Abstract: Methods of preparing electrodes, as well as related devices, components, systems, and methods, are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a security element in the form of a strip. The strip exhibits optical effects which vary, depending on the illumination or viewing direction. The optical effects are provided only in one or more definably delimited, mutually spaced surface regions. The strip outside the visually variable surface regions is transparent or is adapted to the appearance of the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: An optically variable element, in particular an optically variable safeguard element for safeguarding banknotes, credit cards and the like. 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: The invention concerns a film, in particular an embossing film, a laminating film or a sticker film, and an optical security element. The film has a carrier layer and a replication layer. The film also has a layer of a liquid crystal material, which is applied to the replication layer. A diffractive structure is embossed into the surface of the replication layer, which is towards the layer of a liquid crystal material, for orientation of the liquid crystal material, said diffractive structure having at least two partial regions with different directions of orientation of the embossed structure.

Abstract: A method of decorating a three-dimensional object, which performs a thermal transfer by causing a flat thermal transfer foil to adhere favorably to a molded article of a comparatively tall shape. Providing a planar heater (17) at the side of a support jig (5) to partially heat and extend a thermal transfer foil (71) and fixing a shape cutter (19) to the side of a molded rubber mold (3) and mounting a cutting mechanism which cuts the thermal transfer coil immediately before the molded rubber mold reaches the drop point, so that the thermal transfer foil is favorably caused to favorably adhere to the molded article (6).

Abstract: The invention relates to an illuminating station for the production of partially designed areas in one or more layers of a web of sheeting and to optically variable elements produced with such an illuminating station and possessing partially designed areas showing different optical properties. The illuminating station has one or more radiation sources for illuminating the sheeting. The illuminating station has, further, a masking tape having partially designed areas showing different optical properties, which masking tape is guided through an illuminating zone in the path of radiation between said one or more radiation sources and the web of sheeting. The illuminating station further has two or more guide means for guiding the masking tape and/or for guiding the web of sheeting, which guide means are arranged such that the masking tape is guided in the illuminating zone in parallel relationship relative to the sheeting.

Abstract: The invention concerns a film, in particular a stamping film, laminating film or sticker film, which has at least one anisotropic polymer layer of an at least partially oriented liquid crystal material. The anisotropic polymer layer has one or more first regions which form a first security feature and in which the anisotropic polymer layer has properties which linearly polarise or which rotate the direction of rotation, and one or more second regions which form a second security element and in which the anisotropic polymer layer has circularly polarising properties. The first security feature is visualised when viewed through a first polariser and the second security feature is visualised when viewed through a second polariser responsive to a different polarisation state from that of the first polariser.

Abstract: An embossing station for an embossing apparatus is provided for transferring a transfer layer of an embossing film on to an element to be embossed upon, in particular a flat element to be embossed upon which is stable in respect of shape. The embossing station has two support rollers which are spaced from each other and which are in mutually axis-parallel relationship and at least one deflection roller which is spaced from the support rollers and which is in axis-parallel relationship with the support rollers. An embossing belt is deflected around the support rollers and the at least one deflection roller. Provided between the two support rollers is a support body which supports the embossing belt and which has a sliding surface which is in the tangential plane connecting the two support rollers together.

Abstract: There is described a method of producing color effect images on a carrier substrate, wherein it is provided that a latent magnetic image comprising magnetic pixels and non-magnetic pixels is produced on a magnetisable printing form, a carrier substrate with a decorative layer applied to the carrier substrate and provided with non-spherical, preferably needle-form or flake-form magnetic color effect pigments is moved past the magnetisable printing form so that color effect pigments of the decorative layer ale changed in their orientation relative to the carrier substrate by the field line image produced by the magnetic pixels of the magnetisable printing form, and the color effect pigments are fixed in the decorative layer in the orientation which is changed by the field line image of the printing form. There is further described an apparatus for carrying out the method and a multi-layer body produced therewith.

Abstract: The invention concerns an optically variable element and a security product having such an optically variable element, a foil, in particular an embossing foil or a laminating foil having such an optically variable element, and a process for producing such an optically variable element. The optically variable element has a thin film layer succession with at least one spacer layer for producing color shifts by means of interference. In a first region of the thin film layer succession the spacer layer is of a different layer thickness from in a second region of the thin film layer succession. In that case the layer thicknesses of the spacer layer in the first and second regions are so selected that in the first region of the thin film layer succession a first color shift is produced by means of interference and in the second region of the thin film layer succession a second color shift which is different from the first color shift is produced.

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 to provide protection from forgery. Embodiments of those security features have diffractive or holographic structures. The production of the markings was hitherto effected by shaping from a mold. A change in the marking is possible by changing the mole, which is time-consuming. The new apparatus and the new process are intended to permit the production of individualized markings on a substrate, at a low level of apparatus expenditure.

Abstract: A process for the production of a multi-color image is described. Preferably a transfer film is used which has a laser-sensitive layer (4). The laser-sensitive layer (4) comprises a three-component mixture. The components are coloring agents which are bleachable with laser radiation, in particular pigments, for example cyan pigment, magenta pigment and yellow pigment. With the process the procedure is such that in the individual steps only a respective one of the pigment components is bleached insofar as the laser conditions which are respectively specific to the various pigment components are set. This means that in the case of the three-component mixture only a first component is bleached by laser treatment of a given location in a first step by laser irradiation and only one other component is bleached in an optional second step and only one third component is bleached in an optional third step.

Abstract: The invention concerns a multilayer film (15) for the construction of skis, a ski (1) having said multilayer film (15) and processes for the production of the multilayer film and the ski. The multilayer film (15) has a multilayer transfer or laminating film comprising two or more thin layers. A mechanically load-bearing layer with preferably a high modulus of elasticity is arranged on a surface of the multilayer transfer or laminating film. A cover layer is arranged on another surface of the multilayer transfer or laminating film. The multilayer film formed in that way is now applied to a base body of the ski (1).

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for the production of a region-wise metallization on a carrier substrate, wherein the carrier substrate is at least region-wise provided with a soluble colored first layer which on its side remote from the carrier substrate is provided over its full area with a metal layer, as well as a transfer film with a region-wise metalization and the use thereof.

Abstract: The invention concerns a security and/or value document, in particular a banknote. The security and/or value document has a support (1) of a paper material and an in particular strip-form or thread-form film element (2) which contains one or more optical security features. The support (1) has one or more window-shaped openings (35) which are closed by means of the film element (2) which projects beyond the openings on all sides. Applied to the side of the support (1) of a paper material, which is in opposite relationship to the film element (2), is a sealing layer (4) which covers the surfaces of the film element (2) at least in the region of the openings.

Abstract: There is described a signing film wherein provided on a background of the signing film is a decorative printing which forms a security feature and which fluoresces when viewed under UV light. So that the decorative printing which fluoresces under UV light is not to be perceived when viewing the surface of the signing film at different viewing angles in ambient light, it is proposed that the background of the signing film has at least two background layers and between them the decorative printing comprising a lacquer which contains a high-viscosity binding agent and is mixed with pigments which fluoresce under UV light, so that after the printing operation and the drying operation it is of a small layer thickness as a consequence of the high viscosity.

Abstract: The invention concerns a value-bearing document and a process for the production of a value-bearing document. The value-bearing document comprises a carrier of a paper material and a laminating film which is applied to the carrier and which has a carrier film and a decorative layer arrangement including one or more security features and/or one or more components with electrical functionalities. The laminating film is provided with predetermined breaking locations for reducing the strength of the laminating film.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for applying at least one surface portion of a transfer layer of a transfer film to a web of material, wherein the apparatus has at least one support roller and at least one pressure roller for pressing the web of material and the transfer firm against the at least one support roller, wherein the at least one pressure roller is pneumatically or hydraulically resiliently supported by means of at least one resilient arrangement in the form of a diaphragm spring and wherein the apparatus has at least one adjusting device for varying a spring rate of the at least one resilient arrangement and thus for varying a pressure contact force of the at least one pressure roller against the at least one support roller, and the use of such an apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a strip for safeguarding a document, comprising a support on which there is formed in the longitudinal direction of the strip an alternation of generally metallised regions and generally transparent regions, said alternation being capable of establishing a contrast on a scale identified as global at the level of the document to be safeguarded in such a way as to constitute protection against reproduction of the documents with which the strip will be associated, characterised in that the strip also comprises optically active elements in association with the generally metallised regions and/or the generally transparent regions of the strip to produce an optical effect on a scale identified as detail at the level of the document to be safeguarded, said optical effect making it possible to constitute a recognisable sign for identifying said document. The present invention finally concerns a security document incorporating a strip as set forth hereinbefore.

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.