Printing – Stenciling – Rotary machines
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-30
2001-10-16
Colilla, Daniel J. (Department: 2854)
Printing
Stenciling
Rotary machines
C101S116000, C101S033000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302016
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a machine for the security printing of security papers comprising a paper sheet-feed device, a device for transferring the papers toward a printing unit, a device for transferring printed sheets toward a unit for checking the print quality and a unit for storing printed sheets.
It is already known practise to incorporate, by way of security elements, optically-varying images or the like in the form of a film, for example on bank cards or security papers, particularly banknotes, so as to prevent counterfeiting thereof or make counterfeiting more difficult. These images, which are often optically varying comprising either a hologram or a kinegram, have the feature of changing appearance depending on the angle from which they are viewed.
Such images may be applied by different methods. By way of example, mention may be made of the device described in document EP-A-O 441 596 (MOLINS), the noncontradictory content of which is incorporated by reference, which describes a method and device for the cold application of such an image to a banknote. According to this device, the paper, in the form of sheets, having undergone selective application of an adhesive ink at specific points corresponding to the printings of the notes, and having traveled past the ultraviolet-radiation drying device, passes into a unit for applying such an image carried by a ribbon, which is dispensed between a dispensing reel mounted in a first cassette and a take-up reel mounted in a second cassette. The travel of the ribbon is parallel to the movement of the paper.
In document EP-A-0 625 466 (DE LA RUE GIORI), the noncontradictory content of which is incorporated by reference, the optically varying images, also supported by a ribbon, are applied to specific points, the application unit comprising at least one applicator cylinder and cooperating with an impression cylinder between which cylinders the paper passes. The ribbon is mounted between two reels arranged in one sector of the applicator cylinder and the ribbon passes along a generatrix of said applicator cylinder at right angles to the path of the paper.
This type of apparatus is equipped with means making it possible to ensure that the application of optically varying images is perfectly in register with the desired position on the security paper. These apparatuses are theoretically intended for just one single type of printing of security elements, they are expensive and are therefore not suitable for limited runs or for runs of security papers in which perfect print quality is not required.
If there is a desire to apply two security elements to a security paper using different methods, it is necessary to have use of two apparatuses, each one specific to the type and method of application of the security element. Likewise, or if there is a desire to be able to print security designs on limited editions using different methods, it is necessary to have one apparatus per method.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a solution to the abovementioned problems, namely to propose a security printing machine which can easily be converted to apply one or other of the known security printing methods.
The machine according to the invention is one wherein the printing unit can be altered to suit different types of security printing and consists of the following elements common to all these different types of printing: a screen-printing device comprising a screen stencil cylinder cooperating with a press cylinder and a drying/activation device located downstream, followed by a transfer cylinder for transferring toward a second press cylinder intended to cooperate with at least one device for printing a security element.
The advantage of the machine according to the present invention is that as a result of an astute choice of certain elements which are to form a permanent part of this machine, it is easily possible to adapt the machine to different types of security printing without each time having to resort to an apparatus specific to each type of security printing. It is thus relatively easy, starting out from the basic apparatus, to add modules cooperating with this basic apparatus so as to obtain the security printing of one's choice and, in accordance with the alternative forms described below, to do so at limited investment cost.
According to one alternative form of the aforementioned basic elements of the printing machine, an apparatus is added for applying images in the form of stamps or strips, said images being supported by a ribbon traveling between a dispensing reel and a take-up reel parallel to the movement of the paper and between the second press cylinder and an applicator cylinder cooperating with the press cylinder.
Depending on the work and on the type of stamp or strip that is to be applied, the screen-printing unit may, beforehand, print an ink which is either part of an adhesive or an adhesive onto the paper passing between the press cylinder and the screen stencil cylinder. This application is performed selectively at those points on the paper intended subsequently to receive the security stamps or strips.
When part of an adhesive is applied, the second part is directly on the security stamp or strip, and the applicator cylinder is heated to allow these two parts to be activated. When an adhesive is a one-part adhesive, the security stamps or strips are applied to this adhesive directly and in the cold state by the applicator cylinder.
According to another embodiment, the security printing is performed by at least one applicator cylinder cooperating with the second press cylinder between which the paper travels, the applicator cylinder being equipped with at least one pair of reels between which the ribbon is mounted and passes along a generatrix, that is to say that the ribbon in this case travels at right angles to the forward movement of the paper intermittently between each application. In this case, each cylinder may comprise several pairs of such reels making it possible, in a single pass of the paper to print the security elements on several rows of sheets. Likewise, it is also possible to have a second applicator cylinder, as described moreover, in EP-A-0 625 466 mentioned earlier. In this apparatus, the screen printing unit is used either to apply a first part of an adhesive, the second part being on the stamps or strips, and application is performed in the hot state, or the screen-printing apparatus applies a simple adhesive and a stamp or strip with the security design is applied in the cold state.
According to another embodiment similar to the one in which the ribbon travels parallel to the movement of the paper, the stamp or strip applied in the hot state (so the screen-printing unit applies a first non-adhesive part to the paper) is partially printed or not printed at all and a microstructure is impressed after the stamp or strip has been applied to the paper. To this end, the apparatus comprises, in addition to the abovementioned elements for applying a stamp or strip from a ribbon traveling parallel to the movement of the paper, a plate cylinder equipped with a plate which has a design in relief. As the paper with the security element passes between the second press cylinder and the plate cylinder, a microstructure is impressed by embossing the stamp or the strip. After this deformation, a second screen stencil cylinder arranged downstream of the plate cylinder applies a lacquer, also selectively, to the design thus created, thus allowing the microstructure obtained by embossing the paper to be fixed. Downstream of this application of lacquer, a drying unit allows the lacquer to be dried before it passes to the unit for checking said print quality.
Finally, in another embodiment still starting out from the basic machine, the screen-printing unit is designed to apply a layer of a coating intended to be printed by embossing.
The second impression cylinder is, in this case as in the previous case, in contact with a plate cylin
Fausto Giori
Schaede Johannes Georg
Bugnion S.A.
Colilla Daniel J.
De La Rue Giori S.A.
Moetteli John
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