Abstract: A method for determining a reference position, on one side of a flat piece, wherein: image data is acquired; a first reference pattern is detected based on the image data, and first position data is determined for the first reference pattern; based on the first position data, a region of interest is defined in the image data; in the region of interest, a second reference pattern (34) is detected and second position data is determined for the second reference pattern; based on the first position data and the second position data, the reference position is determined. In addition, the present disclosure relates to a system for determining a reference position including an image data acquisition unit and an evaluation unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a positioning device for rotatably and rectilinearly positioning a card with respect to a treatment unit having an axis of treatment. The positioning device comprises a card holder for holding a card in a fixed position, wherein the card holder defines a virtual card surface plane coincident with the surface of a card facing the treatment unit once the card is placed in the card holder, and wherein the card holder defines a virtual card center point coincident with the intersection point of the axis of treatment and the virtual card surface plane. The positioning device further comprises a manipulator to which the card holder is attached, wherein the manipulator comprises: a cardanic element with a first axis of rotation and a second axis of rotation; and a virtual pivot point being the intersection of the first and the second axis of rotation.

Abstract: A laser engraver having a laser, a camera, and a plate for holding a product, wherein an optical path of the laser is directed to the plate, an optical path of the camera is directed to the plate, and the optical path of the camera to the plate and the optical path of the laser to the plate are at least partially the same before and when hitting the plate. The laser engraver includes a controller and a comparator, wherein the controller is configured to have the laser engrave a predefined pattern at a predefined position on the product on the plate to form an engraved pattern on the product and have the camera capture a position of the engraved pattern, have the comparator compare the predefined position and the position captured by the camera to determine a difference therebetween, and use the difference to calibrate the laser.

Abstract: A laser engraver having a laser, a camera, and a plate for holding a product, wherein an optical path of the laser is directed to the plate, an optical path of the camera is directed to the plate, and the optical path of the camera to the plate and the optical path of the laser to the plate are at least partially the same before and when hitting the plate. The laser engraver includes a controller and a comparator, wherein the controller is configured to have the laser engrave a predefined pattern at a predefined position on the product on the plate to form an engraved pattern on the product and have the camera capture a position of the engraved pattern, have the comparator compare the predefined position and the position captured by the camera to determine a difference therebetween, and use the difference to calibrate the laser.

Abstract: The invention relates to a forge-proof document comprising a security feature in the form of a perforation pattern which displays gray tones when viewed against a bright background, wherein the document is manufactured from a material which transmits light to a limited extent, at least some of the perforations forming part of the perforation pattern extend over only a part of the thickness of the document at the position of the perforation, and the thickness of the remaining part of the document at the position of the perforation is modulated in accordance with the image to be displayed. The invention also relates to such a document comprising a security feature in the form of a perforation pattern which displays gray tones when viewed against a bright background, wherein at least some of the perforations forming part of the perforation pattern extend at an angle differing from 90° relative to the main plane of the document.

Abstract: The invention relates to a carrier representing value provided with recognizable pattern, for instance in the form of giro checks, bankchecks, banknotes, shares, bonds and other documents representing a value, wherein the patterns are formed by parts treated by means of a laser beam. This object is reached in that the patterns have been provided by means of a laser light beam. The use of a laser beam makes it possible to apply particularly fine structures which either cannot be applied with other treating methods, or only with the greatest financial effort. The use of laser beams enables variation of the width or depth of the channels or perforations which is almost impossible with other treating methods.