Abstract:
There is described an intaglio printing press comprising (i) a stationary machine frame (01 ) supporting an intaglio printing cylinder (07) and an impression cylinder (06) contacting the intaglio printing cylinder (07), and (ii) an inking system (12, 13, 16) for inking the intaglio printing cylinder (07), which inking system (12, 13, 16) comprises an ink-collecting cylinder (12) designed to contact the intaglio printing cylinder (07) and at least one inking device (13, 16) for supplying ink to said ink-collecting cylinder (12). The intaglio printing press further comprises a driving system (110; 115; 116) for rotating the ink-collecting cylinder (12) independently of the intaglio printing cylinder (07) and the impression cylinder (06) at least during maintenance operations.
Abstract:
There is described an intaglio printing press comprising (i) a stationary machine frame (01 ) supporting an intaglio printing cylinder (07) and an impression cylinder (06) contacting the intaglio printing cylinder (07), (ii) an inking system (12, 13, 16) for inking the intaglio printing cylinder (07), which inking system (12, 13, 16) comprises an ink-collecting cylinder (12) designed to contact the intaglio printing cylinder (07) and at least one inking device (13, 16) for supplying ink to said ink-collecting cylinder (12), and (iii) at least a first mobile carriage (1 1 ) supporting the ink-collecting cylinder (12), which first mobile carriage (1 1 ) is adapted to be moved with respect to the stationary machine frame (01 ) between a working position where the ink-collecting cylinder (12) contacts the intaglio printing cylinder (07) and a retracted position where the ink-collecting cylinder (12) is retracted away from the intaglio printing cylinder (07). The intaglio printing press further comprises a correcting and adjusting system (80) for correcting and adjusting a rotational position of the ink-collecting cylinder (12) with respect to a rotational position of the intaglio printing cylinder (07) following maintenance operations to ensure proper circumferential register between the ink-collecting cylinder (12) and the intaglio printing cylinder (07) in the working position of the first mobile carriage (1 1 ).
Abstract:
There is described a method for checking the authenticity of security documents, in particular banknotes, wherein authentic security documents comprise security features (41-49; 30; 10; 51, 52) printed, applied or otherwise provided on the security documents, which security features comprise characteristic visual features intrinsic to the processes used for producing the security documents. The method comprises the step of digitally processing a sample image of at least one region of interest (R. o. I.) of the surface of a candidate document to be authenticated, which region of interest encompasses at least part of the security features, the digital processing including performing a decomposition of the sample image by means of wavelet transform (WT) of the sample image. Such decomposition of the sample image is based on a wavelet packet transform (WPT) of the sample image, preferably a so-called two-dimensional shift invariant WPT (2D-SIWPT)
Abstract:
There is described a combined printing press (10; 10*) for the production of security documents, in particular banknotes, comprising a screen printing group (2; 2*) and an intaglio printing group (3)adapted to process substrates in the form of individual sheets or successive portions of a continuous web. The screen printing group (2; 2*) is located upstream of the intaglio printing group (3) and comprises at least one screen printing unit (20; 20*) designed to print a pattern of optically-variable ink onto one side of the substrates, which optically- variable ink contains flakes that can be oriented by means of a magnetic field. The screen printing group (2; 2*) further comprises a magnetic unit (24; 24*) located downstream of the screen printing unit (20; 20*), which magnetic unit is designed to magnetically induce an optically-variable effect in the pattern of optically-variable ink applied by the screen printing unit (20; 20*). The screen printing group (2; 2*) further comprises at least one drying/curing unit (25, 28; 25*, 28*) designed to dry/cure the pattern of optically-variable ink in which the optically-variable effect has been induced by the magnetic unit (24), prior to transfer of the substrates to the intaglio printing group (3).
Abstract:
There is described a substrate (S) for security documents, such as banknotes, comprising one or more paper layers (11, 12) and a polymer layer (20) which is made to adhere to a side of at least one of the paper layers (11, 12), which polymer layer (20) is substantially transparent in at least one region of the substrate (S) which is not covered by the paper layer or layers (11, 12) so as to form a substantially transparent window (W) in the substrate (S) which is formed and closed by the polymer layer (20). The polymer layer (20) exhibits in the region of the window (W) a thickness (T) which is greater than a thickness (t) of the polymer layer (20) outside of the region of the window (W). The thickness (T) of the polymer layer (20) in the region of the window (W) is substantially equal to the added thickness of the paper layer or layers (11, 12) and of the polymer layer (20) outside of the region of the window (W) so that the substrate (S) exhibits a substantially uniform and constant thickness (T). The substrate (S) further comprises a micro-optical structure (30), in particular a lens structure, which is disposed in the region of the window (W) on at least one side of the polymer layer (20).
Abstract:
A method of authenticating security documents and a mobile device, especially a smartphone, programmed to carry out the method, based on an analysis of features which are produced by intaglio printing, which analysis involves a decomposition of sample images of a candidate document to be authenticated based on Wavelets, each sample image being digitally processed by performing a Wavelet transform of the sample image in order to derive a set of classification features. The method is based on an adaptive approach, which includes the following steps : - prior to carrying out the Wavelet transform, defining a categorization map containing local information about different intaglio line structures that are found on the security documents; - carrying out a Wavelet selection amongst a pool of Wavelet types based on the categorization map; and - performing the Wavelet transform of the sample image on the basis of the selected Wavelet.
Abstract:
There is described a security element or document comprising a substrate (20) and at least a first dynamic-effect feature (100; 120; 121; 122; 23; 130; 135; 140; 150; 171; 181; 191; 200) provided on the substrate which includes a dynamic-effect component that is responsive to illumination stimulus of a selected excitation wavelength or wavelength band to produce an optical spectral response, which optical spectral response changes dynamically over an observable period of time between multiple color appearances (C, F, M; C1, M1) upon and while being subjected to the illumination stimulus. The first dynamic-effect feature is provided in a region of the substrate which is proximate or adjacent to at least one proximity feature (101, 102; 120a, 120b; 21a, 121b; 122a, 122b; 123a, 123b; 131, 132, 133; 136, 137; 141, 142; 151, 60; 172; 182, 183; 192; 201, 205, 206) provided on the substrate, which at least one proximity feature has a color appearance which is selected to enhance and/or complement at least one of the multiple color appearances of the first dynamic-effect feature.
Abstract:
There is described an intaglio printing press (1; 1 *) comprising a plate cylinder (8) carrying one or more intaglio printing plates, the plate cylinder (8) receiving ink from an inking system (9, 20, 23; 20*, 23*) having a plurality of chablon cylinders (23; 23*) transferring ink directly or indirectly onto the plate cylinder (8), the intaglio printing press (1; 1 *) comprising an adjustment system acting on the chablon cylinders (23; 23*) in order to compensate elongation of the one or more intaglio printing plates. The adjustment system comprises, for each chablon cylinder (23; 23*), an adjustable drive unit, which adjustable drive unit (25) is interposed between the chablon cylinder (23; 23*) acting as a rotating output body of the adjustable drive unit (25) and a driving gear (100) acting as a rotating input body of the adjustable drive unit (25). The adjustable drive unit (25) is designed to allow selected adjustment of a rotational speed of the chablon cylinder (23; 23*) with respect to a rotational speed of the driving gear (100). In an adjusting state of the adjustable drive unit (25), driving into rotation of the chablon cylinder (23; 23*) is adjusted over each revolution of the chablon cylinder (23; 23*) by means of an adjustment motor (300) of the adjustable drive unit (25). In a non-adjusting state of the adjustable drive unit (25), the adjustment motor (300) is inoperative and driving into rotation of the chablon cylinder (23; 23*) is performed exclusively mechanically via the adjustable drive unit (25), the chablon cylinder (23; 23*) rotating at a same rotational speed as the driving gear (100).