BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Many documents have monetary value. Some are even recognized to be privately issued
substitutes for money-Traveler's Checks, money orders and stock certificates to name
but a few. Also, other documents have great value to show origin, titles, personal
identification, etc., motor vehicle certificates of origin, birth certificates and
Social Security cards are but a few examples.
[0002] The US patent of Norris, et al., 3,985,927, issued October 12 1976 (and corresponding
British Patent Specification No 1465029 Nekoosa) discloses compositions and a method
for producing chemical watermarks in finished paper products, the watermarks being
produced by applying to the surface of the paper a chemical composition, which, after
suitable radiation treatment to render its effect permanent replicates the appearance
of a conventional mechanical watermark, without detracting from the finishing, use
and keeping-quality of a document made from the paper. In contrast to printing, a
chemical watermark is colourless and cannot be dissolved from the paper. It is detected
primarily as a pattern of difference in translucence of the paper. The entire disclosure
of this patent of Norris, et al is incorporated herein by reference, inasmuch as it
further illuminates the state of the prior art, as well as teaches ways, means and
compositions for applying chemical watermarks to paper.
[0003] Similarly British Specification No 1489084 (Tullis Russell) discloses a method of
producing a simulated watermark in a paper sheet wherein the sheet is impregnated
by a transparentising composition which is itself fluent and which is polymerisable
upon being activated by radiation to yield an insoluble resin matrix having a refractive
index approximating to that of the paper and the composition is cured in situ by irradiating
the sheet with activating radiation.
[0004] Other US patents disclosing useful ways and means for synthetically watermarking
paper, using synthetic resins which, in contrast to those of Norris and Tullis Russell,
do not require application of in Situ ultraviolet light or like radiation for curing,
are shown and described in the following US patents, the entire disclosures of which
are incorporated herein by reference:
Vaurio 3.085,898 16 Apr. 1963
Vaurio 3,140,959 14 Jul. 1964
Skofronick et al. 3,293,062 20 Dec. 1966
Skofronick 3,441,427 29 Apr. 1969
Skofronick 3,443,979 13 May 1969
Skofronick 3,464,841 2 Sep 1969
Skofronick 3,486,923 30 Dec 1969
[0005] Also French Specification No 2023814 (British Specification No 1286309) describes
a security document bearing a stereoscopic picture of which at least one half of the
picture being a true watermark or an artificial watermark.
[0006] UK Patent Specification No 2159463 describes continuous computer stationery having
a watermark with a conventional ink imprinting in register with the watermark.
[0007] Specification DE B 2901150 (British Specification No 2039466) describes an identification
card bearing a hallmark formed by means of partially overlapping colour coatings on
a monochromatic or monochromatically printed substrate.
[0008] British Specification No 2076337 describes an identification card having at least
two layers laminated together with at least two partly overlapping monochromatic printed
images which overlap printed on the layers.
[0009] The term "synthetic watermark" is used herein to denote a watermark which is produced
in situ on paper mainly with the aid of a chemical and radiation process, in contrast
to its being created in the paper by mechanical means as a pattern of local thickness
discontinuity during manufacture of the paper from pulped fibers.
[0010] By means of the method of producing the watermark in situ with the aid of the chemical
and radiation process a more permanent watermark less capable of being tampered with
than heretofore is produced.
[0011] The term "serial number " is used herein to denote the unique string of indicia (characters)
which is applied to a document in order to distinguish that document, both from ones
that are otherwise identical but have applied indica series which differ as to at
least one indicium (character) and from ones which are not genuine. Use of the term
is not intended to imply that the string of indicia consists either partly or wholly
of numbers; in other words, a "serial number" as that term is used herein may include
any combination of numbers, letters, punctuation marks and specialized symbols. Falling
within this definition, in addition to conventional serial number, are amounts, names
and combinations thereof.
Summary of the Invention
[0012] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved series of documents
printed on paper each being provided with a unique serial number and to a method of
producing such series of documents.
[0013] According to the present invention a series of documents printed on paper each being
provided with a unique serial number includes;
a first character 16 provided as a synthetic watermark field in which the relative
translucence but not the colour of the paper is contrasted, and
a second character 22 provided as an ink-imprinted field in which the colour of the
paper is contrasted,
characterised in that the first character comprises a first string of characters 16
prepared by applying to the surface of the paper a chemical composition which is subsequently
treated by a radiation process to set the first string of characters 16 and
in that the second character comprises a second string of characters and wherein at
least one character in the synthetic watermark field 16 is provided to have a characteristic
relative juxtaposition with at least one character in the ink-imprinted field 22 to
at least partially surround a respective character in said ink-imprinted field.
[0014] Also the invention concerns a method for providing each document of a series of paper
documents with a serial number which includes at least one said character in at least
one field is stepped in identity on successive documents in the series.
[0015] In a preferred practice of the invention both a synthetic watermark serial number
and a conventionally printed serial number are provided on each document in a set
of documents. Each document is thus made to be different from all of the others in
the set as well as from documents not in the set. In this preferred practice the synthetic
watermark serial number is the same as, but is applied in a larger typeface than the
conventionally printed serial number, with each character of the latter being centered
within the corresponding character of the former. As a result, when held to the light
a water mark "halo" appears around each of the conventionally printed characters,
thus complicating the task of replicating, photocopying or altering the document.
[0016] The principles of the invention will be further discussed with reference to the drawing
wherein a preferred embodiment is shown. The specifics illustrated in the drawing
intended to exemplify, rather than limit, aspects of the invention as defined in the
claims.
Brief Description of the Drawing
[0017]
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic flow sheet illustrating successive steps in the practice
of preferred embodiment of the present invention; and
Figure 2 is a diagrammatic representation of an examination of a sample of the product
for genuineness and lack of alteration.
Detailed Description
[0018] By way of example, in Figure 1, the method of the invention is shown being carried
out on a web comprising a series of successive paper documents at a stage of document
manufacture, the web being conventionally advanced by engagement of tension pull rolls
with the web. (Preferably, the opposite marginal series of holes which may later be
used for advancing the web using conventional drive sprockets engaged therein are
not formed in the web until a later stage, although they could be provided earlier
and used at this stage for web advancement.)
[0019] In practising the present invention in a preferred way, at a first station 10, a
sheet or document of paper 12 in a series of such sheets or documents 14 is imprinted
with a first string of characters 16, of which at least one preferably is different
for each successive sheet in the series, so that the string of characters 16 imprinted
on each sheet taken as a whole string provides a synthetic watermark field and is
unique and thus capable of functioning as a serial number
uniquely identifying that particular sheet.
[0020] At this first station 10, the fluid material used for the imprinting is not like
an ink, in the sense that it does not use a solution or suspension of pigment applied
in a visible pattern which contrasts in colour, chroma, hue or brilliance with the
colour of the paper substrate constituting the sheets or documents 14.
[0021] Rather that fluid material is a composition which, when dried or cured, eg at a subsequent
curing station 18, which may include the application of photons of a particular band
of energy levels to constitute a radiation process and the application of air drying
with or without added heat, causes the paper or document to sharply differ in degree
of relative translucence where imprinted in comparison with its degree of translucence
where not so imprinted.
[0022] The pattern may either be one in which the imprinted characters, when a sheet of
the paper is viewed from the front with strong back-lighting, constitute a regional
pattern where the paper is more translucent than the non-imprinted remainder of the
sheet, or partly more translucent and partly less translucent.
[0023] The first string of characters 16 as illustrated in dashed lines in Figure 1, on
successive sheets typically may show-up under strong back lighting as a series of
successive segments eg which read, "..., * 6A, * 7A,, * 8B, * 9B, * 0B, * 1B,...".
[0024] At a third station, 20, each sheet of paper is imprinted with a pigmented ink so
that each bears a second string of characters 22, illustrated in full lines, of which
at least one preferably is different for each successive sheet or document in the
series, so that the string of characters 22 imprinted on each sheet taken as a whole
string comprises an ink impregnated field which is unique and thus capable of functioning
as a serial number for uniquely identifying that particular sheet or document. Although
it is preferred that both strings of characters on each document be printed on the
same line, the principles of the invention can be practised even if the two strings
of characters are provided on lines which adjoin one another or bear some other predetermined
relationship.
[0025] At least one of the characters of the first string 16 applied and developed as a
synthetic watermark at stations 10, 18 is juxtaposed with at least one of the characters
of the second string 22 applied as a contrasting-colour serial number at station 20.
[0026] For instance the corresponding two characters may be alike and superimposed so that
one of them skirts the perimeter of the other about all of or a substantial part of
that perimeter.
[0027] In the instance depicted, the contrasting color-imprinted second series has a segment
which reads "... *1 E, *0 D, *9 D, *8 D, *7 D, *6 D...".
[0028] In this example, the typefont used for producing the synthetic watermark serial number
is similar to but larger-charactered than that used for producing the contrasting
color-imprinted serial number, so that if the resulting documents D are held up to
the light, they are seen to be successively read "...*1BE, *0BD, *9BD, *8BD, *7AD,
*6AD,...", in which the characters "*" of the synthetic watermark-type first strings
appear to halo 26 (border, permetrically surround) like characters "*" 28 imprinted
with ink in the second series. In this example, the comparable situation is true for
the corresponding second character, A, in each of the two strings. However, it is
not true for the third character "...A, A, B, B, B, B...", which is present only in
the first strings 16, but not in the second string 22, where the corresponding space
is left non-imprinted, i.e. blank. Nor is it true for the fourth character position,
which in the first strings 16 is left blank, but in the second strings 22 is imprinted
with a character, e.g. "... E, D, D, D, D, D, E...".
[0029] Thus, although the process and compositions and apparatus used for imprinting each
of the documents with each of its two strings of characters are known, the combination,
if performed in accordance with the principles of the present invention easily provides
a unique system for readily not only keeping track of the documents by serial number,
but also for conveniently examining them for lack of alteration, and for genuineness.
[0030] For instance, upon strongly back-lighting a document D (Figure 2), the examiner can
conveniently look for the fact that the "*" in the first character position of the
synthetic watermark "halos" the "*" of the ink-printed serial number, for the fact
that the "...1, 0, 9, 8, 7, 6,..." in the second character position of the synthetic
watermark "halos" the respective "...1, 0, 9, 8, 7, 6,..." in the second character
position of the ink-printed serial number, for the fact that the synthetic watermark
character "...,B, B, B, B, A, A,..." in the third character position corresponds to
a no imprinted space in the third character position of the ink-printed serial number,
and for the fact that no synthetic watermark character appears in the fourth position,
where the ink imprinted serial number has a character "...,E, D, D, D, D, D,..."
[0031] In looking at any one document D (Figure 2), the examiner can be looking for completeness
of the serial number (e.g. that it reads *6AD"), the examiner can be looking for lack
of alteration of the serial number (e.g. that the "*6" of the synthetic watermark
both "halos" an "*6" of the ink-imprinted serial number) and that the juxtaposition
is characteristic of a genuine one (e.g. that one *6 is precisely centered on the
other, that both are of the same type face and that the halo extends one-half millimeter
beyond the respective printed characters, this example of juxtaposition and relative
characteristics being only one among many which could be adopted by the designer and
issuer of the genuine documents D), and the examiner can be looking for the side-by-side
juxtaposition of synthetic and ink-imprinted characters, rather than their juxtaposition
(e.g. that no ink-imprinted character appears in the third character position, but
a synthetic watermark character does, and vice versa as to the fourth character position,
these being made as checks against spurious addition or deletion of characters by
a counterfeiter who is unwitting of the code adopted for the serial number printing
process).
[0032] Clearly, the examiner which performs the examination referred to in connection with
the above discussion can be but need not be a human, in that the system provided by
the invention lends itself easily to rapid and reliable routine examination of large
numbers of documents by light-sensitive electronic instruments, e.g. sets of photo-electric
cells in sensor circuits programmed to look for and distinguish presence and absence
of correspondence with characteristic features of the particular code adopted.
[0033] Registration systems used in printing. processes are well-known and may be used in
a conventional manner for providing proper juxtaposition of the two strings of characters
on each document. Because these techniques are so well known in the trade, it is believed
unnecessary to describe them in further detail.
[0034] Various, conventional printing processes may be used for applying the two character
strings using presses which are sheet fed or web fed, and which apply the synthetic
watermark imprinting fluid of the first character string and the ink of the second
character string by stamping, rotary printing, felt printing, ink jet printing, ribbon-impact
printing or the like.
[0035] Likewise, the devices used for stepping-up the serial number from document to document
may be any convenient ones of such devices as are presently commercially available
for serial numbering of documents, e.g. ones in which the serial numbering is stepped
manually by rotating endless rubber mats of reverse characters as on a hand-operated
date-stamper, ones in which the serial number is automatically mechanically stepped
using a series of cams, pawls, ratchets and cam followers operating endless wheels
or bands of reverse characters, or ones in which serial number stepping is electronically
programmed, e.g. into the controller for a daisy wheel or ink-jet printer.
[0036] It should now be apparent that the document bearing characteristic ink-printed indicia
juxtaposed with corresponding characteristic synthetic watermark and method for producing
same as described hereinabove, possess each of the attributes set forth in the specification
under the heading "Summary of the Invention" hereinbefore. Because it can be modified
to some extent without departing from the principles thereof as they have been outlined
and explained in this specification, the present invention should be understood as
encompassing all such modifications as are within the scope and spirit of the following
claims.
1. A series of documents (12) printed on paper, each being provided with a unique
serial number, which includes:
a first character (16) provided as a synthetic watermark field in which the relative
translucence but not the colour of the paper is contrasted,and
a second character (22) provided as an ink-imprinted field in which the colour of
the paper is contrasted, characterised in that
the first character comprises a first string of characters (16) prepared by applying
to the surface of the paper a chemical composition which is subsequently treated by
a radiation process to set the first string of characters (16) and
in that the second character comprises a second string of characters and wherein at
least one character in the synthetic watermark field (16) is provided to have a characteristic
relative juxtaposition with at least one character in the ink-imprinted field (22)
to at least partially surround a respective character in said ink imprinted field.
2. The series of documents according to claim 1, wherein:
at least one character of the string of characters in the synthetic watermark field
16 which at least partially surrounds at least one character of the second string
of characters in the ink-imprinted field (22) is a replication of the same character,
so that the at least one character in the ink-imprinted field (22) is haloed by the
character in the synthetic watermark field (16).
3. The series of documents according to claim 1, wherein:
the at least one character of the string of characters in the synthetic watermark
field (16) lies non-overlappingly characteristically adjacent at least one character
of the second string of characters in the ink-imprinted field (22).
4. The series of documents according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein:
on each document the strings of characters (16), (22) are provided in a line common
to both kinds of characters (16), (22).
5. The document according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein:
at least one character (16), (22), in at least one of the fields is provided in a
gap in the corresponding other field.
6. A method for providing each document (12) of a series of paper documents (14) with
a serial number, according to claim 1 which includes:
printing on each document a first character (16) as a synthetic watermark field in
which relative translucence but not of the colour of the paper is contrasted: and
printing on each document a second character (22) as an ink-imprinted field in which
the colour of the paper is contrasted, characterised in that the first character comprises
a first string of characters (16) prepared by applying to the surface of the paper
a chemical composition which is subsequently treated by a radiation process (18) to
set the first string of characters (16) and in that the second character comprises
a second string of characters and
wherein at least one character in said synthetic watermark filed (16) is provided
to have a characteristic relative juxtaposition with at least one character in said
ink-imprinted field (22) at least partially to surround a at least one respective
character in the ink-imprinted field (22).
7. The method according to claim 6 characterised in that
at least one said character in at least one field is stepped in identity on successive
documents in the series.
8. The method according to claim 7 having in combination therewith any of the features
according to any one of claims 2 to 5.
1. Eine Serie auf Papier gedruckter Dokumente (12), wobei jedes mit einer sich nicht
wiederholenden Seriennummer versehen ist, die beinhaltet:
ein als synthetisches Wasserzeichen ausgeführtes erstes Zeichenfeld (16), in dem die
relative Durchsichtigkeit, nicht aber die Farbe des Papiers anders ist, und
ein tintenbedrucktes zweites Zeichenfeld (22), in dem die Farbe des Papiers anders
ist, dadurch gekennzeichent, daß
das erste Zeichenfeld eine erste Folge von Zeichen (16) aufweist, die durch Aufbringen
einer chemischen Verbindung auf die Oberfläche des Papiers erzeugt und einem anschließenden
Strahlungsprozess unterzogen werden, um die erste Folge von Zeichen (16) zu fixieren
und daß das zweite Zeichenfeld eine zweite Folge von Zeichen umfaßt, wobei zumindest
ein Zeichen des als synthetisches Wasserzeichen ausgeführten Zeichenfeldes (16) und
zumindest ein Zeichen des tintenbedruckten Zeichenfeldes (22) eine charakteristische
relative Zueinanderanordnung aufweisen, so daß es ein entsprechendes Zeichen im tintenbedruckten
Feld zumindest teilweise umgibt.
2. Serie von Dokumenten nach Anspruch 1, wobei:
zumindest ein Zeichen in der Folge von Zeichen im als synthetisches Wasserzeichen
ausgeführten Feld (16), welches zumindest ein weiteres Zeichen der zweiten Folge von
Zeichen im tintenbedruckten Feld (22) zumindest teilweise umgibt, eine Nachbildung
dieses weiteren Zeichens ist, so daß zumindest ein Zeichen des tintenbedruckten Feldes
(22) von einem Zeichen des als synthetisches Wasserzeichen ausgeführten Feldes (16)
hofartig umgeben ist.
3. Serie von Dokumenten nach Anspruch 1, wobei:
das zumindest eine Zeichen aus der Folge von Zeichen des als synthetisches Wasserzeichen
ausgeführten Feldes (16) auf charakteristische Weise und nicht überlappend neben zumindest
einem Zeichen aus der zweiten Folge von Zeichen des tintenbedruckten Feldes (22) liegt.
4. Serie von Dokumenten nach einem der Ansprüche 1, 2 oder 3, in denen:
auf jedem Dokument die Folgen von Zeichen (16, 22) in einer beiden Arten von Zeichen
(16, 22) gemeinsamen Zeile angeordnet sind.
5. Das Dokument nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, in dem:
zumindest ein Zeichen (16, 22) aus zumindest einem der Felder in einer Leerstelle
des entsprechenden anderen Feldes angeordnet ist.
6. Ein Verfahren zum Versehen jedes Dokumentes (12) einer Serie von Dokumenten (14)
mit einer Seriennummer nach Anspruch 1 mit folgenden Schritten:
Drucken eines als synthetisches Wasserzeichen ausgeführten Feldes (16), in welchem
die relative Durchsichtigkeit, nicht jedoch die Farbe des Papiers anders ist, auf
jedes Dokument, und
Drucken eines tintenbedruckten Feldes (22), in welchem die Farbe des Papiers anders
ist, auf jedes Dokument, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das erste Feld eine erste Folge
von Zeichen (16) aufweist, die durch Aufbringen einer chemischen Verbindung auf die
Oberfläche des Papiers erzeugt und einem anschließenden Strahlungsprozess unterzogen
werden, um die erste Folge von Zeichen (16) zu fixieren und daß das zweite Feld eine
zweite Folge von Zeichen umfaßt und
daß zumindest ein Zeichen in dem als synthetisches Wasserzeichen ausgeführten Feld
(16) und zumindest ein Zeichen des tintenbedruckten Feldes (22) eine charakteristische
relative Zueinanderanordnung aufweisen, so daß es das zumindest eine entsprechende
Zeichen im tintenbedruckten Feld (22) zumindest teilweise umgibt.
7. Verfahren nach Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß zumindest ein Zeichen in
zumindest einem Feld bei aufeinanderfolgenden Dokumenten einer Serie in gleichen Schritten
verändert wird.
8. Verfahren nach Anspruch 7 in Kombination mit einem oder mehreren der Merkmale nach
einem der Ansprüche 2 bis 5.
1. Série de documents (12) imprimés sur papier, pourvus chacun d'un numéro de série
unique, qui comprend:
un premier caractère (16) réalisé sous forme d'un champ de filigrane synthétique dans
lequel la transparence relative, mais non pas la couleur du papier forme un contraste,
et
un second caractère (22) réalisé sous forme d'un champ imprimé à l'encre, dans lequel
la couleur du papier forme un contraste,
caractérisée en ce que le premier caractère est constitué par une première chaîne
de caractères (16) préparée par application sur la surface du papier d'une composition
chimique qui est ensuite traitée par un processus d'irradiation pour fixer la première
chaîne de caractères (16) et
en ce que le second caractère est constitué par une seconde chaîne de caractères,
et dans laquelle au moins un caractère du champ de filigrane synthétique (16) est
réalisé de façon à présenter une juxtaposition relative caractéristique avec un au
moins un caractère du champ imprimé à l'encre (22) pour entourer au moins partiellement
un caractère respectif dans ledit champ imprimé à l'encre.
2. Série de documents suivant la revendication 1, dans laquelle:
au moins un caractère de la chaîne de caractères dans le champ de filigrane synthétique
(16) qui entoure au moins partiellement au moins un caractère de la seconde chaîne
de caractères dans le champ imprimé à l'encre (22) est une reproduction du même caractère,
de manière que ledit caractère dans le champ imprimé à l'encre (22) soit entouré par
un halo formé par le caractère du champ de filigrane synthétique (16).
3. Série de documents suivant la revendication 1, dans laquelle:
le premier caractère de la chaîne de caractères dans le champ de filigrane synthétique
(16) est, de façon caractéristique, adjacent à au moins un caractère de la seconde
chaîne de caractères dans le champ imprimé à l'encre (22), mais sans recouvrement
de celui-ci.
4. Série de documents suivant l'une quelconque des revendications 1, 2 ou 3, dans
laquelle:
les chaînes de caractères (16, 22) sont formées sur chaque document sur une ligne
commune aux deux types de caractères (16, 22).
5. Document suivant l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel:
au moins un caractère (16, 22) dans au moins l'un des champs est prévu dans un intervalle
dans l'autre champ correspondant.
6. Procédé pour appliquer un numéro de série sur chaque document (12) d'une série
de documents en papier (14) telle que définie suivant la revendication 1, qui comprend:
l'impression sur chaque document d'un premier caractère (16) sous forme d'un champ
de filigrane synthétique dans lequel la transparence, mais non pas la couleur du papier
forme un contraste: et
l'impression sur chaque document d'un second caractère (22) sous forme d'un champ
imprimé à l'encre dans lequel la couleur du papier forme un contraste, caractérisé
en ce que le premier caractère est constitué par une première chaîne de caractères
(16) préparée par application sur la surface du papier d'une composition chimique
qui est ensuite traitée par un processus d'irradiation (18) pour fixer la première
chaîne de caractères (16), et en ce que le second caractère est constitué par une
seconde chaîne de caractères et
dans lequel au moins un caractère du champ de filigrane synthétique (16) est réalisé
de manière à présenter une juxtaposition relative caractéristique avec au moins un
caractère dans ledit champ imprimé à l'encre (22) pour entourer au moins partiellement
au moins un caractère respectif du champ imprimé à l'encre (22).
7. Procédé suivant la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce que:
au moins l'identité de l'un desdits caractères dans au moins un champ, est changée
pas à pas sur les documents successifs dans la série.
8. Procédé suivant la revendication 7, en combinaison avec l'une quelconque des caractéristiques
de l'une quelconque des revendications 2 à 5.