EP3360692B1 - Method for producing a security feature in a data carrier and a data carrier comprising such a security feature - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for producing a security feature in a data carrier and a data carrier with such a security feature.

In the area of passport books, it is common for important personal data of the owner of the passport book to be on a data page made from a composite body, for example based on plastic, which is inserted into the passport book. The advantage of a plastic composite material is better protection, since a greater variety of security features is available and this makes a data page more difficult to counterfeit. So that the data page can be turned like a normal page of paper, a hinge or joint or a flap is required that connects the data page to the passport. There are various proposed solutions for this, which are based, for example, on providing a data page on the inside of the passport with a connecting element, for example in the form of a textile or flexible strip, so that a data carrier formed from the data page and the connecting element can be sewn into the passport can.

Various solutions are known from the prior art:
Out DE 10 2012 019 308 A1 an inlay for a data page for a passport book emerges. The inlay has a fabric layer intimately bonded to a layer of plastic material filling the mesh of the fabric so that the inlay has a closed profiled surface. This surface is formed on the one hand by the raised fabric structure of the fabric layer and on the other hand by intermediate surfaces made of plastic material lying in between. The surface dimensions of the inlay correspond to the external dimensions specified for a data page plus a connecting area with which the data page can be attached in the passport and which protrudes beyond the data page for this purpose. In one embodiment, the inlay can also form a strip in the data page that protrudes at an edge of the data page.

In DE 10 2010 053 640 A1 a multilayer data carrier is proposed which has at least one integrally coextruded strip film and at least one other film connected thereto. The coextruded strip film has a strip of soft material and a strip of rigid material. The further foil is formed by a stack of layers which only covers part of the strip foil and leaves an edge zone above the strip of soft material uncovered. The layer stack area forms the data area of a data page. A connection area formed by the uncovered soft material is used to sew the data carrier into a passport.

Furthermore, it follows from DE 10 2012 213 913 A1 a passport book card having a connecting flap for connecting a book or booklet page to a passport document. The connecting strap is made of a textile material. For this purpose, the connecting flap and the booklet or book page are arranged in an overlapping manner and both are welded to one another in an overlapping area formed as a result, in particular by means of ultrasound. It is stated that a printed image in the form of alphanumeric characters present in the booklet or book page becomes visible through the connecting flap due to the welding.

From the WO 2016/177681 A1 a data carrier suitable for insertion into a notebook or book-shaped object and a method for producing such a data carrier are also known, the data carrier comprising a data page and a connecting element and the data page and the connecting element being connected to one another in an overlapping area. A security feature is formed in the overlapping area by means of laser processing, with the information components of the security feature being formed partly in the data side and partly in the connecting element.

From the U.S. 2016/0355045 A1 a data carrier is known. From the WO 2016/091277 A1 a flexible band for connecting a data page to a book is known, the flexible band being provided with security printing and having openings into which material of the data page can penetrate during the connection. From the EP 2 487 029 A1 discloses a laser-marked composite hinge flap for an electronic passport. From the EP 2 433 809 A1 data pages for book-like documents and a method for producing such data pages are known.

From the DE 10 2007 052 947 A1 a use of a preparation with a binder with a polycarbonate derivative based on a geminally disubstituted dihydroxyphenylcycloalkane is known.

Protection against forgery is an essential desired property of all ID documents. For this purpose, the highest possible hurdles are set up against forgery and falsification of the documents. With the many types of forgery and falsification of passport books, the complete replacement of data pages of a data carrier in the passport books is a frequently used method of forgery. For this purpose, the data page is separated from the connecting element and replaced by another, possibly manipulated, data page. A problem on which the present invention is based is therefore that conventional data carriers for passport books are not sufficiently secure against the exchange of the data page. Furthermore, it is difficult to detect or prove tampering.

It is therefore desirable to create a data carrier for insertion into a notebook or book-shaped object, in particular into a passport, and a corresponding method for producing such a data carrier, in which the security against forgery is increased.

The invention is therefore based on the problem of creating a method for producing a security feature in a data carrier and a data carrier with such a security feature, which ensure increased counterfeit security against an exchange of the data page.

The technical problem is solved according to the invention by a method having the features of patent claim 1 and a data carrier having the features of patent claim 11 . Advantageous configurations of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

The invention is based on the idea of creating a data carrier comprising a data page made from a first plastic material and a connecting element that contains a fabric made from a second plastic material. Provision is made for the fabric to be printed with at least one ink preparation before it is connected to the data page. Here, the fabric of the connecting element can cover the entire surface or only be printed in sections. The connection of the printed connecting element and the data page is then carried out in such a way that the first plastic material of the data page completely penetrates the meshes of the fabric at least in sections during connection and completely encloses the fibers of the fabric at least in sections, so that the at least one printed ink preparation during connection migrated at least partially from the web into the first plastic material of the data page adjacent to the fibers. The advantage of the invention is that the at least one printed ink preparation is also present in the first plastic material after the data page has been connected to the connecting element according to the invention. The data page and the connecting element are thus linked to one another via a security feature formed integrally between the connecting element and the data page. This increases security against forgery, since, for example, an exchange of the data side, in which the data side is separated from the fabric of the connecting element and then another data side is inserted, can be proven in this way and is thus made significantly more difficult. It is thus almost impossible for the exchanged data page to produce an exact match of the printing which extends beyond the interface between the fibers of the fabric of the connecting element and the data page. The match would not only have to be created at a surface of the data carrier, but also in the volume below the surface.

In particular, the invention has the advantage that the at least partially completely enclosing of the fibers of the fabric by the first plastic material of the data side facilitates the introduction of the at least one ink preparation into the first plastic material of the data side during the connection. It is particularly advantageous here that a security feature is thereby integrated into the data carrier and this security feature can be checked for its authenticity by means of a corresponding verification method.

As a rule, the at least one ink preparation has a solvent which enables the ink preparation to be printed in liquid form. After printing, the solvent evaporates so that the colorants contained in the ink preparation, for example pigments or dissolved dyes, are fixed on the connecting element and the shape of the printed image can no longer be easily changed.

The solvent or solvents in the at least one ink preparation have the effect on the second plastic material of the fabric of the connecting element that a surface of the fibers of the fabric is dissolved and the colorants of the ink preparation penetrate into the volume of the fibers. A penetration depth of the colorant into the volume depends, among other things, on the time in which the solvent or solvents have not yet completely evaporated. According to the invention, according to a first alternative, it is therefore provided that the heating temperature and/or a heating time are determined as a function of a predetermined penetration depth of the ink preparation into the fibers of the fabric. The advantage is that a penetration depth can be adjusted in a targeted manner via an appropriately selected heating temperature and/or an appropriately selected heating time. Lower drying temperatures encourage the ink formulation to penetrate the fiber but increase drying time.

According to the invention, in the first alternative, the printed fabric is brought to a heating temperature during and/or after the printing. This serves to accelerate evaporation of the solvent so that the printed ink preparation is fixed more quickly. For example, heating takes place to between 20 degrees Celsius and 100 degrees Celsius, preferably to between 40 degrees Celsius and 80 degrees Celsius. The heating preferably takes place for a period of between 10 seconds and 300 seconds, particularly preferably for a period of between 30 seconds and 150 seconds.

The migration of the at least one printed ink preparation into the first plastic material of the data page can also be controlled. In this case, a penetration depth also depends in particular on the duration of the process step for connecting the data page to the connecting element. According to the invention, it is therefore additionally or alternatively provided according to a second alternative that a process duration and/or a process parameter for the connection is defined as a function of a predetermined penetration depth of the at least one ink preparation into the first plastic material of the data page in relation to a common interface with the fibers of the fabric will. For example, a temperature or an input power during the connection can be considered as a process parameter.

The method can be used to achieve penetration depths or migration depths of the at least one ink preparation in the first plastic material that are in the range of more than 10 micrometers, preferably even more than 50 micrometers to 150 micrometers or even more than 100 micrometers.

definitions

A data carrier is intended to denote a data page and a connection element which are connected to one another. The data carrier thus forms a physically formed carrier of information, in particular of personalized data for identification purposes, here in particular for passports or other book-like or booklet-like objects. In this case, the data carrier can include both features that can be optically detected by humans, in particular security features, and machine-readable features, in particular security features.

The booklet or book-like object with the inventive data carrier inserted therein is in particular a passport. Alternatively, it can also be another security document into which a data carrier is inserted. On the outside, this object preferably has a booklet or book cover made of two parts, a front part and a back part, which are connected to one another via a booklet or book spine. Furthermore, in addition to the data carrier, the object can also have booklet or book pages, which are typically made of paper and are used to hold information that has been added later, in the case of a passport booklet (passport) of registered visas, etc.

A data page in the sense of the present invention is to be understood as a flat, preferably rectangular carrier, for example for information to be displayed about an object or a living being, such as a person or an object. The information can be in plain text or in coded form. Furthermore, the information can be in a form that can be seen by the eye, in a form that can only be seen with an optical aid, or in an electronically stored form. Storage in electronic form can take place, for example, in an electronic semiconductor chip with which communication can take place via an external electrical contact and/or contactlessly by means of an antenna (RFID) connected to it.

The data page is inserted into the booklet or book-shaped object via the connecting element, for example by sewing. The data page forms a data carrier together with the connecting element. The data page contains individualizing data of the person or thing to which the security document is assigned, in plain text or in encrypted form or in any other suitable way that is difficult to forge or imitate. For example, special luminescent colors can be used to display data, with the data being present in alphanumeric representation, for example. The data page can also have standard security features such as elements that diffract electromagnetic radiation, for example volume or surface holograms, tilting images, special print patterns such as guilloches (especially in pastel colors) and optically variable colors, surface embossing and the like. Furthermore, the data page can also have electronic components such as electronic displays, sensors such as touch sensors and the like.

Woven fabric is a textile fabric made of at least two thread or fiber systems that are crossed at right angles or almost at right angles. In a fabric made of a plastic material, the threads or fibers are made of a plastic material. In the following it is assumed that the fabric consists of at least two crossed fiber systems. The term fiber is also intended in this specification to include threads which are formed from fibers to form the fabric from thread systems. The term "completely enclosed fiber" thus also includes the term "completely enclosed thread" if the fabric is formed from thread systems.

An edge sharpness is intended to denote an edge sharpness of a print. The more abrupt a transition between a printed area and an unprinted area, the higher the edge sharpness. For example, edge acuity may be defined in terms of a length measure, such as a length over which there is a transition from a fully printed (full saturation or full colorant density) to a fully unprinted area. Provision can be made here in particular for the information content of the printing, for example alphanumeric characters, to be taken into account. For example, for a specific letter at one or more contour edges it can be determined over what length a complete printing (maximum saturation or pigment density) results in a completely unprinted one area passes. The blurrier the contour edges, i.e. the more the contour edge is washed out, the smaller the edge sharpness.

Provision can also be made for the edge sharpness to be defined in relation to an optical image recorded by a print, for example in relation to a number of pixels in which a transition between a completely printed area and a completely unprinted area occurs at a contour edge. In this case, the captured optical image should depict a predetermined and firmly defined area, so that a certain number of pixels corresponds to a predetermined length on the data carrier. In particular, methods for color channel separation and filters can be applied to the captured optical image.

Edge sharpness can also be determined via a concentration of printed colorants in the at least one ink preparation. In this case, a concentration is determined at one or more contour edges of a print and edge sharpness is determined from a drop from a maximum concentration to a concentration of zero. The faster the concentration drops, the greater the edge sharpness.

In addition, an edge sharpness can also be determined by smearing a contour of a print and a resulting change in length of the contour. If ideal printing (with maximum edge sharpness), for example, provides for a sharp contour, for example a straight line from an imaginary point A to an imaginary point B on an edge of the printing, and then smears such a contour edge when connecting the connecting element to the data page, so the straight line of the original contour becomes a serpentine contour, since individual points on the original straight line of the contour have moved at different distances from their original positions. The contour is now longer than the original straight line contour. Provision can now be made for points to be defined analogously to the points A and B mentioned by way of example, between which an ideal contour of the printing or a contour before the connecting step is known. A length of the contour present after the connection is determined between these points and compared with the length of the ideal or previous contour. The more the specific length deviates from the length of the ideal or previous contour, the lower the edge sharpness.

In particular, an edge sharpness can also be defined as an average edge sharpness, whereby an edge sharpness is determined at several contour edges or transitions between completely printed and completely unprinted areas of a print and the determined edge sharpness is then averaged to form a mean edge sharpness. In a captured optical image, provision can also be made for averaging over a number of pixels or pixel regions of the optical image in order to determine an edge sharpness.

Two objects whose surface shows different remission spectra when illuminated with white light, so that a person who does not have any limitations in color vision perceives them as differently colored, evoke different color impressions.

Special embodiments

In particular, a method for producing a security feature in a data carrier is provided, which is suitable for insertion into a booklet or book-shaped object, comprising the following steps: providing a data page, the data page having at least one layer intended for connection from a first includes plastic material on an outside; providing a connecting element, the connecting element comprising a fabric made of a second plastic material; positioning the fastener in a print position; selective printing of the fabric with at least one ink formulation; Connecting the printed connecting element and the data page, with the first plastic material of the data page completely penetrating the meshes of the fabric at least in sections during the connection and thereby completely enclosing the fibers of the fabric at least in sections, so that the at least one printed ink preparation is at least partially separated from the fabric during the connection migrates into the first plastic material of the data page adjoining the fibers, the printed fabric being heated to a heating temperature during printing and/or after printing and the heating temperature and/or a heating time depending on a predetermined penetration depth of the at least one ink preparation into the fibers of the tissue are defined and/or wherein a process duration and/or a process parameter for the joining in Depending on a predetermined depth of penetration of the at least one ink preparation in the first plastic material of the data page in relation to a common interface with the fibers of the fabric can be determined.

Preferably, the plastic materials and an average mesh size between fibers of the fabric are selected such that the first plastic material of the data page can completely penetrate the mesh and completely enclose the fibers of the fabric when the data page is connected to the connecting element.

The fabric can be printed using different printing methods. In particular, a letterpress, intaglio, planographic or screen printing process, a pad printing process or other printing processes known to those skilled in the art can be used.

Digital printing methods, in particular an ink jet printing method, are preferably used to print information on the fabric that individualizes a later data carrier compared to other data carriers of a majority of data carriers or that personalizes the data carrier for a later owner.

The individualizing information is received, preferably in the form of image data. This information or the image data then controls, for example, a print head or a plurality of print heads relative to the fabric in order to print on it.

Printing can be monochromatic, also with black or white ink, or multicolored. The printed image itself can be part of the decoration of the data carrier and/or serve as a security print. The print can thus include alphanumeric characters, symbols, but also pictograms, images or other graphic elements.

The fabric of the connecting element is preferably printed both in an overlapping area, in which the connecting element overlaps with the data page, and in a connecting area, in which the connecting element does not overlap with the data page and which is intended for connecting to a booklet or book-shaped object .

Furthermore, a data carrier with a security feature is created, the data carrier being suitable for insertion into a booklet- or book-shaped object, comprising a data page with at least one layer made of a first plastic material, preferably forming a surface of the data carrier, and a connecting element, the connecting element comprises a fabric made of a second plastic material, and wherein the connecting element forms a composite with the data side, in which in an overlapping area meshes of the fabric are at least partially completely penetrated by the first plastic material of the data side and fibers of the fabric are at least partially completely penetrated by the first plastic material of the Data page are enclosed, wherein fibers of the fabric are at least partially provided with a print in the overlapping area, and wherein at least one ink preparation is used as a security feature at least in the overlapping area g of the printing is present both at least partially on and/or in the fibers of the fabric and has migrated at least partially into the first plastic material enclosing the fibers. Thus, part of the printing on the fibers is present in the first plastic material, which has migrated into the first plastic material during the process of connecting the first plastic material to the fabric, the at least one ink preparation having a predetermined penetration depth into the fibers of the fabric, which depends a heating temperature to which the printed fabric is heated during printing and/or after printing, and/or a heating time, and/or wherein the at least one ink preparation has a predetermined penetration depth into the first plastic material of the data page with respect to a has a common interface with the fibers of the fabric, wherein the predetermined penetration depth is set depending on a process duration and / or a process parameter for connecting the connecting element and the data page.

The overlapping area is preferably selected in such a way that the connecting element and the data page do not completely overlap. In this way, a connecting area of the connecting element can be used to be connected to an object in the form of a booklet or book, for example to be sewn into it.

The proposed data carrier can be verified, for example, using a method for verifying a security feature of a data carrier, comprising the following steps: positioning the data carrier in a verification position, capturing an optical image of at least one overlapping area of a data page and a connecting element of the data carrier, evaluating the captured optical image of the Overlapping area, wherein an edge sharpness of a printing of the overlapping area is determined in the optical image for evaluating, and outputting a verification decision, wherein the security feature is found to be genuine if the edge sharpness falls below a predetermined value.

The format of the data page depends on the type of booklet or book into which the data page is to be inserted. For example, it can have one of the formats ID 1, ID 2 or ID 3 according to ISO/IEC 7810 November 2003 version. In general, the data page is a plastic body which is formed, for example, by a laminate of a plurality of laminate layers which are connected to one another over an area with a precise fit under the action of heat and under increased pressure. The laminate layers consist, for example, of a material that is suitable for lamination. The data page may be formed from a polymer selected from a group comprising polycarbonate (PC), in particular bisphenol A polycarbonate or a polycarbonate formed with a geminally disubstituted bis(hydroxyphenyl)cycloalkane, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), derivatives thereof , such as glycol-modified PET (PETG), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinyl butyral (PVB), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyimide (PI), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl phenol (PVP), polypropylene ( PP), polyethylene (PE), thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), in particular thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer (ABS) and derivatives thereof, polyamide (PA) and/or paper (cellulose) and/or cardboard and/or a glass and/or metal and/or a ceramic. In addition, the data page can also be made from several of these materials, in particular if it is formed from several layers and the individual layers are formed from different materials. It preferably consists of PC or PC/TPU/PC. The polymers can be either filled or unfilled. In the latter case, they are preferably transparent or translucent. If the polymers are filled, they are opaque. The filler material can therefore be a pigment, for example. The layers can be colored or colorless. The outer layers of the data page can in particular be colorless and transparent and have a high abrasion resistance.

The above information relates both to films to be bonded together and to liquid formulations that are applied to a preliminary product, such as a protective coating or top coat. A laminate formed in this way can finally be coated on one or both sides with the protective or top coat or with a film. The film can in particular be a scratch protection film. Overlay layers formed in this way protect a security feature arranged underneath and/or give the document the required abrasion resistance. In principle, the data page can also be produced by (co)extrusion. The thickness of the data card is preferably 250 to 950 microns, more preferably 760 ± 80 microns.

The connecting element is preferably an elongate, in particular rectangular, sheet-like structure and has two areas: an overlapping area in which the connecting element overlaps with the data page so that a firm joint can be created, and a connecting area in which the connecting element is not connected to the data page Data page overlaps and in which the connecting element can be connected to the booklet or book-shaped object. The connecting element is preferably just as long as the data page in a direction of extension, so that the connecting element extends over an entire edge length of the data page and not beyond. In the data carrier, the connection element overlaps with the data page in the overlap area, so that the connection area of the connection element protrudes laterally over the data page. This connection area is used for the subsequent connection of the data carrier to the body of the booklet or book-shaped object.

The printing is preferably carried out using a printing device which works digitally. A print head is guided over the fabric or the fabric is guided past a stationary print head. A controller then controls the specific application of the at least one ink preparation depending on the image data. With such a printing device it is in particular possible to design the information which is to be printed as desired. In this way, printing with individualized image data can be implemented for each connecting element to be printed.

The layer of the data page made of the first plastic material provided for the connection is preferably selected to be transparent, so that printing is possible connecting the data page to the connecting element can still be clearly seen in the volume of the first plastic material.

In order to promote bonding of the data page to the fabric of the connector and introduction of the at least one ink formulation into the first plastics material during bonding, the first plastics material should be able to freely penetrate the mesh between the fibers of the fabric. In one embodiment it is therefore provided that the average mesh size between fibers of the fabric is greater than an average width of the fibers of the fabric.

A mesh size is intended to denote the shortest distance between two fibers that are not directly adjacent, for example running parallel, and that delimit the mesh. The mean mesh size is then a mesh size averaged over the entire surface of the fabric.

A fiber width is intended to denote the maximum dimension of the diameter of a fiber in the plane of the web. The mean width is then a width averaged over all fibers of the fabric.

In particular, one embodiment provides that the average mesh size between fibers of the fabric is in the range between 1.5 times the average width and 4 times the average width of the fibers of the fabric. This makes it possible for the first plastic material to pass particularly well through the meshes of the fabric during the connection and to completely enclose the individual fibers at least in sections after passing through.

Preferred mesh sizes are between 10 microns and 500 microns. Mesh sizes between 50 micrometers and 300 micrometers are particularly preferred.

Multicolored printing is particularly difficult to counterfeit, since not only does the colored printing itself have to be reproduced, but also all boundary surfaces between the fabric and the data page have to be reproduced exactly in terms of their colored appearance after the data page has been exchanged. In a further embodiment it is therefore provided that the tissue by means at least one further ink preparation is printed, the at least one ink preparation and the at least one further ink preparation producing different color impressions in the printed state.

In a further embodiment it is provided that the connection is carried out by means of ultrasonic welding. In particular, it can be provided that a sonotrode used in ultrasonic welding has a structured embossing die, by means of which a symbol, a character or lettering etc. is embossed into a surface of the overlapping area of the data carrier as a further security feature.

It has been found that a material combination of polycarbonate as the first plastic material and polyethylene terephthalate as the second plastic material is particularly well suited to forming a composite according to the invention, since the heating temperatures of the two materials are such that the polycarbonate penetrates the mesh of the polyethylene terephthalate fabric particularly well and can then enclose the fibers particularly well. A further embodiment therefore provides that the first plastic material comprises polycarbonate and the second plastic material comprises polyethylene terephthalate.

Furthermore, it has been found that polycarbonate-based ink formulations are particularly well suited to migrating into polycarbonate. A preferred embodiment therefore provides that the at least one ink preparation comprises a binder with a polycarbonate derivative based on a geminally disubstituted dihydroxydiphenylcycloalkane. A method for producing such ink preparations is, for example, from DE 10 2007 052 947 A1 known. Furthermore, such an ink preparation is known on the market, for example, under the brand name ^POLYCORE® -Ink. In particular with these ink preparations, very large migration or penetration depths of the ink preparation into the first plastic material of the data page can be achieved when connecting the printed fabric to the data page. These migration or penetration depths are greater than 10 microns, preferably greater than 50 microns, and more preferably greater than 100 microns.

It can be provided that the printing includes information that individualizes the data carrier. Information that is unique to a person or thing or a group of people or things out of a larger total of people or things is considered to be individualizing. A piece of information that individualizes a group of people within the total number of inhabitants of a country is, for example, the city of residence. A piece of information individualizing a person is, for example, the number of the passport.

In a preferred embodiment it is further provided that the printing has at least one further ink preparation, wherein the at least one ink preparation and the at least one further ink preparation of the printing produce different color impressions. In this way, multi-colored information can be applied to the fabric of the connecting element and also to the data page. In particular, provision can be made, for example, for multicolored lettering and/or symbols to be printed on. It is also possible to print multicolored images, such as photographic images. The further ink preparation is preferably also according to in DE 10 2007 052 947 A1 described method formed.

In particular, it can be provided that, as in four-color printing, four ink preparations are used, for example ink preparations which produce the color impressions of cyan, magenta, yellow and black, so that a CMYK color space can be made available. Furthermore, provision can also be made to provide ink preparations with special colors or functional colors.

As part of the method for verifying the security feature in the data carrier that can be used for checking, edge sharpness of the printing in the overlapping area is determined. A forgery, for example by removing and then exchanging the data page, can be detected via a deviating edge sharpness and/or other criteria. A further criterion is, for example, that the printing present in the overlapping area of the data carrier must match in relation to a specified color value. Since the connecting element is printed before it is connected to the data page, another criterion can also be that there must be a seamless and precisely fitting transition of a print across a boundary line between the overlapping area and the connecting area of the connecting element. A forgery would then show up if there were cracks in color and/or cracks in the contours of the printing at this boundary line.

In the event of a forgery by exchanging the data page, the connecting element would have to be separated from the genuine data page largely intact. The fastener would then need to be reprinted since much of the ink formulation will remain in the severed data page. This new printing would have to register with the existing printing on the connecting element. The color values or a color impression of the ink preparation(s) would also have to be identical. In addition, in a forgery based on exchanging the data page with the connecting element remaining the same, residues of the previous printing would still be found on the fibers of the fabric of the connecting element, which would remain visible even after further printing.

A forgery can then be detected, for example, by checking whether a print, for example a print isolated in the overlapping area that is not connected to the rest of the print, is consistent in its appearance with the rest of the print. Since printing is only carried out using saturated colors, for example, a forgery can be detected by the fact that color spaces that are not fully saturated remain.

In a further embodiment of the method for verifying the security feature of the data carrier that can be used for checking, it is provided that an area of the connecting element adjoining the overlapping area is also detected in an optical image, and a further edge sharpness of a print in this adjoining area is determined in the optical image is, and the security feature is found to be genuine if the edge sharpness falls below the further edge sharpness. Provision can also be made here for the overlapping area and the adjoining area to be recorded in a single optical image, provided such simultaneous recording is possible. In particular, during a forensic examination of a passport document, where, if necessary, the If the stapling or binding of the passport document is loosened, such an inspection may be carried out. In this way it can be determined that printing has taken place before a connection. A forgery of the data carrier, in which, for example, printing is only carried out in the overlapping area after the data side has been exchanged, would be recognizable in this way.

In a further embodiment of the method for verifying the security feature of the data carrier that can be used for checking, it is also provided that the security feature is found to be genuine if the at least one ink preparation in the first plastic material surrounding the fibers also has a predetermined penetration depth in relation to a common interface with the fibers of the fabric. This can be determined, for example, by creating a section through the overlapping area and corresponding microscopic enlargement of the exposed cross-section of the overlapping area of the data carrier. In this case, for example, a mean penetration depth of the at least one ink preparation can be determined in a random sample and compared with the predetermined penetration depth. In the case of a forgery, the same predetermined penetration depth would have to be achieved. If, on the other hand, the determined penetration depth deviates from the predetermined penetration depth, this would reveal the forgery.

Furthermore, in a further embodiment of the method for verifying the security feature of the data carrier that can be used for checking, it can be provided that it is additionally checked whether the at least one ink preparation is at least partially present on and/or in the fibers of the fabric, with the security feature being found to be genuine if this is also the case. Here, too, the penetration depth can be determined in a cross section of the overlapping area, for example by determining a mean penetration depth and comparing it with the predetermined penetration depth.

If at least one other ink preparation is used during printing, the verification provides for an additional check as to whether at least one other ink preparation is present in the first plastic material, with the security feature being found to be genuine if this is also the case.

Fig. 1a

eine schematische Darstellung einer Vorderseite einer Ausführungsform des Datenträgers mit einem Sicherheitsmerkmal;

Fig. 1b

eine schematische Darstellung einer Rückseite der in Fig. 1a gezeigten Ausführungsform des Datenträgers;

Fig. 2a

eine schematische Darstellung einer 20-fachen Vergrößerung eines Ausschnitts der Vorderseite der in der Fig. 1a gezeigten Ausführungsform des Datenträgers;

Fig. 2b

eine schematische Darstellung einer 20-fachen Vergrößerung eines Ausschnitts der in der Fig. 1b gezeigten Rückseite des Datenträgers;

Fig. 3a

eine schematische Darstellung einer 200-fachen Vergrößerung eines Ausschnitts der Vorderseite der in der Fig. 1a gezeigten Ausführungsform des Datenträgers;

Fig. 3b

eine schematische Darstellung einer 200-fachen Vergrößerung eines Ausschnitts der in der Fig. 1b gezeigten Rückseite des Datenträgers;

Fig. 4

eine schematische dreidimensionale Darstellung einer 200-fachen Vergrößerung des in der Fig. 3b gezeigten Ausschnitts der Vorderseite des Datenträgers;

Fig. 5a

einen schematischen Schnitt durch den in der Fig. 2b gezeigten Überlappungsbereich des Datenträgers;

Fig. 5b

einen vergrößerten Ausschnitt aus dem in der Fig. 5a gezeigten schematischen Schnitt;

Fig. 5c

einen weiteren vergrößerten Ausschnitt aus dem in der Fig. 5a gezeigten schematischen Schnitt;

Fig. 6

ein schematisches Ablaufdiagramm einer Ausführungsform des Verfahrens zum Herstellen eines Sicherheitsmerkmals in einem Datenträger;

Fig. 7

ein schematisches Ablaufdiagramm einer Ausgestaltung eines zum Überprüfen verwendbaren Verfahrens zum Verifizieren des Sicherheitsmerkmals des Datenträgers.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of preferred exemplary embodiments with reference to the figures. Here show:

Fig. 1a

a schematic representation of a front side of an embodiment of the data carrier with a security feature;

Fig. 1b

a schematic representation of a rear side of the in Fig. 1a shown embodiment of the data carrier;

Figure 2a

a schematic representation of a 20-fold enlargement of a section of the front in the Fig. 1a shown embodiment of the data carrier;

Figure 2b

a schematic representation of a 20-fold enlargement of a section in the Fig. 1b shown back of the disk;

Figure 3a

a schematic representation of a 200-fold enlargement of a section of the front in the Fig. 1a shown embodiment of the data carrier;

Figure 3b

a schematic representation of a 200-fold enlargement of a section in the Fig. 1b shown back of the disk;

4

a schematic three-dimensional representation of a 200-fold magnification of in the Figure 3b shown section of the front of the data carrier;

Figure 5a

a schematic section through the in the Figure 2b shown overlap area of the data carrier;

Figure 5b

an enlarged section of the in the Figure 5a shown schematic section;

Figure 5c

Another enlarged detail from the in the Figure 5a shown schematic section;

6

a schematic flowchart of an embodiment of the method for producing a security feature in a data carrier;

Figure 7

a schematic flowchart of an embodiment of a method for verifying the security feature of the data carrier that can be used for checking.

the Figures 1a and 1b show a schematic representation of an embodiment of the data carrier 1 with a security feature 2. Here, the Fig. 1a a schematic view of a front side 3 of the data carrier 1 and the Fig. 1b a schematic view of a back 4 of the data carrier 1. Both the front 3 and the back 4 of the data carrier 1 can have further security features, such as a passport photo 5 or a security thread 6 etc.

The data carrier 1 has a data page 7 and a connecting element 8 . The connecting element 8 has the printing 9 according to the invention, which in this embodiment is designed as a multicolored sequence of letters, in which each letter is assigned alternately different color impressions by means of an ink preparation used accordingly during printing.

the figures 2a and 2 B show a 20-fold enlarged detail of the front 3 and the back 4 of the in Figures 1a and 1b shown data carrier 1. It can be clearly seen that the connecting element 8 comprises a fabric 10, the fibers of which are wetted with the at least one ink preparation of the imprint 9. In Figure 2b an overlapping area 11 can also be seen, in which the connecting element 8 is connected to the data page 7 . The connection can be made by means of a positive fit, in that the first plastic material of the data page 7 penetrates at least in sections through the meshes of the fabric 10 during the connection and then completely encloses the fibers of the fabric 10 at least in sections.

In Figure 2b it can be clearly seen that an edge sharpness 14, 15 of the letters of the printing 9 in the overlapping area 11 has decreased due to the connection of the data page 7 with the connection element 8 (see also the Figures 3a and 3b ). Each shows a further enlargement Figures 3a and 3b , which in turn show the front 3 and the back 4 of the disk, but in different places. Figure 3a shows only the front side 3 of the printed fabric 10 of the connecting element 8 in an area in which this is not connected to the data page, ie it does not overlap. Figure 3b shows a section from the overlapping area 11 ( Figure 2b ). A magnification of 200x was used in each case. An embossed structure 40 can also be seen, which reproduces a structuring of the sonotrode used for the connection.

The first plastic material 13 of the data page 7 is in Figures 1a, 1b , 2a , 2 B and 3b indicated by the rough hatching running from bottom left to top right. For the sake of simplicity and clarity only, the hatching is in Figure 2a , 2 B and 3b drawn as lying beneath the tissue. However, the first plastic material 13 penetrates through the meshes 31 and completely encloses the fibers 12 at least in sections. The first plastic material 13 preferably completely encloses the fibers 12 of the fabric 10 in planar sections. The first plastic material 13 particularly preferably encloses the fibers 12 of the fabric 10 completely in the entire overlapping area 11 of the connecting element 8 with the data side 7. This means that the first plastic material 13 particularly preferably completely encloses the fibers 12 of the fabric 10 over the entire area in the overlapping area 11.

In the figures 2a and 2 B , as well as 3a and 3b, it can be seen that the first plastic material of the data page 7 has absorbed at least a part of the at least one ink preparation 16 during the connecting process step or that the at least one ink preparation has spread from the fibers 12 of the fabric 10 into the fibers 12 surrounding or enclosing first plastic material 13 has migrated. This can be used for verification by means of a visual check and subsequent comparison of edge sharpness 14 of printing 9 outside of overlapping area 11 with further edge sharpness 15 of printing 9 within overlapping area 11 . If the edge definitions 14, 15 meet certain specifications, for example in relation to one another, the security feature is found to be genuine, otherwise the security feature and thus the data carrier are judged to be fake.

In the Figure 3a It can also be seen that a mesh size 30 is selected to be significantly larger than a width of the fibers 12. When connecting, this promotes the passage of the first plastic material 13 ( Figure 3b ) through the meshes 31 of the fabric 10 of the connecting element 8, as well as further material transport of the first plastic material 13 through the meshes 31, so that the first plastic material 13 that has passed through the meshes 31 can completely enclose the fibers 12 on the other side, at least in sections . In particular, what is also achieved here is that a migration of the at least one ink preparation 16 of the printing during connection into the largest possible volume of the first plastic material 13 is promoted. A mesh size is preferably in the range from 10 micrometers to 500 micrometers, preferably in the range from 50 micrometers to 300 micrometers. Fiber widths or diameters are preferably in the range of 20 microns to 120 microns, preferably in the range of 50 microns to 100 microns.

In 4 FIG. 12 is a schematic three-dimensional representation of enlargement of a section similar to that in FIG Figure 3b shown section of the transition area on the back of the in the Fig. 1b shown embodiment of the data carrier shown. For reasons of simplification, the structure 40 imprinted by means of the structured sonotrode is Figure 3b in 4 Not shown. The individual fibers 12 of the fabric 10 are completely enclosed by the first plastic material 13 of the data page and the at least one ink preparation 16, which was printed on the fibers 12 of the fabric, has largely migrated into the fibers 12 enclosing at least one plastic material 13. Since edges of the printing with the at least one ink preparation 16 lose edge sharpness as a result of migration into a larger volume, edge sharpness is reduced compared to printed areas outside the overlapping area. The reduced edge sharpness can be used to estimate whether printing took place before the data page was connected to the connecting element, or whether printing was applied only after the data page was connected to the connecting element. This can be used to verify the security feature.

the Figures 5a, 5b and 5c each show sections 17 through the in the Figure 2b shown overlapping area 11, which were created on the basis of recordings which were recorded by means of optical microscopy. Here the show Figures 5b and 5c each more enlarged excerpts from the Figure 5a .

In Figure 5a section 17 shows the first plastic material 16, for example transparent polycarbonate. A further layer 18 lying underneath can be seen, which forms an internal part of the data page. This further layer 18 consists, for example, of white polycarbonate (PC). In the area of the first plastic material 13 and above, fibers 12 of the fabric 10 made of the second plastic material 19 running perpendicularly and parallel to the cutting plane are visible. The second plastic material 19 is, for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

In the Figure 5b it can be seen that the first plastic material 16 has completely penetrated the meshes of the fabric and completely encloses the fibers 12 after penetration. On the other hand, those in the Figure 5c fibers 12 shown are not completely enclosed, but are still located on an exposed surface of the data carrier after connection.

Furthermore, in the Figures 5b and 5c recognize that the at least one ink composition 16 is present both at an interface 33 between the fibers 12 and the first plastic material 13 surrounding the fibers 12, and in the first plastic material 13 itself. This is indicated by hatching in the areas 20, 21 by way of example. The depth of migration or penetration of the ink formulation is thus of the order of, or even greater than, the width of the fibers 12 of the web.

6 shows a schematic flowchart of an embodiment of the method for producing a security feature in a data carrier. In a method step 100, a data page is provided, with at least one upper layer of the data page provided for the connection comprising a first plastic material. This first plastic material is preferably polycarbonate. In particular, the data page can be an already individualized data page of a passport.

In a further method step 101, a connecting element is provided, wherein the connecting element comprises a fabric made of a second plastic material, and wherein the plastic materials and an average mesh size between fibers of the fabric are selected such that the first plastic material of the data page when connecting the data page to the connecting element can fully penetrate the mesh and completely enclose the fibers of the fabric.

In method step 102, the connecting element provided is positioned in a printing position. In particular, this is a printing position in a printing device which is suitable for printing at least one ink preparation.

In method step 103, image data are received from a controller of the printing device. This can be, for example, characters, symbols or individualizing information that corresponds to other information on and/or in the data page. The image data and in particular individualizing information contained therein can be queried, for example, from a database in which the corresponding information is stored and can be called up as required.

In the subsequent method step 104, a print head of the printing device is printed with the at least one ink preparation as a function of the received image data for the targeted printing of the fabric.

During the printing and/or afterwards it is provided in a first alternative in a method step 105 that the printed fabric of the connecting element is brought to a heating temperature. A penetration depth of the at least one printed ink preparation into a volume of the fibers of the fabric of the connecting element is adjusted over a period of heating. Provision is made here for the heating temperature and/or a heating time to be defined as a function of a predetermined penetration depth of the ink preparation into the fibers of the fabric.

When printing, it is preferably provided that at least one further ink preparation is printed with a different color impression than the at least one ink preparation. Analogously to four-color printing, four ink preparations are particularly preferably printed, which together, for example, span a full-color CMYK color space. Furthermore, other ink preparations can also be provided, for example those that include special colors and/or functional colors.

The ink preparations preferably comprise a binder with a polycarbonate derivative based on a geminally disubstituted dihydroxydiphenylcycloalkane.

The method steps 102 to 104 can be summarized as a method step for printing the fabric of the connecting element. In addition to ink jet printing, other digital printing processes can also be considered.

A number of other printing methods, such as letterpress, intaglio, flat or screen printing, a pad printing method or other printing methods known to the person skilled in the art, can also be used to print the fabric. It is important that the printing preparation or ink preparation used to print the fabric is such that when the fabric is connected to the data page, it partially migrates from the fabric into the first plastic material, while the first plastic material at least covers the meshes of the fabric completely penetrates in sections and completely encloses the fibers of the fabric at least in sections.

In addition to or as an alternative to an individual print or one personalized to the later owner of the data carrier, a uniform print can also be provided for all connecting elements. Printing on an object, for example the fabric, is individualizing or personalizing if the object is part of a plurality or majority of, preferably similar, objects and the printing on the object differs from the printing on the other objects of the plurality or majority.

It is clear to the person skilled in the art that the step of providing the data page 100 can also be carried out after the steps of providing and printing the fabric of the connecting element 101 to 105 or at the same time.

In the subsequent method step 106, the printed connecting element is connected to the data page, with the first plastic material of the data page completely penetrating the meshes of the fabric at least in sections and completely enclosing the fibers of the fabric, so that the at least one printed Ink composition migrates at least partially from the web during bonding into the first plastic material of the data page adjacent to the fibers.

The connection can be carried out in particular by means of ultrasonic welding. For this purpose, the connecting element is applied to the layer provided for connecting on the outside of the data page. The connecting element and the data page are then arranged together between the stamp of a sonotrode and welded to one another by introducing ultrasound. This ultrasonic welding can be done, for example, by coupling in ultrasound with a frequency in the range from 25,000 Hertz to 90,000 Hertz with a contact pressure of the sonotrodes of 2 Newtons per square centimeter to 20 Newtons per square centimeter for a period of 0.5 seconds to 5.0 seconds.

Other thermal bonding methods such as a high-pressure, high-temperature lamination method can also be used for bonding.

In method step 106, in a second alternative, it is alternatively or additionally provided that a process duration and/or a process parameter for the connection, for example by means of ultrasonic welding, depending on a predetermined penetration depth of the at least one ink preparation into the first plastic material of the data page with regard to a common Interface to be defined with the fibers of the tissue.

In 7 a schematic flow chart of an embodiment of the method that can be used for checking to verify the security feature according to the invention of the data carrier according to the invention is shown.

In a first method step 200, the data carrier to be checked is positioned in a verification position. Such a verification position is, for example, a detection area of a camera provided and specified for this purpose.

In the subsequent method step 201, an optical image of at least the overlapping area of the data page with the connecting element is recorded. A correspondingly high-resolution camera with corresponding optics is used for this purpose, for example. It can additionally be provided in a further method step 202 be that the area of the connecting element, which lies outside the overlapping area, is also detected by means of the same or a further optical image. For this purpose, this area of optical detection must be accessible. If, for example, the data carrier is already attached in a passport via the connecting element, then in a method step 203 it may be necessary to turn to the corresponding page of the passport on which the area of the connecting element outside the overlapping area can be detected, either by hand or by machine. A forensic examination may also involve unstapling or binding to allow for verification examination.

In the subsequent method step 204, the captured optical image is evaluated, for example by means of a controller provided for this purpose. In particular, it is provided that an edge sharpness of a printing of the overlapping area is determined in the optical image.

In the very last method step 212, a verification decision is issued at the end of the method, with the security feature being found to be authentic if the edge sharpness of the printing falls below a predetermined level.

It can additionally be provided in method step 205 that a further edge sharpness of a print in the area of the connecting element that is not in the overlapping area is determined in the further optical image. The security feature is then found to be genuine in method step 212 if the edge sharpness falls below the further edge sharpness.

Provision can also be made for method steps 206 to 211 to be carried out alternatively or additionally for verification. In method step 206, a section is created through the overlapping area of the data carrier. In the subsequent method step 207, a check is made in the section of the overlapping area of the data carrier to determine whether at least one ink preparation is present in the first plastic material enclosing the fibers. The security feature is then found to be genuine in method step 212 if this is the case.

It can additionally be provided that the security feature is found to be genuine if the at least one ink preparation in the first Plastic material also has a predetermined penetration depth in relation to a common interface with the fibers of the fabric.

Furthermore, in a method step 208 it can also be provided that it is additionally checked whether the at least one ink preparation is at least partially present on and/or in the fibers of the fabric, with the security feature being found to be genuine in method step 212 if this is also the case is.

If several ink preparations were printed during production of the data carrier, it can also be provided that in method step 209 it is checked whether at least one further ink preparation is present in the first plastic material, with the security feature being found to be genuine in method step 212 if this is also the case is.

In a preferred embodiment of the data carrier, the first plastic material comprises polycarbonate and the second plastic material comprises polyethylene terephthalate. In a method step 210 it can therefore be provided that it is additionally checked whether the first plastic material is polycarbonate and the second plastic material is polyethylene terephthalate, with the security feature being found to be genuine in method step 212 if this is also the case.

In a preferred embodiment of the data carrier, the at least one ink preparation comprises a binder with a polycarbonate derivative based on a geminally disubstituted dihydroxydiphenylcycloalkane. It can therefore be provided in a further method step 211 that it is additionally checked whether the at least one ink preparation comprises a binder with a polycarbonate derivative based on a geminally disubstituted dihydroxydiphenylcycloalkane, with the security feature being found to be genuine in method step 212 if this is also the case .

Reference List

1

disk

2

security feature

3

front

4

back

5

passport photo

6

security thread

7

data page

8th

fastener

9

Oppression

10

tissue

11

overlap area

12

fiber

13

first plastic material

14

edge sharpness

15

more edge sharpness

16

ink preparation

17

cut

18

layer

19

second plastic material

20

Area

21

Area

30

mesh size

31

mesh

32

broad

33

interface

40

imprinted structure

100-107

process steps

200-212

process steps

Claims (14)

1. A method for manufacturing a data carrier (1) with a security feature (2) that is suitable for insertion into a booklet- or book-shaped object, comprising the following steps:

   (a) providing a data page (7), the data page (7) comprising, on an outer side, at least one layer of a first plastic material (13) provided for bonding,

   (b) providing a bonding element (8), the bonding element (8) comprising a fabric (10) made of a second plastic material (19),

   (c) targeted printing of the fabric (10) with at least one ink preparation (16),

   (d) bonding the printed bonding element (8) and the data page (7) together, the first plastic material (13) of the data page (7) completely penetrating the meshes of the fabric (10) at least in portions during bonding, thereby completely enclosing the fibers (12) of the fabric (10) at least in portions,

   so that the at least one printed ink preparation (16) migrates during bonding at least partially from the fabric (10) into the first plastic material (13) of the data page (7) adjoining the fibers (12), wherein the printed fabric (10) is heated to a heating temperature during printing and/or after printing, and the heating temperature and/or a heating time is determined as a function of a predetermined penetration depth of the at least one ink preparation (16) into the fibers (12) of the fabric (10) and/or

   wherein a process duration and/or a process parameter for the bonding is determined as a function of a predetermined penetration depth of the at least one ink preparation (16) into the first plastic material (13) of the data page (7) relative to a common interface (33) with the fibers (12) of the fabric (10).
2. The method as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the predetermined penetration depth of the at least one ink preparation (16) into the first plastic material (13) is greater than 50 micrometers.
3. The method as set forth in claim 2, characterized in that the predetermined penetration depth of the at least one ink preparation (16) into the first plastic material (13) is greater than 100 micrometers.
4. The method as set forth in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an average mesh size (30) between fibers (12) of the fabric (10) is greater than an average width (32) of the fibers (12) of the fabric (10).
5. The method as set forth in the preceding claim, characterized in that the average mesh size (30) between fibers (12) of the fabric (10) is in the range between 1.5 times the average width and 4 times the average width (32) of the fibers (12) of the fabric (10), and preferably at least twice as large as the average width (32) of the fibers (12) of the fabric (10).
6. The method as set forth in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fabric (10) is printed by means of at least one additional ink preparation (16), the at least one ink preparation (16) and the at least one additional ink preparation effecting different color impressions in the printed state.
7. The method as set forth in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bonding is performed by means of ultrasonic welding.
8. The method as set forth in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of data carriers (1) is produced and the targeted printing is carried out in such a way that the pressure applied to the respective fabric (10) is customized for the respective data carrier or personalizing for the later owner of the respective data carrier.
9. The method as set forth in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the targeted printing of the fabric (10) is carried out using an inkjet printing method.
10. The method as set forth in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one ink preparation (16) comprises a binder with a polycarbonate derivative based on a geminally disubstituted dihydroxydiphenyl cycloalkane.
11. A data carrier (1) with a security feature (2), the data carrier (1) being suitable for insertion into a booklet- or book-shaped object and comprising:

    a data page (7) with at least one outer layer made of a first plastic material (16), and with a bonding element (8),

    wherein the bonding element (8) comprises a fabric (10) made of a second plastic material (19), and wherein the bonding element (8) forms a composite with the data page (7) in which meshes (31) of the fabric (10) are completely penetrated at least in portions by the first plastic material (13) of the data page (7) in a region of overlap (11), and fibers (12) of the fabric (10) are completely enclosed at least in portions by the first plastic material (13) of the data page (7), wherein fibers (12) of the fabric (13) in the region of overlap (11) are provided at least partially with an imprint (9), and wherein at least one ink preparation (16) of the imprint (9) of the fabric is both present as a security feature (2) at least in the region of overlap (11) at least partially on and/or in the fibers (12) of the fabric (10) and has also migrated at least partially into the first plastic material (13) enclosing the fibers (12),

    wherein the at least one ink preparation (16) has a predetermined penetration depth into the fibers (12) of the fabric (10),

    which is determined as a function of a heating temperature to which the printed fabric (10) is heated during printing and/or after printing and/or via a heating time, and/or

    wherein the at least one ink preparation (16) has a predetermined penetration depth into the first plastic material (13) of the data page (7) relative to a common interface (33) with the fibers (12) of the fabric (10),

    the predetermined penetration depth being determined as a function of a process duration and/or a process parameter for bonding the bonding element (8) and the data page (7) together.
12. The data carrier (1) as set forth in claim 11, characterized in that the imprint (9) comprises information that individualizes the data carrier (1).
13. The data carrier (1) as set forth in one of claims 11 or 12, characterized in that the imprint (9) has at least one additional ink preparation, the at least one ink preparation (16) and the at least one additional ink preparation of the imprint (9) effecting different color impressions.
14. The data carrier (1) as set forth in one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the first plastic material (13) comprises polycarbonate and the second plastic material (19) comprises polyethylene terephthalate.

Images