EP2857218B1 - Method for the production of a security mark with tactile structures for valuable documents - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for producing a security feature for value documents, in particular banknotes, identity cards and the like, wherein the security feature has at least one tactile detectable structure which is applied to a substrate of the value document. The at least one tactile structure here consists of paint or varnish, wherein the color and / or the varnish is applied by means of a printing process to the substrate of the value document.

To protect against counterfeiting, in particular with color copiers or other reproduction methods, value documents such as banknotes, securities, credit or identity cards, passports, certificates and the like, labels, packaging or other elements for product protection are provided with security elements with tactile structures.

For example, it is off EP 2599637 A2 a data carrier, in particular value document, such as banknote, identity card and the like, with a substrate known having at least one paper layer and which is covered on both sides in each case over the entire surface of a polymeric cover layer. The substrate and the polymeric cover layer have substantially congruently arranged, tactile detectable embossed structures which are produced by the action of an embossing tool on the polymeric cover layer and the substrate and which have a relief height of 20 μm to 400 μm in total.

In order to ensure good haptic recognition for almost all groups of people, the tactile structure must have at least a certain height. Ideally, a tactile structure should have a height of more than 50 microns, preferably more than 80 microns and more preferably more than 120 microns have. This ensures that the perceived threshold for tactile detectable increases is exceeded and a user who sweeps his fingertip over the tactile structures can perceive this as an increase in relation to the surrounding substrate surface. A tactile structure can thus be perceived haptically independently of its optically perceptible appearance, so that the value document can also be unambiguously recognized by individuals with limited or reduced visual strength and checked for authenticity.

Basically, tactile structures are applied to a substrate by embossing, printing or transfer methods or by a combination of these methods. Furthermore, tactile structures can also be applied to a substrate by means of laser radiation, the laser radiation breaking the surface of the substrate or allowing the substrate to swell.

Embossing methods are also common methods for value documents in order to produce tactile structures. The embossing is dependent not only on the shape of the embossing stamp on the quality of the substrate. As a rule, paper-based substrates can be partially deformed by an embossing process. The embossing height is usually between 50 .mu.m and 80 .mu.m in the case of paper banknotes with an embossing stamp having an embossing depth of 120 .mu.m. By contrast, in the case of banknotes made of a plastic-based substrate, for example of biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP), the impression height is only between 20 .mu.m and 50 .mu.m, ie only about half as high as with paper banknotes and below or at the perception threshold for tactile structures ,

In the case of banknotes, embossing is generally carried out by means of the so-called intaglio printing method, in which an embossing stamp is pressed onto the substrate with high mechanical pressure. For tactile detectable structures, both the classical ink-conducting intaglio printing is used, in which the depressions of the embossing stamp are at least partially filled with a color, as well as the so-called blind embossing, in which the depressions of the embossing stamp are not filled. In color-guiding intaglio printing, the haptic experience is due to the elevation itself, but above all to the partially different micro-roughness of the surface of the elevations, which, however, is only slightly perceptible. Furthermore, it is disadvantageous in all embossing methods that the embossing of the substrate during the lifetime or circulation of a bank note is reduced by external influences, such as moisture, temperature and pressure.

Tactile structures can also be generated without simultaneous substrate embossing with printing processes. So tactile structures, such as Braille fonts, can also be produced by screen printing. In this case, the tactile structures are usually built up in layers by printing individual color layers with a smaller thickness one over the other, so that the overall result is a thickness or height of 0.2 mm to 0.3 mm.

In order to achieve the required font height or tactility, usually UV-drying inks or paints are used. These paints or varnishes usually contain no or only low concentrations of volatile components, such as e.g. Iso-propyl alcohol (IPA), a colorless, flammable liquid.

Alternatively, the production of tactile structures by means of a transfer process, in which prefabricated the tactile structure on a support is transferred and then transferred to the substrate. However, the transfer method requires a high cost, so that this method is not usually used for securities or banknote printing.

Out WO 2010/071956 A1 . DE 10 2011108 239 A1 . EP 2 275 273 A2 and EP 2161314 A1 tactile structures are known which consist of a tactile imprint, wherein the imprint has additional features. These additional features include, for example, different colors, effect colors, magnetizable pigments, fluorescents, different shapes, or retroreflective glass beads.

Out WO 2009/106799 A1 tactile structures are known in which at least three tactile detectable particles per mm ² are in a paint layer, said tactile detectable particles protrude at least 10 microns from the paint layer.

Out US 2009/091591 A1 Structures are known which consist of a superimposition of several lacquer layers, wherein the structures have a height of approximately 1 μm in total, ie are not tactile.

The invention is therefore the object of developing a generic security element such that the disadvantages of the prior art is eliminated and the protection against counterfeiting is further increased.

This object is solved by the features of the independent claims. Further developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

According to the invention, the at least one tactile structure is combined with an additional feature in the form of a tactile, acoustically or optically detectable security feature arranged on and / or under and / or around and / or in the tactile structure.

The substrate preferably comprises paper and / or a film, in particular a translucent or transparent film (for example in the window region of a banknote). In the simplest case, the substrate is completely made of either paper or plastic. However, the substrate can also be made of different materials in some areas, and in particular in a range of paper and at the same time in another area made of plastic, preferably from a translucent film exist. This makes it possible to emboss different materials as a substrate in one operation. Translucent film is here understood to mean either a transparent or a semitransparent film, for example a translucent film which contains, for example, polyamide, polyester, polyethylene or biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP).

A printing process for producing tactile structures is, for example, the "X-Dot" spray nozzle process developed by hss baumer. This printing process was specially developed for the production of Braille typefaces and is very similar to the inkjet process. However, the transferred amount of ink is greater by several powers of ten than with a conventional inkjet printer from the office sector. The transferred ink drop is not achieved as in a conventional inkjet printer via a piezoelectric element or a short-pulse thermal heating in the print head, but via a mechanical opening and closing of a closure. With In this method, tactile structures with a height of up to 300 μm can be produced.

Furthermore, the screen printing method according to the invention is also known. In screen printing, the ink is printed with a rubber squeegee through a fine mesh fabric onto the substrate. Non-printing areas are previously rendered opaque in the screen by means of a coating by an exposure process. The layer thickness of the printing ink applied to the substrate is determined essentially by the sieve thickness. The greater the thickness of the screen, the greater the height of the transferred layer thickness.

Alternatively, a tactile element can be produced on a substrate by means of toner or inkjet-based methods by a multiple coating. Alternatively, the tactile element can first be formed on an intermediate carrier (eg photoconductor drum or rubber roller) before the transfer to the substrate takes place.
As non-tactile structures structures with a height of less than 20 microns are considered in the context of this invention. Structures with a height of more than 50 μm are tactile detectable for most people. Structures with a height of more than 20 microns, but less than 50 microns are tactile detectable only for special and highly trained groups of people, for example, visually impaired or blind persons.

The color or lacquer layer according to the invention preferably consists of a grid-like arrangement of individual elements, these elements being produced in each case by a single drop or thread of paint and / or lacquer. This has the particular advantage that the tactile elements can be created with just a single print. It thus results in a time and cost savings or efficiency increase.

In addition to applying a single drop of paint or varnish, it is also possible to apply a continuous or filamentary tactile element, for example in the form of a groove, with the valve open and the substrate moved. Also, the generation of a so-called multitrop, in which a drop is overprinted with a protective varnish, or a combination of two different colored drops to a tactile element is possible.

According to the invention, therefore, the at least one tactile structure is combined with an additional tactile, acoustically or optically detectable security feature which is arranged on and / or under and / or around and / or in the tactile structure or incorporated therein. This makes it particularly advantageous to individualize individual tactile structures possible. Furthermore, a combination of different security features is possible, so that the security against forgery of the value document and the attractiveness of the security feature for a user further increases.

• eine Einfärbung der taktilen Struktur,
• eine Veränderung der Oberflächenrauigkeit der taktilen Struktur,
• eine Veränderung des Glanzwertes der Oberfläche der taktilen Struktur,
• eine Veränderung der elektrischen Leitfähigkeit der taktilen Struktur,
• eine Beschichtung oder Verprägung, auf die das taktile Element aufgebracht ist,
• eine Beschichtung, die auf das taktile Element aufgebracht ist, wobei die Beschichtung besonders vorteilhaft im exakten Passer zu den taktilen Elementen angeordnet ist; dies wird beispielsweise dadurch erreicht, dass die Beschichtung auf die taktilen Elemente aufgebracht wird und anschließend von den taktilen Elementen in die Zwischenräume zwischen den taktilen Strukturen abfließt, wie es beispielsweise aus WO 2003/029019 A1 bekannt ist;
• eine magnetische Substanz, die in die taktile Struktur eingebracht wird und die sich hinsichtlich der Remanenz und/ oder der Koerzitivfeldstärke von der Umgebung unterscheidet,
• eine lumineszierende Substanz, beispielsweise eine fluoreszierende oder phosphoreszierende Farbe, die in die taktile Struktur eingebracht wird,
• eine nur im infraroten oder ultravioletten Wellenlängenbereich erkennbare Substanz, die in die taktile Struktur eingebracht wird,
• eine thermochrome, photochrome oder piezochrome Substanz, die in die taktile Struktur eingebracht wird.

The additional tactile, acoustically or optically detectable security feature is formed, for example, by one or more of the following features:

• a coloring of the tactile structure,
• a change in the surface roughness of the tactile structure,
• a change in the gloss value of the surface of the tactile structure,
• a change in the electrical conductivity of the tactile structure,
• a coating or embossment to which the tactile element is applied,
• a coating applied to the tactile element, the coating being particularly advantageously arranged in the exact register with the tactile elements; This is achieved, for example, by applying the coating to the tactile elements and then draining them from the tactile elements into the interspaces between the tactile structures, such as for example WO 2003/029019 A1 is known;
• a magnetic substance that is introduced into the tactile structure and that differs from the environment in terms of remanence and / or coercivity
• a luminescent substance, for example a fluorescent or phosphorescent color, which is introduced into the tactile structure,
• a substance recognizable only in the infrared or ultraviolet wavelength range, which is introduced into the tactile structure,
• a thermochromic, photochromic or piezochromic substance that is incorporated into the tactile structure.

These additional tactile, acoustically or optically detectable security features can be applied or applied during the printing of the tactile structure in or on the tactile structure. Likewise, in addition or alternatively, the subsequent application or application is possible, for example, by the surface of the tactile structure is treated mechanically or by laser or the internal structure of the tactile structure is changed by external influences later.

According to a further embodiment, the additional security feature consists of a variation of size, height and / or shape of the tactile structures. In particular, different tactile structures differ in their size, height and / or shape.

According to a further embodiment, the additional security feature consists of nested and / or stacked and / or next to each other printed tactile structures, wherein the respective structures may differ in their properties.

According to a further embodiment, the tactile element consists of at least two different layers and / or tactile basic elements. Thus, a haptic tactile tactile element may consist of at least two directly adjacent, non-spaced basic elements and / or individual layers. These primitives or single layers may differ in their additional security features.

The combination of visually similar but differently designed tactile individual elements can make a distinction possible by means of various test methods (visual, haptic, machine-readable). For example, two adjacent individual elements may have the same geometry, color, and photochromic property, but differ in another property (e.g., magnetism or IR transparency).

According to the invention, at least two slightly spaced-apart tactile basic elements are arranged under an elastic varnish which, with normal "finger pressure", can only be felt as a tactile element and are perceived as two separate basic elements under high pressure.

According to another embodiment, the tactile structure has a partially modulated colored background printing.

According to another embodiment, the tactile structure has a partially modulated coating with a paint or a lacquer.

According to a further embodiment, the additional security feature consists of a matt / gloss effect of the surface of the tactile structure. Here, tactile structures differ with regard to their gloss values, so that additional information about different gloss values of the tactile structures results. The detection can be done both with the eye when viewed in the glancing angle and by means of a suitable machine sensor.

According to a further embodiment, the additional security feature consists of a microroughness of the surface. Here, the partially different frictional resistance between the locations of the substrate, which have no tactile structures, and the tactile structures detected by a user with the fingertip. In that case, individual tactile structures differ in micro-roughness. The micro-roughness can be influenced by suitable fillers, the binder system for the paint or varnish and / or the drying process.

According to a further embodiment, the additional security feature consists of a stickiness of the surface. In particular, the tackiness of the surface is adjusted or changed by selection of suitable additives, such as waxes, or binders of the paint or varnish used and / or by addition of anti-slip agents.

According to a further embodiment, the additional security feature consists of magnetic or electric field orientable Substances in a capsule. Here, for example, substances are freely rotatably arranged in a capsule, which align themselves due to gravity or other magnetic or electric fields in the capsule. These substances may, for example, have luminescent, magnetic or only in certain wavelength ranges of the electromagnetic radiation recognizable properties.

According to a further embodiment, the additional security feature consists of materials or information which can not be recognized by the naked eye and only by means of magnifying glass, such as micro-writing hologram pigments, tinsel pigments or micro-taggants. Micro-Taggants here are differently colored multi-layered particles.

According to a further embodiment, the additional security feature consists of structuring or marking the surface of the tactile structure by means of a laser. This results in an additional visually recognizable and / or only machine-readable information. The laser marking can be resolved much finer than the resolution of the tactile structures. Furthermore, the laser structuring can take place via a plurality of tactile structures and also outside or between the tactile structures. The structuring of the surface or of the environment of the tactile structure can take place here for example by ablation / removal, severing, foaming, carbonization or sublimation.

According to a further embodiment, the tactile structure forms a tactile detectable information in Braille, which describes the value, the currency, the country and / or the issue date of a banknote, said information via the additional security feature by means of a sensor a banknote processing machine can be read. An embodiment as a machine readable feature (eg magnetic, IRA color) has the advantage that one can machine check the presence of a tactile element. This results in the possibility of mechanically detecting the loss of tactile information during the circulation of a banknote.

The tactile element with additional feature described in the invention provides an advantage for both normal-sighted users and for visually impaired or visually impaired users. Thus, persons with poor eyesight or visual impairment benefit from the better perceptibility of the tactile elements in circulation. People without visual impairment benefit from visually recognizable additional features, e.g. in the case of thermochromic additional features. Heat visually changes the color of the tactile element.

A particular advantage of the invention is that the at least one tactile structure is not generated via an embossing process or partial embossing process, but via a printing process. Thus, the tactile structure can be applied to a substrate almost independently of its quality, material or surface finish, so that the tactile structure can also be printed on a substrate made of plastic or a mixture of paper and plastic layers, the so-called hybrid substrate.

A particular advantage of the invention is that the use of a printing process (screen printing or contactless by means of nozzles) results in the production of a tactile element without deformation or embossing of the substrate.

According to a further embodiment, a further tactile element produced by embossing, lasering or intaglio printing is applied on or next to the security element. Although this additional tactile element is applied to the substrate independently of the tactile element according to the invention, it can cooperate optically with it, for example by combining together to form a pattern or a graphic image.

According to a further embodiment, the tactile structures differ from value document to value document. This can be done, for example, batch by batch for the individual value (10s, 20s, ...) or production series (old 50s vs. new 50s) or of use to benefit (serial number). When differentiating between benefits and benefits, the screen printing process is no longer necessary since screen printing does not allow individualization.

According to a further embodiment, the tactile elements consist of a hotmelt adhesive without or with a solvent, wherein in the latter case the drying is particularly preferably carried out by means of hot or cold air.

If documents of value have tactile structures only in some areas, this can inevitably lead to height differences in the stack or to an out-of-roundness and thus to an imbalance of the substrate roll in the case of stacks of sheets or individual uses, such as, for example, stacking banknotes or in a substrate roll. This can lead to problems in the further processing of sheets (further printing steps, cutting), in the banding, packaging of individual use to parcels (eg 1000 pieces of banknotes), in banknote machines during the transport of banknotes (eg by means of Suction belts) in the device or in the delivery after sorting. For a substrate wound on a roll, this can lead to registration problems in subsequent processing steps. Therefore, according to a preferred embodiment, the tactile structures are shifted from utility to utility in the longitudinal and / or transverse direction of the utility.

Furthermore, too high a height of the tactile structures can also lead to the tactile structure resulting in an embossment in an overlying arch. This is caused, for example, by compressive forces due to the weight of overlying sheets in the stack or the winding tension in a substrate roll. Therefore, the height of the tactile structures is preferably limited upwards and is preferably 60 μm to 200 μm and particularly preferably 80 μm to 140 μm.

According to another embodiment, a fine structure (e.g., steel-stamped) on paper / plastic is protected by an additionally printed tactile element or printed fulcrums to achieve a uniform stack height and / or prevent stacking. The protection of the fine structure can be carried out in the same process or in another method (screen printing, spray nozzles). Of course, the reverse case also works.

According to another embodiment, a rigid tactile element is used to protect tactile softer printed tactile elements.

According to a further embodiment, the tactile structure is applied within a cavity or depression in the substrate. Located in the substrate In this case, a region which is lowered relative to the surrounding surface of the substrate and into which the tactile elements are printed and remain tactile detectable. As a result, processing problems, such as one-sided stack increases in the area of the tactile structure, are preferably avoided. Furthermore, the tactile structure is better protected by the surrounding, elevated surface of the substrate from abrasion or environmental influences.

• eine Reduzierung der Papierdicke, beispielsweise ein flächiges Wasserzeichen,
• ein mittels Laminatfolie einseitig verschlossenes Loch im Substrat, wobei das Loch beispielsweise mittels Stanzen oder Laserschneiden erzeugt wurde,
• eine Verprägung des Substrats, beispielsweise mittels Stichtiefdruck,
• ein Loch in mindestens einer Lage eines aus mehreren Lagen bestehenden Substrats, wobei bevorzugt eine der äußeren Lagen zum Verschluss des Loches benutzt wird. Bei den Lagen kann es sich um Kunststofffolien, Papier oder einer Mischung aus beiden handeln, welche beispielsweise durch einen Gautschprozess beim Papier oder einer Kaschierung zusammengeführt werden.

The cavity or depression is produced in a paper-based substrate, for example by:

• a reduction in the paper thickness, for example a flat watermark,
• a hole sealed in the substrate by means of a laminate film, the hole being produced for example by means of punching or laser cutting,
• an embossing of the substrate, for example by intaglio printing,
• a hole in at least one layer of a multi-layer substrate, preferably using one of the outer layers to close the hole. The layers may be plastic films, paper or a mixture of the two, which are brought together, for example, by a gumming process on the paper or a lamination.

The edge of the cavity or depression can be additionally increased in order to further increase the finding and the protection of the tactile element.

Fig.1

ein Sicherheitselement mit taktilen Strukturen in Seitenansicht,

Fig. 2

zwei Sicherheitselemente übereinander in einer ersten Ausführungsform,

Fig. 3

zwei Sicherheitselemente übereinander in einer zweiten Ausführungsform,

Fig. 4

zwei Sicherheitselemente übereinander in einer dritten Ausführungsform,

Fig. 5

eine Kombination von taktilen Strukturen mit einem zusätzlichen Sicherheitsmerkmal in einer ersten Ausführungsform,

Fig. 6

eine Kombination von taktilen Strukturen mit einem zusätzlichen Sicherheitsmerkmal in einer zweiten Ausführungsform,

Fig. 7

eine Kombination von taktilen Strukturen mit einem zusätzlichen Sicherheitsmerkmal in einer dritten Ausführungsform,

Fig. 8

eine spezielle Ausführungsform zum Schutz von benachbarten taktilen Strukturen,

Fig. 9

eine spezielle Ausführungsform mit benachbarten taktilen Strukturen,

Fig. 10

Varianten nicht beabstandeter benachbarter taktiler Strukturen,

Fig. 11

ein Sicherheitselement mit unterschiedlichen Geometrien des taktilen Elements im Querschnitt,

Fig. 12

ein erfindungsgemäßes Sicherheitselement mit einem taktilen Element mit einer versteckten, druckabhängig fühlbaren Information.

Fig. 1. zeigt ein Sicherheitselement in Seitenansicht, das aus drei taktilen Strukturen 2 besteht, die auf ein Substrat 1 aufgedruckt sind.It is understood that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained not only in the specified combinations, but can be used in other combinations, without departing from the scope of the present invention, as far as this is covered by the scope of the claims.
Reference to the following embodiments and the additional figures, the advantages of the invention will be explained. The embodiments represent preferred embodiments, to which, however, the invention should not be limited in any way. Furthermore, the representations in the figures of better understanding are highly schematized and do not reflect the realities. In particular, the proportions shown in the figures do not correspond to the conditions present in reality and serve exclusively to improve the clarity. Furthermore, the embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments are reduced to the essential core information for the sake of clarity. In the practical implementation much more complex patterns or images can be used.
In detail, show schematically:

Fig.1

a security element with tactile structures in side view,

Fig. 2

two security elements one above the other in a first embodiment,

Fig. 3

two security elements one above the other in a second embodiment,

Fig. 4

two security elements one above the other in a third embodiment,

Fig. 5

a combination of tactile structures with an additional security feature in a first embodiment,

Fig. 6

a combination of tactile structures with an additional security feature in a second embodiment,

Fig. 7

a combination of tactile structures with an additional security feature in a third embodiment,

Fig. 8

a specific embodiment for protecting adjacent tactile structures,

Fig. 9

a specific embodiment with adjacent tactile structures,

Fig. 10

Variants of non-spaced adjacent tactile structures,

Fig. 11

a security element with different geometries of the tactile element in cross-section,

Fig. 12

an inventive security element with a tactile element with a hidden, pressure-dependent tactile information.

Fig. 1 , shows a security element in side view, which consists of three tactile structures 2, which are printed on a substrate 1.

Fig. 2 shows in side view tactile structures 2, which are arranged on a first substrate 1, and tactile structures 4, which are arranged on a second substrate 3. The tactile structures 4 are offset relative to the tactile structures 2 such that they do not overlap and when stacking the two substrates 1 and 3 one above the other lead to no height difference in the stack.

Alternatively, it is according to Fig. 3 It is also possible for the tactile structures 4 to be arranged on the substrate 3 in such a way that they lie between the tactile structures 2 of the substrate 1. In each case, a tactile structure of the substrate 3 lies in a gap between two tactile structures of the substrate 1.

Fig. 4 shows that an excessive height of the tactile structures leads to the fact that the tactile structures 4 lead to an embossment in a subsequent substrate 1. This is caused by compressive forces due to the weight of overlying sheets in the stack or the winding tension in a substrate roll.

The following figures show exemplary embodiments of a combination of tactile structures with an additional tactile, acoustically or optically detectable security feature.

Fig. 5 shows in Fig. 5a in plan view, a security element, which consists of an array of nine tactile structures 5 and 6, which are applied by means of screen printing process and / or spray nozzle to the substrate 1. The tactile structures 5 have an additional security feature compared to the tactile structures 6, for example a different color, a Surface with a different roughness or a coating with an optically variable color.

The structures 5 and 6 may also differ in their geometry. For example, the structure 5 may have a circular base and the structure 6 an elliptical base, as shown in FIG Fig. 5b in plan view and in Fig. 5c is shown in side view.

Fig. 6 shows in side view tactile structures 2, wherein a part of the tactile structures on a layer 7 and another part is arranged on a layer 8, wherein the optical properties of the layer 7 from those of the layer 8 differ. The layers 7 and 8 are, for example, an imprint, a coating or an embossment of the substrate 1. For example, the layer 8 is a guilloche printing, while the layer 7 is a holographic element.

Fig. 7 shows the security element Fig. 6 , wherein additionally the tactile structures 2 are provided with a coating 9. This coating 9 is, for example, an imprint of a transparent interference color, which is predominantly visible in the area of the tactile structures.

For the coatings 7, 8 and / or 9, for example, a water-based paint is used, which is dried only by means of hot air and / or chemical post-crosslinking. Drying by means of hot air and / or chemical post-crosslinking is particularly advantageous here, since drying by means of infrared radiation in the case of water-based paints generally leads to problems with substrate distortion.

Fig. 8 shows two rigid tactile elements 11 arranged on a substrate 1 and 3 around two softer printed tactile elements 10 around. When two substrates 1 and 3 are stacked with these elements, for example in a stack of banknotes, the rigid elements 11 prevent mechanical pressure from being exerted on the softer elements 10. In order to protect the elements 11, the elements 10 in particular against mechanical wear and abrasion.

Fig. 9 shows in side view tactile structures 12 and 13, which are arranged on a substrate 1. In the left-hand illustration, the tactile elements 12 and 13 are spaced apart so that they do not overlap and are spatially separated. In the middle illustration, the elements 14 and 15 are arranged directly in contact with each other, without affecting the shape of the other element. In the right-hand illustration, the structures 16 and 17 are arranged overlapping, so that the tactile property of the individual basic elements can no longer be determined individually. The structures 12 and 13, 14 and 15 as well as 16 and 17 can be made of different materials, but also of identical or identical materials.

Fig. 10 Figure 11 shows nested tactile elements 18 and 19, overprinted elements 18 and 20, and the combination of two different elements 21 and 22 with overprint 18. The tactile structures 18 to 22 may each have none, one or more additional security features. For example, a different color, a surface with a different roughness or a coating with an optically variable color. Tactile detectable is therefore only one element, but visually or metrologically detectable are two or more elements.

Fig. 11 has a combination of tactile elements of different shape and geometry. The rigid and incompressible structures 11 protect the lower tactile structures 10 and 23 from mechanical damage. The structures 10 and 23 differ in addition to their shape and size in their function of the additional feature (eg photochromism, elasticity, ...).

Fig. 12 shows the operation of a sensing field according to the invention, the tactile detectability is dependent on a mechanical pressure acting on the sensing field. At low mechanical pressure, the user perceives only a single large element 24, as shown in the left-hand illustration. At high mechanical pressure two separate basic elements 25 and 26 are perceived, as shown in the right-hand illustration. The elastic coating 24 used in this exemplary embodiment in the area of the tactile basic elements fills the basic elements in such a way that these tactile basic elements can be felt as separate individual elements only under high mechanical pressure.
An elastic field with a rigid filling is also in a similar embodiment in the patent application DE 10 2013 010 941 and there especially in the FIGS. 6 and 8 described.
The following table shows the possible combinations of multiple equipment of a tactile element with different additional features: common property Differentiator exemplary property Color and shape machine-readable un- / magnetic machine-readable IR transparent / IR absorbing Color and shape haptics elastic / inelastic Haptic / acoustic smooth / rough Color and shape visually un / thermochromic visually different thermochromic color visually matt / shiny visually different photochromic colors different luminescence (fluorescence, phosphorescence) elasticity visually different color colour shape round, elliptical, linear

While two non-spaced, directly in contact elements with a similar size ratio, similar volume and like substance are perceived only as a tactile element, a distinction can be made by using two similar substances with a different additional feature depending on the test method. For example, e.g. the color of two primitives is the same, but one primitive has magnetic properties while the other primitive is nonmagnetic. The same applies to adjacent tactile elements with the same shape and / or color etc.

Claims (10)

1. A method for the production of a security feature for value documents, in particular bank notes, identity cards and the like, the security feature comprising at least one tactilely detectable structure which is applied to a substrate of the value document, the at least one tactile structure consisting of paint or lacquer, wherein the paint and/or lacquer is applied to the substrate of the value document by means of a printing process, wherein the at least one tactile structure is combined with a supplementary feature in the form of a tactilely, acoustically or optically detectable security feature, said security feature being located on and/ or under and/or around and/ or within the tactile structure or being inserted into said tactile structure, characterized in that a further substantially not tactile lacquer layer is located at least partially above the tactile paint or lacquer layer and that,
   if necessary, a further substantially not tactile paint or lacquer layer is located at least partially below the tactile paint or lacquer layer, in particular a coating with a paint or a lacquer or a colored background printing, wherein the lacquer layer located above the tactile paint or lacquer layer fills or covers the tactile structures in such a way that these tactile structures are only palpable as individual structures if mechanical pressure is exerted on the upper lacquer layer.
2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a sheet element with or without additional feature is located at least partially below the tactile element.
3. The method according to at least one of the above claims, characterized in that the printing process is a contactless printing process in which a port of a print head, from which the paint and/or the lacquer emerges, is mechanically opened and closed.
4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that that the printing process is a contactless printing process in which the paint and/or the lacquer emerges from a print head by a short-term volume reduction in the print head.
5. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the printing process is a screen printing process.
6. The method according to at least one of the above claims, characterized in that the height of the at least one tactile structure is 60 µm to 200 µm, preferably 80 µm to 140 µm above the substrate surface.
7. The method according to at least one of the above claims, characterized in that the additional tactilely, acoustically or optically detectable security feature is formed by one or more of the following features:

   • a coloring of the tactile structure,

   • a change in the surface roughness of the tactile structure,

   • a change in the gloss value of the surface of the tactile structure,

   • a change in the electric conductivity of the tactile structure,

   • a coating or embossing on which the tactile element is applied,

   • a magnetic substance, which is introduced into the tactile structure,

   • a luminescent substance, which is introduced into the tactile structure,

   • a substance, which is only detectable in the infrared or ultraviolet wavelength range and which is introduced into the tactile structure,

   • a thermochromic, photochromic or piezochromic substance, which is introduced into the tactile structure.
8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that a paint or lacquer located below or above the tactile laver contains a further additional feature.
9. The method according to at least one of the above claims, characterized in that a further tactile element is applied on the security element, said tactile element being produced by means of an embossing process, lasering or by means of the intaglio printing process.
10. The method according to at least one of the above claims, characterized in that the tactile structures differ from value document to value document.

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