Method for producing security marks and security marks

Abstract

The invention concerns a method for producing security marks on a support having a first face and a second face opposite said first face which consists in the following steps: high resolution printing with a varnish on the support first face; treating the support by electrolysis; washing and drying the support.

1 - 43 . (canceled)  
   
   
       44 . Manufacturing process for security marks comprising: 
 providing a medium made of a material which is transparent in visible light;    applying a coating to one surface of the medium, said coating forming a coated area; and    applying a varnish onto at least part of the coated area of the medium, wherein the varnish is arranged on the coated area of the medium in a motif which is invisible to a naked eye.    
   
   
       45 . Process as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein the coating comprises one or more metals, one or more oxides, one or more metallic salts or metalloids or a mixture of these.  
   
   
       46 . Process as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein the varnish is charged with a marker comprising micro-globules.  
   
   
       47 . Process as claimed in  claim 46 , wherein the micro-globules comprise DNA molecules.  
   
   
       48 . Process as claimed in  claim 46 , wherein the micro-globules comprise an outer surface, the outer surface being covered with fluorescent and/or phosphorescent pigment particles.  
   
   
       49 . Process as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein, before depositing the coating, an intermediate separating layer is deposited on the medium.  
   
   
       50 . Process as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein before depositing the coating, an intermediate layer is deposited on the medium to allow micro-reliefs to be created by stamping.  
   
   
       51 . Process as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein the step of applying the varnish is carried out using an electrically insulated varnish.  
   
   
       52 . Process as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein the varnish is a polymer preferably of the cellulose and/or metal and/or plastic and/or vacuum metallized plastic type.  
   
   
       53 . Process as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein the step of applying a varnish onto at least part of the coated area of the medium comprises high-resolution printing of a varnish on the coated area of the medium.  
   
   
       54 . Process as claimed in  claim 53 , wherein the varnish is printed on the coated area of the medium by photogravure.  
   
   
       55 . Process as claimed in  claim 54 , wherein printing of the varnish is followed by a treatment susceptible of modifying its pattern, either by addition of material or by ablation.  
   
   
       56 . Process as claimed in  claim 55 , wherein ablation of the varnish is effected by means of localized destruction.  
   
   
       57 . Process as claimed in  claim 53 , wherein the varnish is deposited on the coated area of the medium by means of digital printing.  
   
   
       58 . Process as claimed in  claim 53 , wherein the step of applying a varnish onto at least part of the coated area of the medium further comprises treatment of the medium by electrolysis.  
   
   
       59 . Process as claimed in  claim 58 , comprising, after treatment of the medium by electrolysis, the further steps of washing and drying the medium.  
   
   
       60 . Process as claimed in  claim 58 , wherein the coating is subjected to electrolysis treatment between the coating and an anode.  
   
   
       61 . Process as claimed in  claim 60 , characterized in that the anode is a folded titanium sheet anode.  
   
   
       62 . Process as claimed in  claim 58 , wherein the treatment of the medium by electrolysis is carried out by electrolysis between the metal coating of the medium to be treated and an anode immersed in an aqueous electrolyte.  
   
   
       63 . Process as claimed in  claim 62 , wherein the aqueous electrolyte comprises a mineral acid and its salt or a mineral base and its salt, preferably NaOH+NaCl concentrated 10% by weight.  
   
   
       64 . Process as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein the material is deposited on the varnish by means of electrolysis.  
   
   
       65 . Process as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein the medium, the coating and the varnish form a security mark, the security mark having a first surface and being glued by its first surface to a final substrate.  
   
   
       66 . Process as claimed in  claim 65 , wherein, after the security mark is glued to the final substrate, the medium is removed and, if appropriate, the coating is also removed.  
   
   
       67 . Facility for the manufacture of security marks, comprising 
 means for providing a medium made of a material which is transparent in visible light;    means for supplying a coating to one surface of the medium, said coating forming a coated area; and    means for applying a varnish onto at least part of the coated area of the medium, wherein the varnish is arranged on the coated area of the medium in a motif which is invisible to a naked eye.    
   
   
       68 . Facility according to  claim 67 , wherein the means for providing a medium made of a material which is transparent in visible light comprises a feed station supplying a medium.  
   
   
       69 . Facility according to  claim 67 , wherein the means for applying a varnish onto at least part of the coated area of the medium comprises a printing station with a printing assembly to apply motifs to the medium.  
   
   
       70 . Facility as claimed in  claim 69  wherein the printing station is a photogravure printing station.  
   
   
       71 . Facility as claimed in  claim 69 , wherein the printing station is a digital printing station.  
   
   
       72 . Facility according to  claim 69 , wherein the means for applying a varnish onto at least part of the coated area of the medium further comprises an electrolysis station for electrolysis of the medium.  
   
   
       73 . Facility as claimed in  claim 72 , wherein the electrolysis station comprises insoluble electrodes immersed in an electrolyte.  
   
   
       74 . Facility as claimed in  claim 73 , wherein the electrolyte comprises a salt with its base or associated acid such as NaOH and NaCl in a concentration between 5 and 150 g/l, preferably 100 g/l.  
   
   
       75 . Facility as claimed in  claim 73 , wherein said electrodes comprise electrode terminals and wherein a potential difference across the electrode terminals is DC, between 2 V and 21 V, and is preferably 6 V.  
   
   
       76 . Facility as claimed in  claim 73 , wherein the electrode is a bar of triangular shape having one of the angles of the triangle pointing at the medium.  
   
   
       77 . Facility as claimed in  claim 72 , wherein the electrolysis station comprises soluble electrodes immersed in an electrolyte.  
   
   
       78 . Facility as claimed in  claim 77 , wherein the electrolyte is comprised of a salt with its base or associated acid such as CuCl 2  and HCl in a concentration between 5 and 150 g/l and preferably 100 g/l.  
   
   
       79 . Facility as claimed in  claim 77 , wherein said electrodes comprise electrode terminals and wherein a potential difference across the electrode terminals is DC, between 5 and 30 V, preferably 6 V.  
   
   
       80 . Facility as claimed in  claim 77 , wherein the electrode is a bar having a drop shape with the point of the drop pointing towards the medium.  
   
   
       81 . Facility as claimed in  claim 72 , wherein the facility further comprises a washing plant to clean the surface of the medium, a drying station, an inspection station and a winding station.