Abstract: The invention concerns a structure arrangement that includes surface regions having one or more structures having an optical-diffraction effect, in particular for visually identifiable, optical security elements for value-bearing documents, for example banknotes, credit cards, passes or check documents, or other items to be safeguarded; in order to make it more difficult to forge and in particular copy such a structure arrangement it is proposed in accordance with the invention that the structure arrangement is such that for the production of given items of optical information in given viewing directions in one or more of the surface regions (8, 30) of the structure arrangement there are provided sub-regions (10, 12, 14, 32, 34) with a structure (16, 18, 20; 36, 38) that is identical except for the structural parameter of optical depth and that the optical depth of the structure (16, 20; 36) is constant over the extent of a sub-region (10, 14; 32) but is different from the optical depth of the structure (18;

Abstract: A structural arrangement having optical diffraction qualities for use as a security element in a value bearing document, such structural arrangement having a plurality of surface regions having at least two subregions having identical relief structures which provide for an optical diffraction effect, the relief structures of adjacent subregions being displaced relative to each other by a fraction of the grating period.

Abstract: Described are a process and an apparatus for transferring prints (18, 20) from a support (16) on to a substrate (10), wherein the support (16) is transported together with the substrate (10) through a station in which the substrate (10) having print portions (12) in succession in the direction of transportation movement is provided with the prints (18, 20) in accurate register relationship. This procedure uses on the one hand a substrate (10) having at least two rows of print portions (112) side-by-side transversely to the direction of transportation movement and on the other hand a support (16) which in the direction of transportation movement has between the prints (18) for print portions (12) disposed in a row one after the other in the direction of transportation movement at least one respective additional print (20).

Abstract: In a method of making such a decorative film, a thermoplastic adhesive formulation is heated to a temperature in excess of the softening temperature of the thermoplastic in the formulation to form a molten adhesive formulation, which is then applied to a decorative layer on the carrier sheet thereby forming a transfer layer having a transfer surface and the transfer layer and carrier sheet form the decorative film. The decorative film is then chilled.

Abstract: In a method of three-dimensionally patterning the surface of a printing or embossing cylinder the surface of the cylinder is irradiated with exposure beams in accordance with the desired pattern and then the surface is patterned in accordance with the exposure. To achieve particularly fine structuring of the cylinder surface, the radiation dots serving to expose the surface are produced by means of beams which, before impinging on the surface of the cylinder, to form fine structures, are modified in accordance with the desired pattern by means of a beam-forming element. The pattern of the respective radiation dot which is impinged on to the cylinder surface is moved synchronously with respect to the movement of the cylinder surface in accordance with the rotary movement thereof.

Abstract: In a process for the production of a stamping foil such as a hot stamping foil having a decorative layer provided on a carrier film only in a region-wise manner, corresponding to a desired patterning of the substrate, negative regions of the decorative layer, which do not remain on the carrier film, are removed from the carrier film of the stamping foil by being pulled off by means of a recipient foil.

Abstract: A decorative film is provided which has a heat-activatable transfer layer for affixation to a substrate to be decorated. The film includes a carrier sheet and a transfer layer in contact with the carrier sheet. The transfer layer includes a decorative layer and a heat-activatable adhesive layer for affixing the film to a substrate, wherein the heat-activatable adhesive layer is a solidified layer of a molten adhesive formulation. In a method of making such a decorative film, a thermoplastic adhesive formulation is heated to a temperature in excess of the softening temperature of the thermoplastic in the formulation to form a molten adhesive formulation, which is then applied to a decorative layer on the carrier sheet thereby forming a transfer layer having a transfer surface. The second surface of the carrier sheet and the transfer surface are chilled.

Abstract: A rising bracket prosthesis for implantation in a middle ear has a body part mountable on a long anvil projection, and a clip connected with the body part and fittable on the long anvil projection so as to hold the body part on the long anvil projection.

Abstract: A transfer foil which makes it possible, starting from one foil, both to transfer hot stamping decorative elements on to a substrate and also individually to identify the substrate by a thermotransfer printing procedure, for which purpose the transfer foil includes on the one hand decorative layer arrangements known from hot stamping foils and on the other hand a thermotransfer layer, which are arranged in separate areas on the carrier film.

Abstract: A heat-transferable film and a method for providing a tick pattern on a film-decorated substrate is provided. The heat-transferable film comprises (1) a transfer layer in facing engagement with a substrate having a first gloss level, at least one color, and a heat-activatable adhesive layer; (2) a plurality of individual spaced-apart markings, the markings having a color different from the color or colors within the transfer layer and a second gloss level different from the first gloss level, the markings adhered to the top of the transfer layer; and (3) a carrier sheet adhered to the top of the individual spaced-apart markings. Heat and pressure are applied to the top of the carrier sheet such that the heat-activatable adhesive affixes the heat-transferable film to the substrate.

Abstract: In order to improve a structure arrangement comprising a plurality of portions having a relief structure with an optical-diffraction effect, in particular for visually identifiable optical security elements for value-bearing documents, for example banknotes, credit cards, passes or cheque documents, or other articles to be safeguarded, with a first group of portions with a first structure having an optical-diffraction effect, which first group is disposed on a surface region of the structure arrangement, and at least one further group of portions with a further structure which has an optical-diffraction effect and which is different from the first structure, in such a way that a given item of information can be imparted to a viewer of the structure arrangement with a high level of intensity and uniformly over the entire extent of a preselected viewing angle range, it is proposed that the structure of the portions of the first and the at least one further group respectively is such that, upon illumination of t

Abstract: There is disclosed a hot stamping foil assembly, in particular a hot stamping foil, which has spatial decorative or security elements formed in a region-wise manner. An adhesive layer is provided only in a region-wise manner and in matching relationship with respect to the spatial elements to effect transfer of the spatial decorative or security elements or other decorative layer structure.

Abstract: Proposed is a decorative layer structure and a hot stamping foil having such a layer structure, wherein provided at the inner surface of a cover lacquer layer at least in a region-wise manner is a spatial structure having an optical-diffraction effect, which in turn is provided in regions with a decorative lacquer layer before a reflecting layer which makes the spatial structure optically clearly visible is applied.

Abstract: There is disclosed an embossing foil, in particular, a hot embossing foil, preferably for the production of motor vehicle license plates wherein there is provided a decorative lacquer layer in at least a region-wise manner between a protective lacquer layer and at least one colored lacquer layer and wherein the decorative lacquer layer represents given graphic elements and comprises a lacquer containing pigments which luminesce upon being irradiated with light of a selected wavelength, preferably UV light and where the decorative lacquer layer or the transparent lacquer layer contain a material selected from the group consisting of a UV-absorber additive in an amount of from 0.5 to 2% by weight and a HALS-stabilizer in an amount of from 0.1 to 1.0% by weight.

Abstract: An embossing foil has three-dimensional patterning which does not extend uniformly over the entire surface of the foil but only over regions thereof. The region-wise three-dimensional patterning can be produced by the surface of the backing film, which is three-dimensionally patterned throughout, being covered in a region-wise manner with a lacquer forming a smooth surface, or by a thermoplastically deformable layer being provided in the interior of a decorative lacquer layer on the embossing foil, the surface of the thermoplastically deformable layer being three-dimensionally patterned only in a region-wise manner.

Abstract: An ink ribbon for a printer or the like has a leading and/or trailing, optically operative control strip. The control strip has only a first light-impervious or opaque control portion and a second transparent control portion. The control portion adjoining the ink ribbon is of a length of between 1 and 4 cm.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for decorating articles having at least a generally conical surface portion with a decoration on a stamping foil, the foil passes around a guide roller as it is fed towards the stamping roller for applying a decoration on the foil to the surface portion of the article. The guide roller is displaced by a drive means along an arcuate guide means into a position adapted to the respective rotary angular position of the article to be decorated. The drive means for driving the stamping roller is inoperable to drive same during the stamping operation so that the stamping roller is only driven by frictional engagement during the stamping operation.

Abstract: A heat-transferable film and a method for providing a tick pattern on a film-decorated substrate is provided. The heat-transferable film comprises (1) a transfer layer in facing engagement with a substrate having a first gloss level, at least one color, and a heat-activatable adhesive layer; (2) a plurality of individual spaced-apart markings, the markings having a color different from the color or colors within the transfer layer and a second gloss level different from the first gloss level, the markings adhered to the top of the transfer layer; and (3) a carrier sheet adhered to the top of the individual spaced-apart markings. Heat and pressure are applied to the top of the carrier sheet such that the heat-activatable adhesive affixes the heat-transferable film to the substrate.

Abstract: A value document and an embossing foil for the production thereof comprise a security feature in the form of a combination of a magnetic layer and a security layer which has an optical-diffraction effect. The security layer structure that has the optical-diffraction effect is provided with a reflective metal layer. To prevent damage to the reflective metal layer by particles of the magnetic layer, the metal layer is made of suitably resistant metal and/or a barrier layer is provided between the metal layer and the magnetic layer.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying a stamping foil imprint to a web of flexible material comprises a main applicator roller and at least one backing roller co-operable with the main roller to press the web and the foil together, The at least one backing roller has an inner sleeve means and an outer sleeve means which is concentric with respect thereto. Between the inner sleeve means and the outer sleeve means is a gap in which there is arranged at least one elastically yielding annular compensating member which presses against the inner and the outer sleeve means.