BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to manufacturing a security page of an identity card, a passport
or a driver's license, for instance. The invention especially relates to a solution
which makes it possible to produce a hole through a part of a security page.
[0002] One reason for producing a hole through a part of a security page, is to be able
to remove non-transparent material, and to replace this non-transparent removed material
with transparent material, in order to obtain a security page with a window. In the
following the invention will be described by way of example by referring to manufacturing
of a security page with a window, though it should be clear that the present invention
may be utilized also for other purposes than to manufacturing of security pages with
windows.
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
[0003] Previously there is known a security page with a transparent area or a window extending
throughout the entire security page. This prior art security page has been manufactured
such that a hole has been punched through one single material layer of the security
page. This material layer into which the hole has been punched, is relatively thick,
stiff and durable, as required by security pages. A prior art security page is disclosed
in
FR2 915 009 A1.
[0004] After punching, the hole is filled with a piece of a transparent material. The transparent
material is attached to the security page by laminating. Before laminating the security
page can be provided with a transparent top layer and a transparent bottom layer,
which both cover substantially the entire surface area of the security page. If so,
the parts of the security page can be attached to each other in one single lamination
step.
[0005] A problem involved with the above mentioned prior art solution is that it is suitable
for use only when the hole needs to be punched through one single layer. If there
is a need to produce a hole through several layers arranged on top of each other,
it is not sufficient to simply punch a hole through the layers, because the layers
will move out of their predetermined mutual positions while punching and while moving
to a next production phase. However, in order to obtain a useful security page it
is necessary that the layers of the security page are perfectly aligned with each
other when they become laminated to each other.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An object of the present invention is to solve the above mentioned drawback and to
provide a method which can be used for producing a hole through a plurality of layers
of a security page. This object is achieved by the method of independent claim 1.
[0007] In the present invention, the layers are initially pressed towards each other in
order to prevent them from moving while a hole is cut through the layers. In order
to ensure that the layers remain fixed in this correct mutual position, the layers
are welded to each other at the edges of the hole. In this way any movement during
transfer to a subsequent production phase, for instance, can be eliminated. The weld
or welds ensure that the mutual positions of the layers are exactly as intended until
the lamination is carried out, where the layers are finally attached to each other.
[0008] Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0009] In the following, the present invention will be described in closer detail by way
of example and with reference to the attached drawings, in which
Figures 1A to 1 E illustrate an embodiment for manufacturing a security page,
Figure 2 illustrates a sheet with a plurality of security pages before cutting them
apart, and
Figure 3 illustrates an embodiment of a security page.
DESCRIPTION OF AT LEAST ONE EMBODIMENT
[0010] Figures 1 A to 1 E illustrate an embodiment for manufacturing a security page. It
is assumed by way of example that the security page is for an identity card, though
also a security page for a driver's license or a passport can be manufactured in a
similar way. In this example the invention will be described with an embodiment where
a security page with a transparent area or a window is produced. However, it should
be observed that the invention can be utilized also in other connections, and not
only for including transparent material in a hole cut through the layers, but instead
some other material or elements can be arranged in the hole instead of transparent
material.
[0011] A plurality of material layers 1 are arranged on top of each other in Figure 1A.
The material of the layers can be of a suitable plastic material such as PC (Poly
Carbonat), PET (PolyEthylene Terephthalate), PVC/ABS (PolyVinylChloride/Acrylonitrile
Butadiene Styrene) or PETG (PolyEthylene Terapthalate Glycol), for instance. It is
also possible to use material layers which consist of combinations of different materials,
such as combinations of the previously mentioned materials.
[0012] At least one of the layers 1 can be a layer suitable for laser engraving. In laser
engraving energy originating from a laser beam causes the plastic material to darken
at points at which energy has been directed. In this way the security page can be
personalized, in other words the data (name, birthday and social security number and
so on) of the holder of the identity card, can be written to this layer by utilizing
a laser. One alternative is to utilize a layer of clear carbonized polycarbonate for
such a purpose. The security page can, however, be personalized also in other ways,
and a layer suitable for laser engraving is therefore not absolutely necessary.
[0013] One or more of the layers 1 can be provided with text, numbers, patterns or graphics
by conventional printing techniques before the layers 1 are arranged on top of each
other as illustrated in Figure 1A. In this way information which needs to be included
in each one of the manufactured identity cards, for instance, can be included in the
security page. In this way also the outer appearance, such as the colour of the security
page, can be accomplished as desired.
[0014] If the intention is to embed additional elements inside the security page, such additional
elements can be arranged between layers 1 once they are arranged on top of each other.
In the following example it will be assumed that an antenna 3 and a microchip 2 (see
Figure 3) are included between some of the layers 1 at the production phase illustrated
in Figure 1A. Naturally such additional elements as an antenna and a microchip are
not absolutetly necessary in all embodiments.
[0015] Once the layers 1 are arranged on top of each other as shown in Figure 1A the production
phase of Figure 1 B can be entered without attaching the layers 1 to each other in
any way. Alternatively, it is possible to preliminary attach layers 1 to each other
by spot welding in order to ensure that the layers stay in desired mutual positions.
However, the layers should not be permanently attached to each other over their entire
surfaces by laminating, for instance. The reason is that a more solid and secure attachment
between the layers 1 and the material arranged in the hole, such as the transparent
material (window), is accomplished when the separate layers and the material or element
arranged into the hole, are attached to each other in one single lamination step (later
on).
[0016] A clamp 4 has In Figure 1 B been pressed towards an upper surface of the pile of
layers 1 arranged on top of each other. The clamp 4 may consist of a metal plate with
a hole in it in order to allow a cutting and welding tool 5 to access the layers 1
via said hole, for instance.
[0017] In this embodiment, an ultrasonic cutter or sonotrode is used as a combined cutting
and welding tool 5, though it is naturally also possible to utilize other types of
tools, such as a separate cutting tool and a separatewelding tool. In Figure 1 B the
cutting and welding tool 5 is shown in cross section. The tool 5 has cutting edges
with a V shape for generating a pressure towards the edges of the hole while cutting,
as illustrated by the arrows in Figure 1 B. Ultrasonic vibration of the tool 5 with
a frequency in the range of 15kHz to 70kHz, for instance, causes the sharp lower edges
6 of the cutting and welding tool 5 to cut through the layers 1. As the tool penetrates
deeper into the material of the layers, the wider upper base of the tool generates
the pressure illustrated by the arrows towards the edges of the hole which has been
cut. As a result of this pressure, the edges of the layers are welded to each other.
In order to ensure that welding occurs, the side of the cutting and welding tool 5
should be inclined to form a sufficient angle A with a vertical line. An angle A of
about 5° has in practical tests turned out to be sufficient.
[0018] In the example it is assumed that besides the remaining parts of the plurality of
layers 1, also the waste parts are welded together by the cutting and welding tool
5. This makes it easier to handle the waste parts, because instead of a plurality
of waste parts (one for each layer 1) only one single piece 7 of waste is produced
and it is sufficient to remove this single waste part 7. However, naturally in another
embodiment, it is not necessary to weld the waste parts to each other if an alternative
and efficient way of removing these waste parts is in use.
[0019] In Figure 1C the cutting and welding tool 5 has penetrated through each layer and
welded the layers and the waste parts to a single waste part 7. At this stage an orifice
8 located in the cutting and welding tool is used to create suction at the cutting
and welding tool. The suction can be obtained with a compressor, for instance, that
acts as a low pressure source. Due to the suction, a pressure lower than the surrounding
pressure is generated between the single waste part 7 and the cutting and welding
tool 5. Due to this lower pressure, the single waste part 7 attaches to the cutting
and welding tool 5, and it can be lifted off with the cutting and welding tool and
moved to a waste bin 9, as shown in Figure 1 D. By shutting off the suction once the
cutting and welding tool 5 is located above the waste bin 9, the single waste part
7 can be dropped into the waste bin. After this the cutting and welding tool 5 is
ready for transfer to a next location where a hole needs to be produced.
[0020] If the intention is to only cut a hole through the plurality of layers 1 without
filling this hole with any particular material or element, then the plurality of layers
can, as a final method step, be attached to each other by laminating. If, however,
the intention is to fill the hole with a material that is different than the material
of the layers, or alternatively with an element, then this can be done as shown in
Figure 1 E.
[0021] Figure 1 E illustrates insertion of material, in this example a transparent material
11, into a hole 10 produced in the plurality of layers 1. At this stage the layers
have previously been welded to each other at the edges of the hole 10. The transparent
material 11 should have a volume substantially close to the volume of the hole 10.
In this way it can be ensured that the outcome is a security page which has a uniform
thickness also at the transparent section. One alternative is to use a piece of transparent
material 11 that is slightly thicker that the total thickness of the plurality of
layers, however, with an area which is slightly smaller than the area of the hole
10, while looking at the hole and the transparent material from above in Figure1 E.
In this way, it is easy to arrange the piece of transparent material into the hole
10.
[0022] When the material has been inserted into the hole 10 as illustrated in Figure 1 E,
it is possible to add additional layers to the security page before lamination. One
alternative is to arrange transparent upper and lower layers, that cover substantial
the entire surface area of the security page.
[0023] The lamination is carried out with a raised pressure and a raised temperature. Therefore
the transparent material softens, its height is reduced and area increased to efficiently
fill up the hole in the layers 1. The result of the lamination is a uniform security
page where each layer 1 and the transparent material 11 are permanently and securely
attached to each other over their entire surfaces.
[0024] Figure 2 illustrates a sheet 12 with a plurality of security pages before cutting
them apart along lines 13. In this way each security page will include one window
consisting of transparent material 11.
[0025] In this embodiment it has by way of example been assumed that the production is carried
out by manufacturing a sheet 12 including several security pages. However, naturally
it is as an alternative possible to manufacture one security page at a time by arranging
on top of each other layers which in advance have been cut into the size of one security
page, in which case the cutting of the hole, the welding and the lamination is carried
out from the beginning separately for each security page.
[0026] Figure 3 illustrates an embodiment of a security page 14. In Figure 3 the security
page is a contactless card having a microchip 2 and an antenna coil 3 for enabling
wireless communication with the microchip, which are embedded in the plastics material
of the security page 14.
[0027] An area of a material which is a different material that the material of the layers
of the security page, in this case a transparent material 11, extends through the
entire security page 14, thus acting as a visually transparent and clear window. This
window is located inside the antenna coil 3, where it is surrounded on all sides by
areas of non-transparent material.
[0028] In the embodiment of Figure 3 the security page 14 has been personalized by a photo
15 of the holder and with data 16 such as the name, birthday and social security number
of the holder.
[0029] The transparent material 11 can be a clear window, or alternatively it can be provided
with text, numbers, graphics or a pattern. In the embodiment of Figure 3, the transparent
material 11 has been provided with numbers by way of example. The numbers can be applied
by laser engraving, for instance.
1. A method of manufacturing a security page (14), comprising:
arranging a plurality of layers (1) on top of each other, characterized in that said method comprises:
pressing said plurality of layers (1) towards each other in order to prevent said
layers from moving,
cutting a hole (10) through each of said plurality of layers (1),
welding said plurality of layers (1) to each other at edges of said hole (10), and
attaching said plurality of layers (1) to each other by laminating.
2. The method of claim 1, characterized in that said method comprises filling said hole (10) with a transparent material (11) before
said attaching by laminating.
3. The method of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said method comprises
welding waste parts of said plurality of layers (1), which waste parts are released
from said plurality of layers by the cutting, to each other to form a single piece
(7) of waste, and
removing said single piece (7) of waste.
4. The method of one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said cutting and said welding are carried out in a single method step by utilizing
a cutting and welding tool (5), which cuts said hole through said plurality of layers
(1) and simultaneously welds said plurality of layers to each other at the edges of
said hole (10).
5. The method of one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that said method comprises providing said transparent material (11) with text, numbers,
patterns or figures.
6. The method of one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a plurality of security pages (14) is manufactured from said plurality of layers
(1) arranged on top of each other by
carrying out said cutting and welding for each one of said plurality of security pages
(14) in predetermined locations, and
cutting said plurality of layers (1) into individual security pages (14) at predetermined
locations (13) after said plurality of layers (11) have been attached to each other
by laminating.
7. The method of one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said method is a method for producing an information page (14) of an identity card,
a passport or a driver's license.
1. Eine Methode für die Herstellung einer Seite mit geschütztem Format (14), die umfasst:
eine Anordnung einer Gesamtheit mehrerer Schichten (1), die übereinander liegen, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass:
beim Pressen die Gesamtheit der Schichten (1) zusammengedrückt wird, um ein Verschieben
der vorausgehenden Schichten zu vermeiden,
ein Loch (10) durch die vorausgehende Gesamtheit der Schichten (1) gestanzt wird.
Die vorausgehende Gesamtheit der Schichten (1) wird an den Kanten der vorausgehenden
Löcher (10) zusammengeschweißt, und
die Gesamtheit der Schichten (1) wird zum endgültigen Befestigen laminiert.
2. Die Methode des Patentanspruchs 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das vorausgehende Loch (10) vor dem vorausgehenden Befestigen durch Laminieren mit
einem durchsichtigen Material (11) gefüllt wird.
3. Die Methode des Patentanspruchs 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass bei der vorausgehenden Met hode
die Abfallstücke der vorausgehenden Gesamtheit von Schichten (1) zusammengeschweißt
werden, wenn diese Stücke aus der vorausgehenden Gesamtheit von Schichten herausgestanzt
werden, damit diese Schichten ein einziges Äbfallstück (7) bilden, und
die anschließende Entfernung des vorausgehenden, einzigen Abfallstücks (7).
4. Die Methode eines der Patentansprüche 1 bis 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das vorausgehende Lochstanzen und das vorausgehende Schweißen in einem einzigen Arbeitsschritt
der Methode unter Anwendung eines Stanz- und Schweißwerkzeuges (5) erfolgen, das das
vorausgehende Loch in die vorausgehende Gesamtheit von Schichten (1) stanzt und gleichzeitig
die vorausgehende Gesamtheit von Schichten an den Kanten des vorausgehenden Loches
(10) verschweißt.
5. Die Methode eines der Patentansprüche 2 bis 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die vorausgehende Methode das vorausgehende, durchsichtige Material (11) mit Text,
Zahlen, Mustern oder Abbildungen bestückt.
6. Die Methode eines der Patentansprüche 1 bis 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass eine Gesamtheit von Seiten mit geschütztem Format (14), die aus der vorausgehenden
Gesamtheit von Schichten (1), die übereinander angeordnet worden sind, durch
die Ausführung des vorausgehenden Stanz- und Schweißvorganges für jede einzelne, der
vorausgehenden Gesamtheiten von Seiten mit geschütztem Format (14) an vorbestimmten
Stellen hergestellt wird, und
das anschließende Schneiden der vorausgehenden Gesamtheit von Schichten (1) in separate
Seiten mit geschütztem Format (14) an vorbestimmten Stellen (13), nachdem die vorausgehende
Gesamtheit von Schichten (11) zusammenlaminiert worden ist.
7. Die Methode eines der Patentansprüche 1 bis 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die vorausgehende Methode eine Methode für die Herstellung einer Informationsseite
(14) eines Personalausweises, Reisepasses oder Führerscheins ist.
1. Procédé de fabrication d'une page de sécurité (14), comprenant :
l'agencement d'une pluralité de couches (1) les unes au-dessus des autres, caractérisé en ce que ledit procédé comprend :
la pression de ladite pluralité de couches (1) les unes vers les autres afin d'empêcher
le déplacement desdites couches,
la découpe d'un trou (10) à travers chacune de ladite pluralité de couches (1),
le soudage de ladite pluralité de couches (1) les unes aux autres au niveau des bordsdudit
trou (10), et
la fixation de ladite pluralité de couches (1) les unes aux autres par lamification.
2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit procédé comprend le remplissage dudit trou (10) avec un matériau transparent
(11) avant ladite fixation par lamification.
3. Procédé selon la revendication 1 ou 2,
caractérisé en ce que ledit procédé comprend :
le soudage des parties de chute de ladite pluralité de couches (1), lesquelles parties
de chute sont détachées de ladite pluralité de couches par la découpe, les unes aux
autres pour former un morceau unique (7) de chute, et
le retrait dudit morceau unique (7) de chute.
4. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que ladite découpe et ledit soudage sont effectués dans une étape de procédé unique en
utilisant un outil de découpe et de soudage (5), qui découpe ledit trou à travers
ladite pluralité de couches (1) et soude simultanément ladite pluralité de couches
les unes aux autres au niveau des bords dudit trou (10).
5. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 2 à 4, caractérisé en ce que ledit procédé comprend l'application au dit matériau transparent (11) d'un texte,
de nombres, de motifs ou de figures.
6. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisé en ce qu'une pluralité de pages de sécurité (14) sont fabriquées à partir de ladite pluralité
de couches (1) agencées les unes au-dessus des autres en
effectuant ladite découpe et ledit soudage pour chacune de ladite pluralité de pages
de sécurité (14) à des emplacements prédéterminés, et
découpant ladite pluralité de couches (1) en des pages de sécurité (14) individuelles
à des emplacements (13) prédéterminés après que ladite pluralité de couches (11) ont
été fixées les unes aux autres par lamification.
7. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 1 à 6, caractérisé en ce que ledit procédé est un procédé de production d'une page d'informations (14) d'une carte
d'identité, d'un passeport ou d'un permis de conduire.