Abstract:
There is described a recto-verso printing press (100*) adapted to carry out simultaneous recto-verso printing of sheets, the printing press (100*) comprising a main printing group (5, 6, 15, 16, 25, 26) with first and second printing cylinders (5, 6) cooperating with one another to form a first printing nip between the first and second printing cylinders (5, 6) where first and second sides of sheets are simultaneously printed, the first printing cylinder (5) acting as a sheet conveying cylinder of the main printing group (5, 6, 15, 16, 25, 26). The printing press (100*) further comprises an additional printing group (7, 8, 17, 18, 27, 28) with third and fourth printing cylinders (7, 8) cooperating with one another to form a second printing nip between the third and fourth printing cylinders (7, 8) where the first and second sides of the sheets are simultaneously printed, the third printing cylinder (7) acting as a sheet conveying cylinder of the additional printing group (7, 8, 17, 18, 27, 28). The main printing group (5, 6, 15, 16, 25, 26) and the additional printing group (7, 8, 7, 18, 27, 28) are coupled to one another by means of an intermediate sheet conveying system comprising one or more sheet-transfer cylinders (10, 10', 10'') interposed between the first and third printing cylinders (5, 7).
Abstract:
There is described a letterpress printing press, in particular a numbering press, comprising a printing group (50) with at least a first letterpress (e.g. numbering) cylinder (51) and a second letterpress cylinder (52) which are inked by an associated inking system (60, 71, 72, 81, 81a, 81b, 82, 82a, 82b). The inking system (60, 71, 72, 81, 81a, 81b, 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 the first and second letterpress cylinders (51, 52). The ink-collecting cylinder (60) collects 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). The ink-collecting cylinder (60) further collects a third ink pattern (A*, D*) from the first chablon cylinder (71) and a fourth ink pattern (B*, C*) from the second chablon cylinder (72), thereby forming a second multicolour pattern of inks (A*-D*) on the ink-collecting cylinder (60), which second multicolour pattern of inks (A*-D*) is transferred onto the second letterpress cylinder (52).
Abstract:
There is described a method of creating a transparent polymer window (W) with a field of lenses (L) in a security paper substrate (1), the method comprising the steps of (i) providing a security paper substrate (1), (ii) forming an opening (10) into the security paper substrate (1), (iii) laminating a transparent film (5; 5*) onto a first side (I) of the security paper substrate (1) in such a way as to close the opening (10) at one end, and (iv) filling the opening (10) with transparent polymer material (2). In one embodiment, the transparent film (5) comprises a field of lenses (L) and is laminated onto the first side (I) of the security paper substrate (1) in such a way as to form lenses (L) on the first side (I) of the security paper substrate (1) in register with the opening (10). In another embodiment, the field of lenses (L) is replicated into the transparent polymer material (2) applied in the opening (10) in such a way as to form lenses (L) on a second side (II) of the security paper substrate (1), opposite to the first side (I), in register with the opening (10). Also described is a device designed to fill the opening (10) formed into the security paper substrate (1) with the transparent polymer material (2) and a processing machine comprising the same.
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 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 printed security feature (1) provided onto a printable substrate, which security feature includes a printed area (100) consisting of a multiplicity of adjacent rectilinear and/or curvilinear elements (110, 120) printed with a given spatial frequency. The rectilinear and/or curvilinear elements are printed with at least first and second inks which exhibit the same or substantially the same optical appearance when illuminated with visible white light, such that the security feature produces a first graphical representation when illuminated with visible white light, at least the first ink being an ink which responds to non- visible light excitation by producing a characteristic optical response differentiating the first ink from the second ink. The security feature produces a second graphical representation when illuminated with non-visible light, which second graphical representation exhibits a distinctive two-dimensional graphic element (B) which is revealed only when the security feature is illuminated with non-visible light. Inside boundaries (160) of the distinctive two-dimensional graphic element, a part (P3) of the rectilinear and/or curvilinear elements is printed with a combination of the first and second inks, the rectilinear and/or curvilinear elements being subdivided, within that part, into first and second juxtaposed sections (110a, 110b, 120a, 120b) which are respectively printed with the first ink and with the second ink. Outside the boundaries of the distinctive two-dimensional graphic element, portions (P1, P2) of the rectilinear and/or curvilinear elements are printed with only one of the at least first and second inks. The at least first and second inks are printed in register one with respect to the other so that the boundaries of the distinctive two-dimensional graphic element are not visible when the security feature is illuminated with visible white light and the distinctive two-dimensional graphic element only becomes visible when the security feature is illuminated with non-visible light.
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:
There is described a recto-verso printing press (100*) adapted to carry out simultaneous recto-verso printing of sheets, the printing press (100*) comprising a main printing group (5, 6, 15, 16, 25, 26) with first and second printing cylinders (5, 6) cooperating with one another to form a first printing nip between the first and second printing cylinders (5, 6) where first and second sides of sheets are simultaneously printed, the first printing cylinder (5) acting as a sheet conveying cylinder of the main printing group (5, 6, 15, 16, 25, 26). The printing press (100*) further comprises an additional printing group (7, 8, 17, 18, 27, 28) with third and fourth printing cylinders (7, 8) cooperating with one another to form a second printing nip between the third and fourth printing cylinders (7, 8) where the first and second sides of the sheets are simultaneously printed, the third printing cylinder (7) acting as a sheet conveying cylinder of the additional printing group (7, 8, 17, 18, 27, 28). The main printing group (5, 6, 15, 16, 25, 26) and the additional printing group (7, 8, 17, 18, 27, 28) are coupled to one another by means of an intermediate sheet conveying system comprising one or more sheet-transfer cylinders (10, 10', 10") interposed between the first and third printing cylinders (5, 7).
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 sheet-fed or web-fed printing press for numbering and varnishing of security documents, including banknotes, comprising : - a numbering group (02) comprising at least one numbering unit (21, 22) for numbering printed material in the form of individual sheets or successive portions of a continuous web carrying multiple security imprints ; and - a varnishing group (03; 03*) located downstream of the numbering group (02) for applying varnish onto recto and verso sides of the printed material, the varnishing group (03; 03*) comprising at least a first varnishing unit (31) disposed above a path of the printed material to apply varnish on the recto side of the printed material and at least a second varnishing unit (32) disposed below the path of the printed material to apply varnish on the verso side of the printed material.
Abstract:
The sheet-fed or web-fed printing machine comprises a main unit (1), at least one mobile carriage (2) adapted to be coupled to the main unit for cooperation therewith during printing operations and to be moved away from the main unit during maintenance operations, a control unit for controlling displacement of said mobile carriage toward and away from said main unit, and an access zone (9, 9') surrounding at least partly the mobile carriage for allowing a human operator to get access to the main unit and mobile carriage, which access zone lies outside of the displacement path (10) of the mobile carriage. The printing machine further comprises detection means (11) for monitoring the access zone and detecting presence of a human operator within the access zone. The control unit is operatively connected to the detection means so as to interrupt or prevent displacement of the mobile carriage in case presence of a human operator is detected within the access zone by the detection means and before the human operator penetrates in the displacement path of the mobile carriage.