent individual elements (101) are free from any coating.
16. Method according to Claim 15, characterized in that, in order to produce a discontinuous pattern, a initial support strip (F), complete with a continuous reflecting ribbon and a paper strip forming the document (D) are passed between a pressure cylinder (304) with a discontinuous pressure track (305) and a heating, counter-pressure cylinder (301).
17. Method according to Claim 15, characterized in that, in order to produce a discontinuous pattern, an initial support strip (F), complete with a reflecting ribbon, is struck with a die for discontinuous application on to a sheet of paper.

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