Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus and a process for producing a marking on a substrate. Substrates marked in that way are applied to documents such as for example credit cards, personal identity cards or banknotes as security features for affording protection from forgery. Embodiments of these security features have diffractive or holographic structures. Production of the markings is produced by shaping from a mold. A change in the configuration of the marking is possible by changing the mold, which is time-consuming. The new apparatus and the new process are intended to permit the production of individualised markings on a substrate at a low level of apparatus expenditure.

Abstract: Described is an embossing apparatus for transferring a transfer layer of an embossing film on to a substrate body which is stable in respect of shape. The embossing station has two mutually spaced support rollers and a deflection roller around which runs an embossing belt. An embossing section of the embossing belt is defined by the support rollers. Provided in the proximity of the embossing station in parallel relationship with the embossing section is a transport device which is provided for transporting the substrate body to be embossed. The embossing belt and the transport device are driven simultaneously at the same advance speed.

Abstract: Described is a multi-layer body having two laser-sensitive layers 4, 32. The multi-layer body is a body laminated from the overlay films 30, 32, the inlets 90, 90 and the further overlay films 30, 30. At its underside the upper overlay film 30 has a layer structure applied there, by the application of a hot stamping film. The layer structure comprises a lacquer layer 50, a reflection layer 5r, a laser-sensitive layer 4, a background layer 5 and an adhesive layer 6. A diffraction and/or hologram structure 5b is provided in the lacquer layer 5c, the reflection layer 5r and the laser-sensitive layer 4. The second laser-sensitive layer is formed by the carbon-doped overlay film 32. By means of laser treatment, it is possible to produce a laser-induced, preferably colored image component in the upper laser-sensitive layer 4 and a further laser-sensitive image component, preferably in the form of a gray scale image, in the subjacent carbon-doped laser-sensitive layer 32.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-layer body which is a paper document with a hot stamping film embossed thereon. The hot stamping film has a laser-sensitive layer in which a laser-induced color image is produced by laser treatment. Arranged on the document are further security identifications such as a security print, which is in the form of guilloche patterns, fluorescent threads, and a security strip. Water marks are also provided in the paper document.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optically variable element having surface portions with achromatic surface structures and different scatter, diffraction and reflection characteristics. The achromatic surface structures are combined with a thin-film structure, whereby upon turning or tilting the optically variable element, it is not the impression of a continuous color transition, but a defined, almost discrete color change that is produced for the viewer.

Abstract: In a guide roller for a stamping machine for deflecting a stamping foil web and/or a substrate web to be stamped upon, so that the guide roller has a negligibly low degree of friction, fixed to a roller spindle that is fixed with respect to the machine is at least one porous air-permeable spindle sleeve at which at least one roller sleeve is rotatably mounted. The roller spindle has a compressed gas passage for acting on the or each spindle sleeve with compressed gas to produce a gas cushion between the or each respective spindle sleeve and the associated roller sleeve.

Abstract: Described is a packaging (10) for a magnetic tape reel (12) wound on to a core element (32), comprising a tray element (14) with a bottom (16) from which a central centering projection (20) for centeredly fixing the core element (32) of the magnetic tape reel (12) and stacking projections (22) which are radially equally far away from the centering projection (20) for stacking tray elements (14) one upon the other project upwardly in the same direction.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process and an apparatus for the production of a partially metallised film element and a partially metallised film element produced by means of the process. A digital data set (332) which defines the graphical shape of the partial metallisation is produced. A tool path and control data for actuation of a tool (38) are calculated from the digital data set (332). The tool (38) and a single-layer or multi-layer film body (30) are moved relative to each other in accordance with the tool path. The tool (38), controlled by the control data, produces partial digital demetallisation of a metal layer (31), in particular by applying an etching agent or an etching resist or by erosion of the metal layer (31).

Abstract: The invention concerns an optically variable element, in particular an optically variable safeguard element for safeguarding banknotes, credit cards and the like, and a security product and a foil, in particular an embossing foil or a laminating foil, with such an optically variable element. The optically variable element has a thin film layer (54, 55, 58) for producing color change by means of interference and a further layer (51, 52, 53, 59). The thin film is in the form of a partial thin film element which covers the surface region of the further layer only in region-wise and pattern-shaped manner.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optically variable element, in particular an optically variable safeguard element for safeguarding banknotes, credit cards and the like. The invention also relates to a security product and a foil, in particular an embossing foil or a laminating foil, having such an optically variable element. The optically variable element has a thin film for producing color shifts by means of an interference and/or a reflective layer. The optically variable element further has a transparent window. The interference film and/or the reflective layer include a partial element, namely a partial thin film element or a partial reflective element, respectively. The partial element or elements surround the surface region of the transparent window.

Abstract: There is proposed a transfer foil which makes it possible for decorative layer arrangements as are known from hot stamping foils to be transferred onto a substrate without a high level of material expenditure. For that purpose the carrier film of a hot stamping foil is fixedly joined by means of a permanent adhesive to the base foil.

Abstract: A decorative wrapping film for application to a three-dimensional substrate includes a biaxially-oriented polyester layer which has a first surface for adhering to a three-dimensional substrate and a second surface. A decorative layer is coated on the second surface of the polyester layer, and a protective layer is coated on the decorative layer.

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 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: 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.

Abstract: In the decoration of an article having a conical surface by means of a decoration applied from an embossing foil, the embossing foil strip is unwound from a supply roll and passed around a deflection roller to feed it in the proper orientation to an embossing station in which a decoration is transferred from the embossing foil on to the surface of the article. The deflection roller and the embossing foil supply roll perform a linear movement parallel to the axis of the deflection roller and at the same time a pivotal movement about a pivot axis which is normal to that roller axis. The deflection roller is continuously linearly displaced by a distance corresponding to the deviation between the linear configuration of the embossing foil strip and the arcuate configuration defined by the development of the conical surface of the article to be decorated.

Abstract: Proposed is a method of producing an article which is provided on a surface thereof with conductor tracks at least in a region-wise manner, wherein the conductor tracks are first formed on an intermediate carrier and then transferred onto the substrate. In accordance with the method as described, an etching treatment for separation of the conductor tracks from each other is eliminated. An embossing foil of a particular configuration is used as the intermediate carrier with the conductor tracks.

Abstract: An embossing foil such as a hot embossing foil includes a backing foil which is a thermoplastic polyester triple-layer foil comprising a central polyester layer which has a lower melting point than the other two polyester layers on respective sides thereof, and a decorative layer on the backing foil, comprising at least one layer of lacquer and possibly an adhesive layer. Provided at the surface of the backing foil which is towards the decorative layer is a three-dimensional patterning.

Abstract: In a foil which has a three-dimensional patterning, the patterning effect is provided between two layers of lacquer which, by virtue of the composition thereof, cannot be readily separated from each other by chemical or physical means in order thereby to prevent the patterning from being removed for fraudulent purposes.