Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of the protection of value documents and value commercial goods against counterfeit and illegal reproduction. In particular, the present invention relates to processes for producing security threads or stripes to be incorporated into or onto security documents and security documents comprising said security threads or stripes.

Abstract: Security thread or stripe, magnetic orienting cylinder and methods making magnetic orienting cylinder and of using magnetic orienting cylinder. Security thread or strip includes a plastic foil having a hardened coating comprising magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles oriented to represent graphic information. Graphic information includes a seamless and continuous repetitive pattern having a repetition length.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a security thread or stripe for the incorporation into or onto a value-document or currency substrate, as well as a method and means of making such thread or stripe. The thread or stripe comprises a plastic foil which carries a hardened coating comprising oriented magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles, the orientation of said pigment particles representing graphic information. Preferred are optically variable magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles. Said hardened coating may also be comprised between a first and a second plastic foil. Said graphic information is a repetitive seamless pattern of suitable repetition length, which is produced using a magnetic orienting cylinder having a corresponding repetitive seamless magnetic field pattern. A magnetic orienting cylinder and a process for process for producing such magnetic orienting cylinder are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of the protection of security documents such as for example banknotes and identity documents against counterfeit and illegal reproduction. In particular, the invention relates to optical effect layers (OEL) showing a viewing-angle dependent optical effect, devices and processes for producing said OEL and items carrying said OEL, as well as uses of said optical effect layers as an anti-counterfeit means on documents.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of the protection of security documents such as for example banknotes and identity documents against counterfeit and illegal reproduction. In particular, the invention relates to optical effect layers (OEL) showing a viewing-angle dependent optical effect, devices and processes for producing said OEL and items carrying said OEL, as well as uses of said optical effect layers as an anti-counterfeit means on documents.

Abstract: Device for the counterfeit protection of a banknote, a document of value or an article. The device includes a substrate (S), and on the substrate (S) a plurality of jointly visible zones of first (1) and of second (2) hardened coatings including oriented pigment particles (P1, P2) in a transparent binder (M1, M2), the first (1) hardened coating having a pigment orientation imitating a first curved surface and the second (2) hardened coating having a pigment orientation imitating a second curved surface different from the first curved surface. The device is characterized in that, along a linear section through the device, at least one zone of the second (2) hardened coating is contiguously located between two zones of the first (1) hardened coating. Method for producing the device, the use of the device, as well as security documents carrying said device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of the protection against counterfeiting or illegal reproduction of embossed metal coins. In particular, the present invention provides embossed metal coins comprising a coating layer made of an optically variable composition comprising a plurality of optically variable pigment particles.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to the field of graphical elements and is directed to an optical effect layer (OEL), a device and a method for producing same. The disclosure provides an optical effect that is easy to detect as such and exhibits a viewing-angle dependent apparent motion of image features over an extended length if the viewing angle with respect to the OEL changes. An OEL includes a binder material being at least partially transparent and a plurality of particles dispersed within the layer. Each particle has a non-isotropic reflectivity and may be magnetic or magnetizable. The orientation of the particles forms an orientation pattern extending over a length within an extended surface of the OEL, such that the local average of an angle between (i) a straight line along an observed longest dimension within the corresponding cross-section shape, and (ii) said first direction x varies according to a function (?) of a position (P) along said first direction.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a security element comprising a transparent substrate and a magnetically oriented image coating on said substrate, wherein said image coating is preferably laid out such as to show a 3-dimensional effect, appearing in positive or negative relief respectively, if observed form the recto- or the verso side, respectively. The security element can be easily identified by the unaided eye, by just turning around the document and observing the angle-dependent image on either side. On the other hand, the security element cannot be reproduced by scanning or copying the document.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for magnetically transferring indicia, such as a design or an image, to a wet coating layer applied on a substrate, such as a sheet or a web, wherein the said coating layer comprises at least one type of magnetic or magnetizable particles; said device comprising a) at least one magnetized permanent-magnetic plate (2) carrying relief, engravings or cut-outs, mounted such that its relief surface remains accessible, b) at least one additional magnet (3), disposed below said at least one permanent-magnetic plate, facing the surface of the magnetic plate which is opposite to the relief, engraving or cut-out, and c) a holder (1), which has the mechanical function to hold the pieces together in fixed positions. A method for producing the device, the use of the device, and magnetically induced designs obtained with the device, which are useful for protecting currency, value—and identity documents, are disclosed as well.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for magnetically transferring indicia, such as a design or an image, to a wet coating layer applied on a substrate, such as a sheet or a web, wherein the said coating layer comprises at least one type of magnetic or magnetizable particles; said device comprising a) at least one magnetized permanent-magnetic plate (2) carrying relief, engravings or cut-outs, mounted such that its relief surface remains accessible, b) at least one additional magnet (3), disposed below said at least one permanent-magnetic plate, facing the surface of the magnetic plate which is opposite to the relief, engraving or cut-out, and c) a holder (1), which has the mechanical function to hold the pieces together in fixed positions. A method for producing the device, the use of the device, and magnetically induced designs obtained with the device, which are useful for protecting currency, value—and identity documents, are disclosed as well.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device, system and method for producing magnetically induced visual effects in coatings, particularly security or decorative features, containing orientable magnetic particles. The device comprises a printing unit, an orientation means, a substrate-guiding system and a photocuring unit. The printing unit is arranged to print with the coating composition an image on a first side of a substrate. The orientation means comprises a magnetic field generating element for orienting the magnetic particles in the coating composition of the printed image. The substrate-guiding system is arranged to bring and hold the substrate in contact with the orientation means. The photocuring unit irradiates the image printed on the substrate to at least partially cure the coating composition of the image while the substrate is still in contact with the orientation means.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a security thread or stripe for the incorporation into or onto a value-document or currency substrate, as well as a method and means of making such thread or stripe. The thread or stripe comprises a plastic foil which carries a hardened coating comprising oriented magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles, the orientation of said pigment particles representing graphic information. Preferred are optically variable magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles. Said hardened coating may also be comprised between a first and a second plastic foil. Said graphic information is a repetitive seamless pattern of suitable repetition length, which is produced using a magnetic orienting cylinder having a corresponding repetitive seamless magnetic field pattern. A magnetic orienting cylinder and a process for process for producing such magnetic orienting cylinder are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a coating composition for the production of a magnetically induced image, consisting of volatile components (S) and non-volatile components, the latter consisting of an ink vehicle (I) and magnetically orientable optically variable interference pigment (P), to a process for manufacturing the coating composition, and to the use of the composition for the production of a magnetically induced image coating on a substrate with the help of applied magnetic fields. Said magnetically induced image coating may be used as a security device on value- or identity documents, brand protection labels and the like.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a coating composition for the production of a magnetically induced image, consisting of volatile components (S) and non-volatile components, the latter consisting of an ink vehicle (I) and magnetically orientable optically variable interference pigment (P), to a process for manufacturing the coating composition, and to the use of the composition for the production of a magnetically induced image coating on a substrate with the help of applied magnetic fields. Said magnetically induced image coating may be used as a security device on value- or identity documents, brand protection labels and the like.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a coating composition for the production of a magnetically induced image, consisting of volatile components (S) and non-volatile components, the latter consisting of an ink vehicle (I) and magnetically orientable optically variable interference pigment (P), to a process for manufacturing the coating composition, and to the use of the composition for the production of a magnetically induced image coating on a substrate with the help of applied magnetic fields. Said magnetically induced image coating may be used as a security device on value- or identity documents, brand protection labels and the like.

Abstract: Device for the counterfeit protection of a banknote, a document of value or an article. The device includes a substrate (S), and on the substrate (S) a plurality of jointly visible zones of first (1) and of second (2) hardened coatings including oriented pigment particles (P1, P2) in a transparent binder (M1, M2), the first (1) hardened coating having a pigment orientation imitating a first curved surface and the second (2) hardened coating having a pigment orientation imitating a second curved surface different from the first curved surface. The device is characterized in that, along a linear section through the device, at least one zone of the second (2) hardened coating is contiguously located between two zones of the first (1) hardened coating. Method for producing the device, the use of the device, as well as security documents carrying said device.

Abstract: The invention discloses a security element having a coating layer which appears transparent at certain angles of view, giving visual access to underlying information, whilst staying opaque at other angles of view. Documents of value, right, identity, security labels or branded goods comprising said security element, as well as a method for producing said security element, are also disclosed. Using appropriate substrate surfaces, optically variable and otherwise angle-dependent visual effects can be realized.

Abstract: The invention discloses a reversibly piezochromic security element for the forgery-protection of value documents, the security element being characterized in that it comprises a collection of optically contrasting pigment particles in a film or a coating layer of an elastic polymer. In a particular embodiment, the particles are optically variable pigment flakes, oriented in a position which is substantially different from an alignment in the plane of the film or coating layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a security document (D), having a substrate (S) coated with at least one first coating layer (P), and over said first coating layer (P) at least one second coating layer (I), said second coating layer (I) comprising at least one type of magnetic or magnetizable particles (F), wherein indicia are embodied in the coating layer (I) through a selective orientation of the said magnetic or magnetizable particles (F). Further disclosed is a process of making said security document.