Abstract:
There is described a hot-stamping press (10'; 10"; 10"') comprising a foil application unit (2; 2*) designed to allow transfer or lamination of foil material (FM) by hot-stamping onto a substrate (S) supplied in the form of successive sheets or successive portions of a continuous web, which foil material (FM) is fed to the foil application unit (2; 2*) in the form of a foil carrier (FC) supplied by means of a foil feeding system (3). The hot-stamping press (10'; 10"; 10"') further comprises at least one UV-curing unit (61; 62; 63) located along a path (A) of the substrate (S) downstream of the foil application unit (2; 2*) to subject the foil material (FM) transferred or laminated onto the substrate (S) to a UV-curing operation. The foil material (FM) is provided with an adhesive intended to ensure adhesion of the foil material (FM) onto the substrate (S), which adhesive comprises a combination of hot-melt compounds reacting to the application of heat produced by the foil application unit (2; 2*) and UV-curing compounds reacting to the application of ultraviolet radiation produced by the UV-curing unit (61; 62; 63).
Abstract:
There is described a system and method for orienting magnetic flakes contained in an ink or varnish vehicle applied on a sheet-like or web-like substrate. The system comprises a processing unit (10*) with at least one magnetic-field-inducing device for orienting the magnetic flakes contained in the ink or varnish vehicle applied on the substrate, which processing unit (10*) is located along a path of the substrate in such a way that the substrate is brought into contact with or in close proximity to the processing unit (10*) and the at least one magnetic-field-inducing device. The system further comprises at least one drying or curing unit (60) disposed in the vicinity of the processing unit (10*) for drying or curing the ink or varnish vehicle to fix the orientation of the magnetic flakes contained therein while the substrate is still in contact with or in close proximity to the processing unit (10*) and the at least one magnetic-field-inducing device before the substrate is taken away from the at least one magnetic-field-inducing device.
Abstract:
There is described a sheet-fed printing press for varnishing of security documents, including banknotes, comprising : - a sheet-feeder (01) for feeding individual sheets in succession, which sheets carry multiple security imprints ; - a varnishing group (03; 03*) for applying varnish onto recto and verso sides of the sheets, the varnishing group (03; 03*) comprising at least a first varnishing unit (31) to apply varnish on the recto side of the sheets and at least a second varnishing unit (32) to apply varnish on the verso side of the sheets ; and - a sheet-delivery system (04) for collecting varnished sheets coming from the varnishing group (03; 03*). The varnishing group (03; 03*) comprises at least one transfer cylinder or drum (35; 35, 36, 37) located between the varnishing group (03; 03*) and the sheet-delivery system (04), which at least one transfer cylinder or drum (35; 35, 36, 37) is designed as chill roller to cool down the varnished sheets or as an inspection cylinder or drum for carrying out inspection of the recto or verso side of the sheets.
Abstract:
There is described a method of creating a transparent window (W*) in a security, especially paper, substrate (1) for security printing applications, the method comprising the steps of (i) providing a security substrate (1), (ii) forming an opening (10*) into and through the security substrate (1), and (iii) filling the opening (10*) with transparent material (2) thereby forming the transparent window (W*). The filling of the opening (10*) with the transparent material (2) is carried out in a state where the opening (10*) is open on both sides of the security substrate (1) and extends through the security substrate (1), the filling of the opening (10*) including (10 the application of a first side (I) of the security substrate (1) against a supporting surface (21A) of a supporting member (20′, 21) in such a way as to block one side of the opening (10*), while the transparent material (2) is applied inside the opening (10*) from the other side (II) of the security substrate (1). Advantageously, the method further comprises the step of forming a field of lenses (L) on one side of the transparent window (W*), in particular by replicating the field of lenses (L) directly into the transparent material (2) filling the opening (10*). Also described is a suitable device designed to fill the opening (10*) with the transparent material (2).
Abstract:
There is described a sheet-fed rotary printing press (100; 200; 300) for the production of banknotes and like securities comprising at least one printing form cylinder (115, 125; 215; 315, 325) having one or more segments. A nominal diameter (D) of the at least one printing form cylinder (115, 125; 215; 315, 325) substantially corresponds to an integer multiple of a reference diameter of a one-segment cylinder (103a; 103c;...) as used for printing onto super-format sheets exhibiting a standardized format with a width of the order of 820 mm and a length of the order of 700 mm. An axial length (AL) of the at least one printing form cylinder (115, 125; 215; 315, 325) is comparatively greater than a nominal axial length of a corresponding printing form cylinder as used for printing onto super-format sheets, by an amount such that the at least one printing form cylinder (115, 125; 215; 315, 325) is suitable for printing onto large-format sheets having a comparatively greater width (W) than the width of super- format sheets. Preferably, a circumferential length (SL) of each segment of the at least one printing form cylinder (115, 125; 215; 315, 325) is comparatively greater than a nominal circumferential length of each segment of a corresponding printing form cylinder as used for printing onto super-format sheets, by an amount such that the at least one printing form cylinder (115, 125; 215; 315, 325) is suitable for printing onto large-format sheets having a comparatively greater length (L) than the length of super-format sheets.
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 multicolour letterpress printing press, in particular a numbering press, comprising a printing group (50) with at least a first letterpress (e.g. numbering) cylinder (51) which is inked by an associated inking system (60, 71, 72, 81, 81 a, 81 b, 82, 82a, 82b). The inking system (60, 71, 72, 81, 81 a, 81 b, 82, 82a, 82b) comprises (i) a first inking device (81) supplying ink to a first chablon cylinder (71), (ii) at least a second inking device (82) supplying ink to a second chablon cylinder (72), and (iii) an ink-collecting cylinder (60) contacting the first and second chablon cylinders (71, 72) and collecting a first ink pattern (A, D) from the first chablon cylinder (71) and a second ink pattern (B, C) from the second chablon cylinder (72). As a result, a first multicolour pattern of inks (A-D) is formed on the ink-collecting cylinder (60), which first multicolour pattern of inks (A-D) is transferred onto the first letterpress cylinder (51).
Abstract:
There is described a numbering device (1) for carrying out numbering in sheet-fed or web-fed numbering presses, the numbering device (1) comprising a casing and a numbering unit (6) with rotatable numbering wheels (7) carrying alpha-numerical symbols thereon, which numbering wheels (7) are disposed next to each other and rotate about a common rotation axis, the numbering device further comprising electro-mechanical actuation means for setting the position of the numbering wheels (7). The electro-mechanical actuation means are disposed in an inner space of the casing of the numbering device (1) and are mechanically autonomous, the electro-mechanical actuation means comprising a plurality of independent driving means (15, 18-23; 23*) for actuating a corresponding plurality of said numbering wheels (7). The numbering device further comprises calibration detectors (13) for calibrating the position of the numbering wheels (7) actuated by the electro-mechanical actuation means, each calibration detector (13) cooperating with at least one magnet (12) carried by the numbering wheel (7) to be calibrated. The calibration detectors (13) are carried by at least one supporting member (14, 14') located in an upper part of the numbering device, which supporting member (14, 14') extends parallel to the rotation axis of the numbering wheels (7).