Registers – Records
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-17
2001-01-16
Le, Thien M. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Records
C235S375000, C283S074000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06173896
ABSTRACT:
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a data carrier such as a paper of value, ID card, bank note, package or the like having at least one security element applied thereto which has a serial number individualizing the data carrier out of a series of data carriers, and to a method for producing the data carrier.
2. Description of the Related Art
To increase forgyey-proofness and to identify docunents such as bank notes, checks, ID cards, credit cards or the like one applies consecutive numberings to these documents, usually printing this so-called “serial number” on the completed data carrier. This printed serial number individualizes the data carrier, i.e. gives it an individual and unique feature clearly identifying the data carrier out of a series of otherwise identical data carriers.
For applying serial numbers to the data carrier one customarily uses a numbering machine provided in a numbering station, the data carriers to be numbered running through the numbering station either as single copies or still in the sheet with a plurality of copies and thereby being provided with the serial number.
For applying the serial number to a security document, DE-OS 1 486 894 discloses a method wherein a consecutive serial number is applied to the document with the aid of a numbering machine, the numbering machine having figure rolls which are advanced by one count after each print of a number. This multidigit serial number can be provided on the document several times and be applied horizontally or vertically depending on the requirement. To protect the document of value further, it is possible to apply this serial number with a special ink which ensures better protection of the document against falsification and moreover permits a simple check of the correct numbering and adjustment, i.e. of correct application of the serial number. For this purpose, magnetic inks are proposed for example, so that the numbering can be read mechanically with the aid of suitable detectors.
To increase the forgery-proofness of documents of value, EP 0 061 795 B1 further proposes providing an additional code number on the document. This code number is applied to the document by a figure roll disposed equiaxially with the numbering machine and is controllable in accordance with the particular adjustment of the figure rolls of the serial number. This makes it possible to produce an additional code number which is produced in accordance with the printed serial number and applied together therewith.
To improve the security of numbered documents of value, EP 0 160 504 B1 further proposes providing the serial number on a document in such a way that at least two characters of the serial number differ in their height, width, type font or in a combination of these properties.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is thus based on the problem of providing numbered documents with a security element which, firstly, ensures individualization of the single documents out of a series of documents and, secondly, improves the forgery-proofliess of the numbered documents.
This problem is solved by the features of the independent claims.
According to the present invention, a data carrier such as a document of value is provided with a security element which has a serial number, this security element consisting of two parts. The first part of the security element has only part of the serial number, while the second part of the security element has another part or the entire serial number.
During production of the data carrier, the two parts of the security element are applied to the document in a defined position relative to each other with a separate numbering apparatus in each case. The numbering apparatus used in each case is in particular a numbering machine having figure wheels. At the places on the numbering machine where the serial number is incomplete there are figure wheels with a blind numbering, i.e. figure wheels bearing no figures. The effect of this blind numbering is that no figures are transferred to the document at these places, so that the applied number represents the serial number only partly. Since the two parts of the security element are applied to the data carrier with different numbering machines, it is possible to design the first part of the security element so that it represents the serial number only partly, while the second part of the security element can be executed so that it renders the serial number partly or completely. The security element can in particular be executed so that the two individual parts each represent the serial number only partly, the two parts being applied to the document in such a way as to complement each other to form the complete serial number. The first and second parts jointly form the inventive security element.
If two numbering machines optionally having a blind numbering at one or more places are used in a numbering station, it is possible for the first time to represent the serial number in two different color tones. Thus, the figure sequence assigned to the first part of the security element can be represented in a completely different color from the figure sequence assigned to the second part of the security element. Positionally accurate guidance of the document within the numbering station ensures that after the application of the first part of the security element, i.e. the first, incomplete figure sequence of the serial number, the document is supplied to the second numbering device in an accurate position and the second part of the security element, i.e. the second, likewise incomplete part of the serial number or the complete serial number, is applied to the document here. The combination of the first part with the second part thus yields a complete serial number, or the incomplete serial number of the first part of the security element is completed by at least one figure of the second part of the security element. It is irrelevant with this procedure which part of the security element is applied to the data carrier as the first and which as the second.
The use of two different numbering machines in a numbering station for applying the first and second parts of the security element makes it necessary that the data carrier to be printed with the serial number be guided through the numbering station as a single data carrier or as a multiple-copy panel, for example in sheet format, in such a way that it is supplied to both numbering apparatuses in an accurate position. This makes it possible to apply the two parts of the security element to the data carrier in a defined position relative to each other, so that the two parts of the security element are present on the data carrier with the desired exact registration.
The term “figures” in the context of this invention refers to be all characters or symbols, in particular also letters, which are suitable for rendering a serial number.
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Bacon & Thomas PLLC
Giesecke & Devrient GmbH
Le Thien M.
Yven J
LandOfFree
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