Printing – Processes – Resilient surface
Patent
1997-10-02
1998-08-18
Eickholt, Eugene H.
Printing
Processes
Resilient surface
273148R, 283 67, 283 94, 283107, 427258, B41F 3100
Patent
active
057945322
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to gambling chips also called casino chips. By gambling chip is meant any element which can be used in gambling halls and representing a predetermined or non-predetermined nominal value, whether it is an actual chip in the form of a disc or a gambling tile generally representing a high stake. These chips are classified, depending on the type of game for which they are used, into two families--"French or European" chips with or without a predetermined value and "American" chips with or without a predetermined value. In general, these chips are manufactured from rigid plastic which is soiling resistant and scratch resistant.
2. Description of Background and Relevant Information
Gambling chips are subjected, in a quasi-systematic way, to a decoration by marking their faces and/or edges and which, depending on the eventual uses of the chips, can range from the simplest to the most complex. In the remainder of the account, the term decoration encompasses its widest meaning and comprises especially any design, sign, mark and character (for example letters and numerals) capable of graphical representation and/or of visual effect. More precisely, the decoration of the chips is capable of fulfilling at least one of the many functions presented briefly below: and/or the player; advertising medium; and and/or reproduction.
As regards the marking proper, it is possible to distinguish thickness or volume marking (for example marking within the bulk with or without insert, etching, etc.) from the marking of a surface (for example printing using monochrome or polychrome screen printing). The invention relates more particularly to surface marking, it being understood that surface marking can be carried out on a surface within the very chip (for example for "European" chips and tiles produced in the form of laminated plastic sheets).
Among surface marking techniques for gambling chips, hot marking is known, this being used most often for simple and monochrome decorations. In this technique, an inking ribbon carrying an ink of predetermined colour is placed on one face of the chip, the marking being carried out by a hot punch carrying the decorative pattern. This technique, being very limited because of the monochrome nature of the ribbons and because of the low degree of complexity of the visual appearances achievable by using a punch, can only be used on plane objects (having no relief) for fear of incomplete marking on the chips. It should be noted that, in addition to the high tooling costs and the quite lengthy manufacturing times, this technique not allowing the use of UV-detectable ink.
A higher-performance technique, called "sublimation" technique, is also used for marking the chips. According to this technique, a transfer on which the decoration (which may be polychrome) has been produced is deposited on the chip. Through the action of heat, the ink from the transfer is sublimed, ending up by being deposited on the external surface of the chip and migrating into the material to a depth of a few tens of microns.
This technique gives better results than the previous technique but suffers from major limitations, especially as regards: in order to avoid deviation of the colours sublimed; technique remains expensive.
Another technique also used for the surface marking of gambling chips consists in printing a decoration (for example by screen printing) on the inner face of an wafer made of transparent or translucent plastic, either smooth or with a granite finish, (for example made of polycarbonate), which is then adhesively bonded in the bottom of a corresponding cavity provided on one face of the chip. However, this technique is also fairly expensive and is not entirely satisfactory as regards the risk of fraudulent substitution of the marked wafer. It is also sensitive to dirt particles which get in under the wafer or into the wafer/chip interstice.
As a result of the foregoing, there exists a need for a new method of marking gambling
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Gassies Christophe
Mauzac Olivier
Philippe Eric
Eickholt Eugene H.
Etablissements Bourgogne et Grasset
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