Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of the protection of security documents, especially banknotes, against illegal actions such as robbery or theft. In particular, the present invention relates to the field of ink-stained documents that are resistant to chemicals. The disclosed security documents are covered on at least one side by from about 70% to about 90% of a protective varnish and comprising from about 10% to about 30% of one or more varnish-free areas comprising one or more varnish-free indentations (I), the percents being based on the total surface of the one side of the security document.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of the intaglio printing process. In particular, the present invention relates to a method that combines intaglio inks curable by oxidation with UV-VIS-curable intaglio inks on one intaglio plate or cylinder. The disclosed method results in an intaglio printed security element using advantageously the unalike properties of the different inks while enabling the printing on a standard printing press in one printing step.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for the authentication of an optically variable entity exhibiting a color shift with changing viewing-angle, the device comprising a plate of light-refractive material, said plate having two surfaces and an array of light-refracting protrusions or recesses on at least one of said surfaces, and being disposed in said device such as to provide, aside each other, a direct view and a view through said plate onto at least parts of said optically variable entity, said view through said plate being an angularly deflected view, resulting from light refraction at said protrusions or recesses. Further disclosed is a method for authenticating an optically variable entity, as well as the use of a plate having two parallel surfaces and an array of positive or negative light-refracting protrusions or recesses on at least one of said surfaces for authenticating an optically variable entity.

Abstract: An oxidatively curing intaglio printing ink is disclosed, comprising an oxidatively curable polymer, an anionic macromolecular surfactant, a wax component, and a salt of vanadium, preferably of the vanadyl (VO2+) ion, as the oxypolymerization inducing siccativating agent.

Abstract: Device and process for producing indicia comprising magnetically oriented magnetic or magnetizable particles in ink or coating composition on a sheet of substrate material. Device includes a flat-bed screen-printing unit having a flat printing screen and a printing platen for receiving a sheet. Printing platen has an upper surface facing the printing screen and a first direction along its upper surface along which said sheet is unloadable, and a magnetic orienting unit having multiple magnet assemblies. Magnetic orienting unit is disposed below upper surface of the printing platen, the multiple magnet assemblies are disposed along first direction, and all of the magnet assemblies are concomitantly movable from a first position away from the upper surface of the printing platen to a second position close to the upper surface of the printing platen. The magnetic orienting unit having one or more magnet assemblies is usable as a stand-alone flat-bed magnetization device.

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 present invention relates to printing inks for the intaglio printing process, also referred to as engraved steel die printing process. In particular, oxidatively curing inks comprising a combination of fusible wax and a UV curing binder component are disclosed. These inks can be printed on a standard printing press, and, through a short UV irradiation after printing, allow to significantly reduce or eliminate the undesired set-off which can occur after printing and stacking the printed sheets. Using the inks of the present invention results in less set-off contaminated printed sheets, allowing for a higher pile-stacking of the printed good, for the use of increased engraving depths, of a more challenging intaglio design, and for the printing on less porous substrates, while enabling the printing on a standard printing press, and offering the possibility of using a lower printing plate temperature.

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: Pasty ink for the engraved steel die printing process, having a viscosity value above 3 Pa·s, preferably above 5 Pa·s at 40° C., and comprising an infrared absorbing material, wherein said infrared absorbing material is a transition element compound whose IR-absorption is a consequence of electronic transitions within the d-shell of transition element atoms or ions.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a device useful as a security element comprising first and second LC ink layers representing a graphical object exhibiting, when observed with an appropriate viewing equipment, a three-dimensional appearance, wherein one of said ink layers shows a first color at a certain viewing angle and is a left-handed circularly polarizing coating or comprises left-handed circularly polarizing pigment, and the other of said ink layers shows the same or another color at said viewing angle and is a right-handed circularly polarizing coating or comprises right-handed circularly polarizing pigment, said first and second LC ink layers representing a first and a second image corresponding to a pair of stereoscopic projections of said object, characterized in that said first and second images are composed of separate building blocks which are superimposed or can be superimposed.

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 present invention concerns a transfer foil, comprising a release-coated carrier (1), and on said carrier a transfer coating layer (3) having the form of a design comprising oriented optically variable magnetic pigment (OVMP), the pigment orientation representing an image, indicia, or a pattern. Processes of making and using the foil, as well as documents carrying the foil are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention discloses an ink for the engraved steel die printing process, having a viscosity at 40° C. between 3 Pa.s to 15 Pa.s, preferably 5 to 10 Pa.s, and comprising a polymeric organic binder and magnetic pigment particle, characterized in that said magnetic pigment particles comprises a magnetic core material which is surrounded by at least one layer of another material. The surrounding layers, single or in combination, confer the pigment particle particular optical properties in the visible and/or in the near IR, chosen from high specular or diffuse reflectance, spectrally selective absorption or reflection, and angle-dependent absorption or reflection, and allow for the formulation of inks having a large gamut of color and other optical functionalities.