[0001] The present invention relates to a method for producing documents, securities, banknotes
and the like with security elements, and to the document, security, banknote and the
like thus obtained.
[0002] It is known that the production of documents, securities, banknotes and the like
normally employs a paper substrate that is manufactured in paper mills with high specialisation
by virtue of manufacturing and control procedures that give high security to the product.
[0003] For example, in a banknote one introduces security systems derived from counterfeit
banknote monitoring in order to have an exact picture of the most counterfeited elements
or systems. These elements or systems are the normally interpreted by ordinary people
to identify whether a banknote is genuine, or counterfeit, such as the watermark,
the security thread with particular inscriptions, the "sound" of the paper, its consistency,
color and so forth.
[0004] The additional elements that are used by professionals in the field, such as tellers
and the like, to check the authenticity of banknotes are generally not known to ordinary
people, and are microprinting, the shifting colors of some inks, and the recognition
of special holographic images such as kinegrams in more recent banknotes.
[0005] All these elements pose anti-counterfeiting problems that are intrinsic to them,
since they are all identical for each individual value of the banknote.
[0006] In particular, it is noted that security threads are incorporated in the paper substrate
of a banknote, said threads being manufactured externally to the machine that shapes
the paper sheet-like element, i.e., in a different production process.
[0007] In practice, said threads are produced with devices and processes that transfer total
completion of the security element outside the paper-making machine.
[0008] Accordingly, the security thread is an element that is constantly identical over
time and is incorporated in the paper substrate without any specific correlation between
the thread element and the paper substrate that will subsequently become a banknote.
[0009] From this example it is evident that a few years' production of paper for banknotes
having a specific value contains elements that are identical and therefore cannot
be distinguished from one another.
[0010] It is evident that some elements, such as for example the security thread as regards
the visual aspect, can be reproduced more easily, since by not changing over time
they justify considerable investments on the part of counterfeiters, since the security
thread, once counterfeited, can he produced more than once without causing particular
problems.
[0011] Furthermore, since the thread is incorporated in the paper only with a lateral register
with respect to the edge of the banknote, generic and non customised use is possible.
[0012] Furthermore, some elements, such as for example the incorporated thread and/or the
applied holograms, by not being constrained to the individual specific banknote in
any way, can be removed and applied to fraudulently duplicated documents, raising
preponderantly the uncertainty of whoever has to check the authenticity of the banknote.
[0013] Currently, banknote paper is produced with watermarking machines with a so-called
"dandy-roll" process, i.e., with machines in which the watermark is produced by using
watermarking screens that reproduce the image created by watermark artists as many
times as required by the sheet of the printing machines. These watermarks are wrapped
around rollers, hence the name of "dandy-roll" process.
[0014] The manufacturing process substantially consists in creating a hollow in the watermarking
roller so that the mix in which said roller is immersed for approximately 55-60 %
of its lateral surface can be attracted by the hollow. In this way, the paper fibers
dispersed in the mix attach themselves to the watermarking roller, which during rotation,
once it has left the mix, releases the fibers onto a screen that carries them to the
steps for drying, sizing, glazing, checking and rereeling. Therefore, one can say
that banknote paper is produced starting from a mixture of water, cotton fibers, security
elements such as cotton fibers treated with fluorescent pigments and the like, in
order to obtain rolls with a length of approximately 10,000 meters. The rolls are
therefore ribbons of paper from which sheets are subsequently obtained, said sheets
bearing a number of watermarks that corresponds to the number of banknotes to be produced
on that sheet. The sheets are arranged not only longitudinally but also transversely,
i.e., side by side, two or three at a time.
[0015] The resulting paper, which when measured has an elongation of approximately 2-3 %
with respect to the nominal pitch, then passes through additional processes, where
it is trimmed, checked and, if the presence of holographic stripes is required, treated
in delicate devices meant to apply the holographic strips with a thermal process.
Once the holographic strips have been applied, the paper reels are sent to the step
for cutting, squaring and final finishing, so that the sheets having the required
format are produced.
[0016] The security threads that are most widely used are threads with microprint characters
produced by removing aluminum deposited in vacuum on a polyester support alternated
with regions having encoded magnetic characteristics.
[0017] This production, which is highly specialised, is achieved by providing on the thread
texts or otherwise graphic markings that repeat with a given pitch, in the same manner,
along the entire length of the thread.
[0018] The distance between one inscription and the next, known in the jargons as pitch,
is provided so that on the banknote there is at least one inscription alternated by
a region without microprinting, where the magnetic code is generally placed; in this
case also, said magnetic code, once decoded, reproduces the face value of the banknote.
[0019] The threads are generally produced with a pitch that is required to be shorter than
the pitch of the watermark, and therefore of paper manufacture by an extent on the
order of approximately 2-3 %.
[0020] The security threads are incorporated into the paper during the manufacturing step
with a process that is used by all paper mills that manufacture banknote paper.
[0021] The threads are unwound from spools located proximate to the watermarking roller
that produces the watermarked paper, and the unwound thread is drawn by the manufacturing
roller during the forming of the paper.
[0022] The spool on which the thread is wound is braked slightly so as to keep said thread
tensioned and therefore allow, once inserted in the paper lateral positioning with
tolerances of ± 2 mm. Clearly, the microprinting and the magnetic code that are present
on the thread have no longitudinal register with respect to the manufactured paper,
and therefore the position of the microprinting with respect to the edge of the banknote
is purely random; moreover, all banknotes of the same type have an identical thread.
[0023] As mentioned, this fact causes a severe security limitation, since counterfeiting
is possible because no customising element is provided for each banknote.
[0024] The object of the invention is indeed to solve the above described problem, providing
a system by virtue of which each individual element that is incorporated, inserted
or applied, such as for example the security thread, the holograms and the like, are
customised and rendered unique for each banknote without altering the conventional
production process.
[0025] Within the scope of the above object, it is preferably to provide a method for producing
documents, securities, banknotes and the like in which the incorporated security elements
can be positioned longitudinally and transversely with univocal characteristics that
are strictly linked to the banknote in which the security element is incorporated.
[0026] It is preferably to provide a method that can be applied for customisation of holographic
ribbons during their application to reels of paper for banknotes; similar customisations
can be obtained for holograms and the like.
[0027] It is preferably to provide a method that has very modest costs while obtaining a
product that has univocal characteristics and that is fully comparable to those that
can be achieved according to conventional methods.
[0028] This object and other aspects that will become apparent hereinafter are achieved
by a method for producing documents, securities, banknotes and the like with security
elements according to the invention, which consists in producing a sheet-like element
inside which at least one security element is partially incorporated, characterised
in that it consists in providing, on said at least one security element, distinctive
markings directly before the step for incorporating said at least one security element
in said sheet-like element, said distinctive markings being arrangeable in register
with at least one portion of said sheet-like element.
[0029] Further characteristics and advantages will become apparent from the description
of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the method for producing documents,
securities, banknotes and the like with security elements, illustrated only by way
of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Fig. 1 is a schematic view of the apparatus for the portion of the method;
Fig. 2 is a schematic view of the sheet-like element at the exit of the watermarking
assembly;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged-scale schematic sectional view of a security thread;
Fig. 4 is an enlarged-scale schematic sectional view of a security thread with a magnetic
layer;
Fig. 5 is a schematic plan view of a possible configuration of distinctive markings
provided on a magnetic layer and of the analogue signal that can be detected with
a manual magnetic signal reader.
[0030] With reference to the above figures, the method for producing documents, securities,
banknotes and the like with security elements according to the invention consists
in providing a sheet-like element made for example of paper-like material, inside
which at least one security element, constituted for example by a security thread,
is at least partially incorporated.
[0031] In the specific case, an unreeling assembly 1 is provided and a spool of thread 2
is placed thereon by means of a conventional step motor and an encoder mounted on
the shaft.
[0032] The thread 2 is guided on a tensioning assembly 3 that has an arm with a load cell
mounted on the fulcrum, so as to ensure a preset tension of the thread by virtue of
the load cell that controls the voltage of the motor of the spool unreeling assembly.
[0033] The thread 2 is then introduced in a first traction assembly, constituted by a first
pair of advancement rollers 4 that are made of rubber and have a controlled pressure;
one of the rollers is actuated by a step motor with an encoder mounted thereon.
[0034] At the exit of the first traction assembly, the thread is inserted in a scribing
station, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, where there is a laser
head 11 that emits a YAG (Yttrium Aluminum Granat) laser beam with a wavelength between
850 and 1100 nm, preferably 1060 and 1070 nm, and with a depth of focus of ± 0.3 mm
and with associated electronic systems; said head is controlled, as explained in greater
detail hereinafter, so as to provide distinctive markings that are constituted for
example by a removal of the aluminum deposited in vacuum, without affecting the polyester
substrate, making the thread advance at a speed of even 150 m per minute.
[0035] At the exit of the customisation assembly 10, the thread 2 is subjected to a second
traction assembly 12, which is constituted by rubber rollers that are driven by the
motor; downstream of said second traction assembly there is a second tensioning assembly
13, which drives the encoder-fitted motors of the first and second traction assemblies,
so as to feed the thread 2 into an embedding assembly 20 provided with a watermarking
roller 21 that is partially immersed in the mix, which is generally designated by
the reference numeral 22.
[0036] In the customisation station, customised distinctive markings are applied to the
thread by applying the laser, which is driven by a signal that is detected directly
on the paper after the glazing step, i.e., when the paper has already passed all the
stress-generating steps of production.
[0037] The system is entirely driven by a computer, which continuously processes the information
that arrives from the various elements: in particular, the computer receives from
the central system the indication of the speed of the paper-making line, i.e.. the
speed of the watermarking roller and sets accordingly the unwinding speed of the thread
wound on the spool.
[0038] In order to obtain a thread provided only with scribing, it is possible to use a
thread 2, shown schematically in Fig. 3, that has a width of 1.2 mm ± 0.05, a 19-micron
polyester substrate 30, a layer of vacuum aluminum 31 obtained by vacuum metallisation
with an optical density of approximately 2 and a protective layer 32 obtained by spreading
clear nitrocellulose lacquer, with a thickness of 2 microns in order to protect the
vacuum demetallisation.
[0039] The laser beam can provide distinctive markings of any kind, which can he positioned
in register with at least one portion of the sheet-like element so that the incorporated
thread has a demetallised inscription that is perfectly in register with the edges
of said banknote.
[0040] It is optionally possible to provide distinctive markings that can be in register
with the watermark of the paper or with printed elements provided on the body of the
banknote.
[0041] The possibility to position the distinctive markings in register arises directly
from the fact that the distinctive markings are applied direct before the step for
incorporating the thread in the sheet-like element, so that it is possible to have
a control that allows to apply the distinctive marking by means of the laser beam,
for example as described in patent application
MI 2000 A000773 dated 10 April 2000, assumed included herein by reference.
[0042] With reference to Fig. 2, it is evident that it is possible to obtain banknote, designated
by the reference numeral 40, in which the thread 2 has distinctive markings 41 that
are always located in the same point with respect to the edge of the banknote, and
it is furthermore possible to apply variable distinctive markings, designated by the
reference numeral 42, which vary for each banknote.
[0043] Again with reference to Fig. 2, said figure illustrates the notches 35 which allow
to place the security thread in register with the watermark, so as to be able to customise
the inscriptions that can be obtained.
[0044] By utilising the same criterion, it is possible to provide, in addition to distinctive
markings of the simply visual or optical type, such as the one described above, also
security elements that have magnetic characteristics.
[0045] Considering a magnetic thread, designated by the reference numeral 50 in Fig. 4,
said thread has a polyester substrate 51 on which there is a magnetic layer 52 that
lies between a first covering layer 53 and a second covering layer 54, which are constituted
for example by vacuum aluminum.
[0046] Furthermore, usually there is a protective layer 55 of nitrocellulose lacquer and
there is a hot-melt adhesive surface layer 56.
[0047] In this case, again by using the laser beam, it is possible to customise the thread
not only optically but also with a magnetic coding characterised by the presence or
absence of magnetic material, and the magnetic signal can be read with ordinary commercially
available devices.
[0048] It is evident that the optical and magnetic customisation, by being provided simultaneously,
has absolute precision, and that the laser beam regardless of whether it enters from
the side bearing the polyester layer 51 or from the side bearing the hot-melt adhesive
layer 56, will customise simultaneously the two layers of aluminum in vacuum and the
internal magnetic layer.
[0049] The product thus manufactured clearly reveals the difference in thickness of the
line produced by the different energy absorption of the materials.
[0050] The distinctive markings, which can be constituted by an inscription or by a graphic
marking, furthermore have registration precision also with respect to the edges of
the banknote, as described above.
[0051] It should also be added that the same scribing principle and the same laser beam
can be used on the machine that applies the holographic strips, so that it is possible
to customise the holographic strips that are commonly used in banknotes, utilising
all the various possible forms even with latest-generation holograms, such as kinegrams,
Pixelgrams, Exelgrams, and the like.
[0052] From what has been described above it is thus evident that the invention achieves
the proposed object, and in particular the fact is stressed that a method is provided
in which it is possible to provide, on the security element constituted by a thread
or any other element incorporated in the sheet-like element that will constitute the
document or the like, distinctive markings that are obtained by virtue of a scribing
station that modifies the surface in a manner that is absolutely customisable according
to any reference and with the possibility to introduce the distinctive element in
the banknote with precise references and alignments, by virtue of which the security
element is different in any document in which it is inserted.
[0053] This, by virtue of the use of the laser beam, that object can be achieved with particularly
modest costs.
[0054] As a substantial feature of the present invention, the distinctive customised markings
are arranged in register with at least one portion of said sheet-like element. Preferably,
the distinctive markings are to be arranged in register with the watermarks so that
a scribing operation of the customisation or scribing station 10 has to be synchronised
with the watermarks.
[0055] For this purpose, the notches 35 are arranged on the sheet-like element in particular
positions as synchronisation markings. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the notches
35 are aligned to the watermarks. Preferably, the notches 35 are formed in the paper
manufacture process by means of corresponding projections (not shown) projecting from
a circumferential surface of the watermarking roller 21.
[0056] The notches 35 are detected by a detecting device (not shown) such as a optical transmission
and receiving means which is preferably mounted in the vicinity of the embedding or
incorporating assembly 20.
[0057] The detecting device outputs a detecting signal to the computer which serves as a
control device (not shown) for controlling the scribing station 10
[0058] In particular, the control device computes a timing of a scribing operation of the
scribing station 10 on the basis of the input detecting signals, which will be described
in more detail in the following.
[0059] The thread 2 passes a route between the unreeling assembly 1 and the incorporating
assembly 20, while the advance speed of the thread 2 within this route is always constant.
Additionally, the speed of the thread 2 is the same like a speed of the sheet-like
element formed around the circumferential surface of the watermarking roller 21. Consequently,
the speed of the sheet-like element is the same like the speed of the thread 2 at
the scribing station 10, whereby a synchronisation of the scribing operation of the
scribing station 10 with the watermarks in the sheet-like element can be enabled with
ease by means of the notches 35.
[0060] The control device computes the timing of the scribing operation in real-time on
the basis of the timing of the input detecting signals in consideration of the route
of the thread 2 between the scribing station 10 and the incorporating assembly 20
so that the distinctive markings are in register with the watermarks.
[0061] Moreover, it is possible to synchronise a scribing speed of the scribing station
10 with the speed of the sheet-like element on the basis of the input detecting signals
provided that the notches 35 in the sheet-like element are sufficiently narrow to
each other.
[0062] In the above embodiment, the scribing station 10 is realised by a YAG-laser, but
it is obvious that the scribing station 10 can also be realised by other equivalent
devices.
[0063] For example, the scribing station 10 can be realised by an ink-jet recording device.
The ink-jet recording device prints the distinctive markings onto the polyester substrate
with an ink, for example a grey colour nitroacryl-soluble resin basis ink containing
less than 5 % aluminum powder. The markings preferable are negative characters which
are readable against the backlight. At the same time, instead of the layer of vacuum
aluminum 31 as described in the embodiment, simply a printed ink layer can be applied
onto the polyester substrate 30. The step of applying the vacuum aluminum 31 onto
the polyester substrate 30 and the step of demetallisation the vacuum aluminum 31
for forming the markings can be omitted which results in reduced manufacturing costs.
[0064] In another modification, the scribing station 10 is realised by a thermal transfer
device which form the customised markings by a thermal transfer process such as an
irreversible thermal transfer process, where first an ink is applied onto the polyester
substrate 30, and then thermal energy is applied upon the ink, whereby the ink changes
its colour and forms the distinctive markings.
[0065] In a further modification, the scribing station 10 is realised by an impact printing
device which form the distinctive markings by an impact printing process, wherein
a punch, a needle or a similar device is pressed against vacuum aluminum 31 and/or
the polyester substrate 30. In this case, the polyester substrate 30 is not necessarily
transparent.
[0066] In a further modification, the scribing device 10 is an etching device which etches
the distinctive markings into the vacuum aluminum 31 and/or the polyester layer 30
or another appropriate layer.
[0067] In a further modification, the scribing device 10 is realised by a device for performing
a chemical and/or electrolytical stripping process of any metal layer applied onto
the polyester substrate 30.
[0068] The scribing device 10 of the above embodiment can be modified so as to sublimate
or burn negative distinctive markings into the vacuum aluminum 31 and/or the polyester
layer 30.
[0069] The position of the scribing station 10 between the first traction assembly 4 and
the second traction assembly 12 can be modified, provided that the position is anywhere
between the unreeling assembly 1 and the incorporating assembly 20.
[0070] It is further obvious that, instead of the watermarking roller 20, a plain machine
can be used, wherein no watermarkings are created.
[0071] The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations,
all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept.
[0072] All the details may furthermore be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.
[0073] In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and the dimensions,
may be any according to the requirements.
[0074] This application is a divisional application of European patent application no.
02 798 014.3 (the "parent application"), also published under no.
EP - A - 1 436 461. The original claims of the parent application are repeated below in the present
specification and form part of the content of this description as filed.
- 1. A method for producing documents, securities, banknotes and the like with security
elements, which consists in producing a sheet-like element inside which at least one
security element is at least partially incorporated,
characterised in that
it consists in providing, on said at least one security element, distinctive markings
directly before the step for incorporating said at least one security element in said
sheet-like element, said distinctive markings being arrangeable in register with at
least one portion of said sheet-like element.
- 2. The method according to claim 1,
characterised in that
said sheet-like element is made of paper-like material.
- 3. The method according to claim 2,
characterised in that
said security element is constituted by a security thread, stripe and/or patch.
- 4. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims,
characterised in that
said security element is constituted by a hologram.
- 5. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims,
characterised in that
said distinctive markings are provided by one of
a laser beam radiation process;
an ink-jet jet recording process, preferably by use of a grey colour nitroacryl-soluble
resin basis ink containing less than 5 % aluminum powder;
a thermal transfer process, preferably an irreversible thermal transfer process;
an impact printing process, preferably by use of a punch or a needle;
an etching process; and
a chemical and/or electrolytical stripping process.
- 6. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims,
characterised in that
said laser beam is of the YAG type with a wavelength of substantially 1060-1070 nm
and with a depth of focus of substantially 0.3 mm.
- 7. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims,
characterised in that
it consists in unwinding a thread with a plastic substrate bearing a layer of metallic
material, in tensioning said thread, in subjecting said thread to a station for customisation
by virtue of a laser beam, in which the thread is.retained between a first traction
assembly and a second traction assembly with encoders driven by a signal detected
on said sheet-like element downstream of a unit for incorporating said thread in said
sheet-like element.
- 8. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims,
characterised in that
said incorporating assembly has a watermarking cylinder that is at least partially
immersed in a cellulose mix.
- 9. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims,
characterised in that
said distinctive markings are provided in register with the edges of the document
and the like being produced.
- 10. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims,
characterised in that
said distinctive markings are provided on said thread in register with said watermark.
- 11. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims,
characterised in that
said distinctive markings are provided on a layer of aluminum and are optically detectable.
- 12. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims,
characterised in that
said distinctive markings are provided on a layer of magnetic material and can be
detected with a magnetic reading apparatus.
- 13. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims,
characterised in that
said distinctive markings are provided in a printed ink layer.
- 14. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims,
characterised in that
said distinctive markings are different for each document.
- 15. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims,
characterised by
the steps of
forming synchronisation markings in the sheet-like element;
detecting the synchronisation markings, preferably by means of an optical transmission
and receiving means;
inputting the detected synchronisation markings to a control device;
computing in the control device a timing for the provision of the distinctive markings
on the basis of the input synchronisation markings.
- 16. A document, security, banknote and the like, comprising a sheet-like element that
at least partially incorporates a security element,
characterised in that
it comprises, on said security element, distinctive markings that can be arranged
in register with at least one portion of said sheet-like element.
- 17. A document, security, banknote and the like according to claim 16,
characterised in that
said distinctive markings are provided by virtue of one of
a laser beam;
an ink-jet jet recording process, preferably by use of a grey colour nitroacryl-soluble
resin basis ink containing less than 5 % aluminum powder;
a thermal transfer process, preferably an irreversible thermal transfer process;
an impact printing process, preferably by use of a punch or a needle;
an etching process; and
a chemical and/or electrolytical stripping process.
1. A method for producing documents, securities, banknotes (40) and the like, having
a sheet-like element, and a security element (2; 30; 50) being at least partially
incorporated inside the sheet like element,
wherein a customisation of the security element (2; 30; 50) is performed by creating
distinctive markings (41), followed by at least partially incorporating the security
element (2, 30; 50) into the sheet-like element, the method being
characterised in that
the security element (2; 30; 50) is incorporated into the sheet-like element in such
a manner that the distinctive markings (41) are in register with a predetermined portion
of the sheet like element.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined feature (35) is applied
to the sheet-like element during the step of incorporating the security element (2;
30; 50) into the sheet-like element.
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sheet-like element is made of paper-like
material.
4. The method according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that said security element is constituted by a security thread (2; 30; 50) made of a magnetic
(52) or non magnetic (31) material, by a stripe and/or by a patch or by a hologram.
5. The method according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein said distinctive markings (41)
are provided by one of the following processes:
- a laser beam radiation process;
- an ink-jet jet recording process, preferably by use of a grey colour nitroacryl-soluble
resin basis ink containing less than 5 % aluminium powder;
- a thermal transfer process, preferably an irreversible thermal transfer process;
- an impact printing process, preferably by use of a punch or a needle;
- an etching process; and
- a chemical and/or electrolytic stripping process.
6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said laser beam is of the YAG type with a
wavelength of substantially 1060-1070 nm and with a depth of focus of substantially
0.3 mm.
7. The method according to any of claims 1 to 6, further comprising the steps of
unwinding a thread (2; 30; 50) with a plastic substrate bearing a layer of metallic
material (31; 52),
tensioning said thread (2; 30; 50),
subjecting said thread (2; 30; 50) to a customisation station (10) by virtue of a
laser beam, in which the thread (2) is retained between a first traction assembly
(4) and a second traction assembly (12) with encoders driven by a signal detected
on said sheet-like element downstream of an incorporating assembly (20) for incorporating
said thread (2; 30; 50) in said sheet-like element.
8. The method according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein said incorporating assembly
has a watermarking cylinder that is at least partially immersed in a cellulose mix.
9. The method according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein said distinctive markings (41)
are provided in register with the edges of the document, security or banknote (40)
being produced, or are provided in register with said watermark.
10. The method according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein said distinctive markings are
provided on a layer of aluminium (31) and are optically detectable and/or said distinctive
markings are provided on a layer of magnetic material (52) and are detectable by means
of a magnetic reading apparatus and/or said distinctive markings are provided in a
printed ink layer.
11. The method according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein said distinctive markings are
different for each document.
12. The method according to any of claims 1 to 11, further comprising steps of
- forming synchronisation markings (35) in the sheet-like element;
- detecting the synchronisation markings (35), preferably by means of an optical transmission
and receiving means;
- inputting the detected synchronisation markings to a control device;
- computing, in the control device, a timing for the provision of the distinctive
markings on the basis of the input synchronisation markings.
13. A production line for producing documents, securities, banknotes (40) and the like,
comprising
transport means (1, 3, 4, 12) for transporting a security element (2; 30; 50) via
a customisation station (10) for applying distinctive markings (41) onto the security
element (2; 30; 50) towards an embedding assembly (20) for at least partially embedding
the security element (2; 30; 50) into a sheet-like element,
characterised by
control means capable of controlling the application of the distinctive markings (41)
onto the security element (2; 30; 50) and/or the feeding speed of the security element
in such a manner that the distinctive markings (41) are in register with a portion
of the sheet like element.
14. A production line according to claim 13, wherein the transport means comprises an
unreeling assembly (1), a tensioning assembly (3), a pair of advancement rollers (4)
forming a first traction assembly, and a pair of rubber rollers (12) forming a second
traction assembly; and/or the customisation station is a scribing station (10) comprising
a laser head (11); and/or the embedding assembly (20) comprises a water-marking roller
(21).
15. A document produced by a method according to any of claims 1 to 12 and/or by using
a production line according to claim 13 or 14.