HK1092112C - Inlay sheet for a booklike identification document, booklike identification document and method for the production of a booklike identification document - Google Patents

Description

State of the art

The invention is based on a sheet of paper for a book-like identification document, a book-like identification document and a method for producing a book-like identification document according to the general concept of independent claims.

Book-like identification documents generally consist of a plastic, cardboard or linen cover and data pages made of paper and/or plastic. The data pages are attached to the cover or the inside of the cover with a seam. The data pages have a personal data page on which the main personal data and the image of the holder of the identification document are arranged. Other data pages may contain further entries about the holder of the identification document or free areas for later entries, such as visas. The data pages may be made of different materials and have different thicknesses.

Identification documents are hereinafter understood as passports, personal identification cards or driving licences, provisional staff documents or the like.

Multi-layered identity cards containing interlayered layers of a thermoplastic elastomer, such as thermoplastic polyurethane, are already known from the printed form EP 0 430 282 A2.

The problem is that data pages containing plastic do not have satisfactory bending properties. Multiple bending causes first cracks in the laminated pages and eventually a break in the page, especially in the area of the seam or where different materials intersect.

To solve this problem, the printed form EP 0 917 966 B1 describes sheets of paper identification documents which consist of several layers but which are at least partially unattached to each other in the area of the seam.

EP 1 245 407 A2 shows and describes a flexible multilayer data sheet of a security document, for example a passport with a laser-writable layer and a flexible back layer connected to the laser-writable layer via a lamination layer.

Benefits of the invention

The inventive insert sheet with the characteristics of the independent claim has the advantage over the one that all layers of the insert sheet are firmly connected to each other and thus have a high stability and anti-counterfeiting characteristics. The insert sheet also has very good bending properties and cracks in the document and thus cracks in the side, especially in the seam area, are avoided. It is also possible to personalize such an insert sheet as usual and to insert data into this data page. Such data can be image data, letters and digits and encodings, for example a barcode. It is also possible to remove various security features as well as other security features known as Kippram or other security features known as Hologram ID-1 as shown in the Annex.

The basic idea of the invention is to use a sheet of paper for an identification document of the book type, which is connected to the other parts by a seam in a chamfered area along one side and consists of at least one layer of a thermoplastic elastomer and at least one other layer, which extends at least one layer of a thermoplastic elastomer into the hinge area and allows at least one other layer to reach only to the chamfered area.

In the case of insert sheets intended to be equipped with a microchip and contactless data transmission, the invention provides for the insertion of the transponder coils in the layer of thermoplastic elastomer, since this material flows well around the coil, the coil is suspended in this layer, thus avoiding damage to the coil, and the coil is embedded outside the hinge area in the layer of thermoplastic elastomer.

Similar advantages can be claimed for the identification document in the form of a book with the cover sheet in accordance with the invention.

The method of the invention for the production of an insert for a book-like identification document with the characteristics of the independent claim is also indicated, describing a simple and cost-effective method for the production of such an insert. The main advantage is that all layers are joined by lamination, thus achieving a high strength and anti-counterfeiting for the insert resulting from the process.

The measures set out in the dependent claims allow for the advantages of further training and improvement of the items set out in the independent claims.

To achieve high stability, it is advantageous to provide a layer of thermoplastic elastomer in the chamomile region with a thickness greater than in the other areas. It is particularly advantageous to choose the thickness of the layer of at least one thermoplastic elastomer in the chamomile region so that the total thickness in the chamomile region is equal to the total thickness in the other areas of the insert sheet. This ensures a smooth transition between the chamomile region and the other areas of the insert sheet and thus stress concentrations when bending in this area are largely avoided. It is also advantageous to distribute layers of at least one thermoplastic elastomer in the chamomile region on one side of the layer, so that the total thickness in the chamomile region is equal to the total thickness in the other areas of the insert sheet. This preferably increases by at least 800 μm, especially when the thickness of the layer is at least 500 μm. A preferable concentration of at least 400 μm is to be used between the insert layer and the rest of the insert sheet, and the transition layer is to be placed at a point between the insert layer and the insert layer, and the insert layer, and the transition layer, and the thermoplastic elastomer must be at least 500 μm.

A particularly advantageous development of the method of manufacturing the inlay sheet according to the invention is to arrange two additional layers above or below the thermoplastic elastomer layer on the same side and to join these layers together before laminating.

This eliminates the possibility of slipping of the layers during lamination. By "sticking" we mean the point welding or fusion of the layers, whereby these welding points are preferably outside the range of the future data page. These welding points are cut off later, for example when the data page is extruded, and are no longer visible in the finished document. For a data page in the usual passport format, two to four sticking points are set, for example.

Another advantageous embodiment of the method of the invention is that at least one additional layer is mainly placed on areas of the layer of thermoplastic elastomer which are of lower thickness compared to reinforced areas of the layer of thermoplastic elastomer. This ensures that after the manufacture of the sheet of the invention in the hinge area the layer of thermoplastic elastomer has a greater thickness than in the other areas of the sheet.It is particularly advantageous and cost-effective to produce a single sheet of this type of insert using several uses, for example two or four sheets on a sheet assembly, whereby the sheets are then stripped from the sheet after lamination, and the areas in which the sheets have been attached are then separated from the finished sheet in a favourable manner.

Drawings

The following illustrations are used to illustrate the invention and illustrate the main features of the invention. Figure 1 - Inserts in a top-up view,schematically,Figure 2 - A document identifying the invention in the form of a book,schematically,in a half-folded state from the side,schematically,Figure 3 - A cross-section of an invention inserts,schematically,Figures 4 and 5 - Excerpts from cross-sections of inserts in the form of an invention,schematically, andFigure 5 - Two views from the top of an invention inserts, in the form of a book, schematically, andFigures 6, 7 and 8 - The steps of the process of producing an inserts for an invention inserts in the form of an identification document in the form of a book, on the basis of a cross-section, schematically.

Figure 1 (a) shows an inventive insertion sheet 10 for an identification document, such as a passport or identity card or the like. On insertion sheet 10 are arranged data of the holder of the identification document, such as name 12, address 13 or a personal identification number 14, such as an ICAO line. On one side, here on the right side of such an insertion sheet, is the passport image 11 of the holder of the identification document. The insertion sheet has a hinge area 22 in which the course of the thread is indicated by a dotted line 20. This thread connects the insertion sheet to the identification document. The remaining insertion sheet is approximately 22 mm wide, but is located at least 3 mm from the right side of the insertion sheet, and is connected to the rest of the insertion sheet.

The insert has side edges 24 and 25 parallel to the seam, the side edge 25 being on the side opposite the seam. On the insert 10 intended as the data sheet for an identification document in the form of a book, safety features are also arranged, which are shown here by guilloche 15.

Figure 1 (b) shows another embodiment of an inlay sheet 10 of the invention, which is constructed on two sides. In the middle of the two data pages is the hinge area 22, where, after the identification document is completed, the seam, indicated here by a dashed line 20, runs. Such a double-sided inlay sheet has two of the opposite edges of the seam 25 and 25'. The other components of such an inlay sheet, explained by Figure 1 (a), are halved in Figure 1 (b) for clarity. A double-sided inlay sheet gives four leaves after sewing into the identification document, i.e. two front-handed sides, while a double-sided inlay sheet (a) has two back-handed sides and a double-sided inlay sheet (b) is added to the front-handed side.

The data entered into the personalization page can be the name or address, a personal number, date of birth, place of birth, a signature or other personal data. The data contained on the insertion page can be printed and/or signed on top. When laser printing is done, the data is inscribed into the finished sheet by means of a laser. The laser is inscribed in such a way that the intensity of the laser is so high that the coloring of the sheet is produced in a transparent layer of plastic or optical paper. The data can be stored in a layer of plastic, so that the laser can be used to print and print the data.

Figure 2 shows a side view of a book-shaped identification document in accordance with the invention. The outer envelope or cover 30 consisting of paper and/or cardboard and/or plastic can be seen. In envelope 30 the invention sheet 10 and other pages 32 are arranged on the one hand, with the latter and the other pages 32 connected to the envelope 30 by a seam. The seam not shown here is arranged in the hinge area 22 of the identification sheet 10. In the example illustrated for an invention document, a single sheet is arranged to the rest of the identification document data. The single sheet can also be used between the other pages of the identification document. Like in Figure 1, a double sheet can also be arranged to the rest of the identification document data.

The inlay sheet 10 consists of a middle layer of thermoplastic elastomer 40 and a further layer 42, 43, each arranged above and below, the other layers consisting of high temperature stable plastic. The cross-section was made along the line A-A shown in Figure 1a. The upper and lower further layers 42, 43 extend in the direction of the expansion of the inlay sheet 50 from the side edge 25, which is on the seam, to the hinge area 22.

The thermoplastic elastomer is preferably thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), but other thermoplastic elastomers may be used. The whole group of thermoplastic polyurethanes, the group of thermoplastic copolyester and the group of thermoplastic polyether block amides are available. High temperature stable plastics such as polycarbonate (PC), polyethersulfone (PES), polyether ketone (PEEK), polyphenylenoxide (PPO), polyphenyl sulphide (PPS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutyl terephthalate (PPB), polypropylene oxide (POM), polyethylene sulphide (PSU), polyethylene oxide (PA), or other high temperature plastics can be used in single or combination. These can be used in layers of 42, 43 or more.

In Figures 4 and 5, further examples of the inventive insert sheet are shown by means of cross-sectional sections along the line A-A of Figure 1a. Figure 4 shows a layer of thermoplastic elastomer 140 placed in the centre of the insert sheet body and the additional layers 144 and 142 and 145 and 143 lying on either side of it. In hinge area 22, the layer of thermoplastic elastomer 140 is thickened in such a way that the insert sheet 10 in hinge area 22 has the same design along the 51-vertical side of the insert sheet 50 as in the rest of the insert sheet. Each side of the same layer of thermoplastic elastomer 140 is further extended to the same extent on the other layers of the insert sheet. In this area, the insert sheet 14 has a greater thermal stability and thus the insert sheet 144 and 144 are placed in the same direction as on the other sides of the insert sheet. Each side of the insert sheet has a further layer of thermoplastic elastomer 140 and 144 is further extended to the same side of the insert sheet, and thus the insert sheet 144 and 144 are placed in a more stable position and thus in a more stable position than the insert sheet 142.

In the example illustrated in Figure 5a, which shows a central arrangement of the layer of thermoplastic elastomer 240 and has two additional layers 242 and 244 and 245 and 243 on each side, the additional layers arranged on one side of the layer of thermoplastic elastomer extend to the hinge area at different distances. 22 The two additional layers 242 and 244 and 243 and 245 on one side of the layer of thermoplastic elastomer do not have a common end edge, which is advantageous in order to avoid the tension being concentrated on a common edge when bending too hard.

The distance d between two parallel edges 242a and 244a of the corresponding additional layers 242 and 244 or the distance d between the parallel edges 245a and 243a of the corresponding additional layers 245 and 243 is greater than 500 μm, preferably greater than 1 mm. The two parallel edges 242a and 244a of this example are also shown in a top view in Figure 5b. Similarly to Figure 1, in the hinge area 22 the seam 20 is placed after the completion of the identification document. This is shown in Figure 5b by means of a vertical line drawn on both sides. Furthermore, the edges of the 242a further layer 242 are parallel to each other and are drawn at a point on the adjacent side of the 244a further layer 242a, which is located at a parallel line to the adjacent line 244a and 244a.

In Figure 5c, another example of the edge-to-edge pattern of the other layers is shown, with the edges and seam area marked as in Figure 5b. The edges 242a' and 244a' are not parallel to each other and to the side of the insert sheet, but have a shape similar to the sides of an isosceles triangle, the tip of which is approximately in the middle of page 24. The edges and seam area are marked as shown in Figure 5b. The edges 242a' and 244a' on one side of the thermoplastic elastomer layer are in the form of the legs of an isosceles triangle with opposite bending angles, which are more easily visible when the edge is more narrowly distributed from the top of the layer. These sections are also not visible when the edges 242a' and 244a' are in the form of the legs of an isosceles triangle with opposite bending angles, which are more easily visible when the edge is more narrowly distributed from the top of the layer. These sections are also not easily accessible when the edge-to-end is closer to the edge of the seam area.

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The thermoplastic elastomer layer contains a transponders coil for contactless data transmission to a microchip in the insert and is electrically connected to it.

In other embodiments of the invention, several layers of thermoplastic elastomer may be provided within a sheet of the invention, in which case the layers of thermoplastic elastomer are separated by intermediate layers, and more than two additional layers may be provided on each side of the thermoplastic elastomer.

It is advantageous that at least one layer of thermoplastic elastomer in the hinge area has a layer thickness between 400 μm and 800 μm, preferably between 500 μm and 800 μm. Other layers of high temperature stable plastic may have layer thicknesses between 20 μm and 500 μm, preferably between 100 μm and 500 μm, preferably between 300 μm and 500 μm. In the remaining area of the insert sheet not included in the hinge area, the thickness of at least one layer of thermoplastic elastomer is between 20 μm and 300 μm, preferably between 50 μm and 200 μm. The thickness of the expansion layer is the length of the layers in the direction of the insert sheet to the 50 μm of the insert sheet.

Figures 6, 7 and 8 describe the process of the invention for the production of an insertion sheet for a book-like identification document. Figures 6 and 7 show first the production of the layer of thermoplastic elastomer, which has a greater thickness in the hinge area than in the other areas. The process steps shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8 are again shown in a cross-sectional diagram. The process also refers to a single-sided insertion sheet produced as a double-sided insertion sheet. It can also be used for double-sided or single- or multi-sided analogue insertion sheets.

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In Figure 7 another example of a layer of thermoplastic elastomer 340 is shown in diagrammatic form in cross section, in which the layer of thermoplastic elastomer 340 was produced as a mould by extrusion.

As explained above, a transponders coil is also embedded in a layer of thermoplastic elastomer, which allows contactless data transmission. For example, such a coil can be applied to a layer of thermoplastic elastomer by printing, spraying or other process. In a further process step, another layer of thermoplastic elastomer is laminated so that both layers of thermoplastic elastomer with transponders embedded in between form the layer of thermoplastic elastomer 340, as shown in Figure 7.

The further steps of the process for the production of the sheet according to the invention are now to be explained by Figure 8. First, the additional layers 242, 244, 245 and 243 for the first use and the additional layers 242', 244', 245' and 243' for the further use are superimposed in the desired order as shown in Figure 8a. In a preferred embodiment, the additional layers 242 and 244, 245 and 243, 242' and 244' and 245' and 243' on each side of the thermoplastic elastomeric layer are then glued together to prevent the slipping of the respective layers.This is illustrated by Figure 8b. The additional layers 242, 242, 243 and 243' on the side where the hinge area is to be joined slightly protrude above the other layer in the future insert sheet. In the next step, shown in Figure 8c, the thermoplastic elastomer layer is placed between the additional layers in such a way that the additional layers extend where the thermoplastic elastomer 340 layer is less thick. In the medium reinforcement area which is to be the future invention of the thermoplastic elastomer insert sheet, the additional layers are placed in the 242 position.The thermoplastic layer is a thin layer of thermoplastic elastomer, which is not arranged in a straight line, but is placed on the outer side of the thermoplastic layer.

The insoluble fusion of the layers is then carried out by joining the outermost ends of the outer layers 242, 243 and 242' and 243' with the other layers in such a way as to produce a smooth surface in these areas.

In the following step, the surfaces intended for the inlay sheet of the invention are then stripped from the semi-finished product as shown in Figure 8d or the two uses are separated in another way. In the example shown here, the joint processing of two uses of single-sided inlay sheets, as shown in Figure 8e, results in two single-sided sheets, each containing only one layer of 240 and 240' thermoplastic elastomer in a hinge area 22.

The insertion sheet, together with the other data pages and the cover, is then assembled in such a way that all the pages are in the correct order to produce an identification document in accordance with the invention. The insertion sheet is arranged so that the hinge area is in the area of the future seam. After fixing the document components, they are sewn together. The seam then passes through the hinge area of the insert, i.e. the area containing only the thermoplastic elastomer. Further steps can then be taken until the identification document is produced. On the one hand, the data pages and the cover can still be cut to their specified dimensions.

Claims (14)

1. An inlay sheet (10) for a book-like identification document, having a hinge area (22), which can be joined to the other parts of the book with a seam along one side in the hinge area (22), and which comprises at least one layer of a thermoplastic elastomer (40, 140, 240, 340, 340', 340") and at least one additional layer (42, 43, 142, 143, 144, 145, 242, 243, 244, 245, 242', 243', 244', 245'), wherein the at least one additional layer extends in the direction of the inlay sheet plane (50) essentially from the side (25, 25') opposite the hinge area up to the hinge area, and the at least one layer of a thermoplastic elastomer extends into the hinge area, characterised in that a transponder coil is embedded, outside the hinge area, in at least one of the at least one layers of thermoplastic elastomer.
2. An inlay sheet as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the at least one layer of thermoplastic elastomer is of a greater thickness in the hinge area than in the other areas.
3. An inlay sheet as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the thickness of the at least one layer of thermoplastic elastomer in the hinge area is chosen such that the overall thickness in the hinge area is equal to the overall thickness in the other areas of the inlay sheet.
4. An inlay sheet as claimed in one of the claims 2 to 3, characterised in that arranged on one side of the at least one layer of thermoplastic elastomer there are at least two additional layers, which in each case have a seam side edge running essentially parallel to the seam, wherein the seam side edge of the first additional layer (244, 245, 244', 245') bordering directly on the layer of thermoplastic elastomer extends less far towards the hinge area than the at least one second additional layer.
5. An inlay sheet as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that the first additional layer extends at least 500 µm, preferably at least 1 mm (d, d') less far towards the hinge area than the at least one second additional layer.
6. An inlay sheet as claimed in claim 4 or 5, characterised in that at least the first additional layer or the second additional layer has an wavy or zigzag edge (242a", 244a") in the direction of the hinge area.
7. An inlay sheet as claimed in one of the claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the at least one additional layer comprises plastic that is resistant to high temperatures.
8. An inlay sheet as claimed in one of the claims 1 to 7, characterised in that in the hinge area, the at least one layer of thermoplastic elastomer has a layer thickness between 400 µm and 800 µm, preferably between 500 µm and 800 µm.
9. A book-like identification document such as a passport, ID pass, visa or immunisation record with an inlay sheet as claimed in one of the claims 1 to 8, wherein the inlay sheet is sewn into the book-like identification document, with the seam being arranged in the hinge area.
10. A method for the production of an inlay sheet (10) for a book-like identification document which comprises at least one layer of a thermoplastic elastomer (40, 140, 240, 340, 340', 340") and at least one additional layer (42, 43, 142, 143, 144, 145, 242, 243, 244, 245, 242', 243', 244', 245') and which has a hinge area (22) which is envisaged for applying the seam when completing the identification element, wherein the at least one additional layer is arranged above and/or below the at least one layer of the thermoplastic elastomer, in such a way that it extends in the direction of the inlay sheet plane (50) essentially from the side (25, 25') opposite the seam up to the hinge area, and that the at least one layer of the thermoplastic elastomer extends into the hinge area, characterised in that the at least one additional layer is connected to the at least one layer of a thermoplastic elastomer through lamination, and that a transponder coil is embedded, outside the hinge area, in at least one of the at least one layers of thermoplastic elastomer.
11. A method as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that a first additional layer and at least one second additional layer is arranged above or below the at least one layer of the thermoplastic elastomer on the same side as a first additional layer, and before lamination the first additional layer and the at least one second additional layer are tacked together, and/or together with the at least one layer of thermoplastic elastomer.
12. A method as claimed in one of the claims 10 and 11, characterised in that the at least one additional layer is arranged essentially on areas of the at least one layer of thermoplastic elastomer which have a lesser thickness compared with reinforced areas of the layer of thermoplastic elastomer, wherein the at least one second additional layer projects somewhat beyond the area of the reinforcement.
13. A method as claimed in claim 12, characterised in that the first additional layer and the at least one second additional layer are arranged on areas of the at least one layer of thermoplastic elastomer which have a lesser thickness compared with reinforced areas of the layer of thermoplastic elastomer, wherein the at least one second additional layer projects somewhat beyond the area of the reinforcement.
14. A method as claimed in one of the claims 10 to 13, characterised in that two or more inlay sheets are produced together on one sheet, wherein in each case two inlay sheets respectively border on one another with the hinge area, wherein the inlay sheets are punched out of the sheet after lamination.