Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Inlay sheet for a book-like identification document, book-like identification
document, and method for the production of a book-like identification document
State of the art
The invention relates to an inlay sheet for a book-like identification
document, a book-
like identification document, and a method for the production of a book-like
identification document according to the preamble of the independent claims.
Book-like identification documents generally consist of a plastic or cardboard
or linen
cover and data pages made of paper and/or plastic. The data pages are fastened
to the
cover or the inner face of the cover by means of a seam. The data pages
include a
personal data page where the most important personal data and the picture of
the holder
of the identification document are located. Additional data pages can contain
additional
entries relating to the holder of the identification document or empty areas
for future
entries, for example, visas.
The data pages may be made of a variety of materials and may have a variety of
thicknesses.
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In the following, identification documents will be understood to mean, for
example,
passports, book-like identification papers or drivers licenses, temporary
identification
documents, and the like.
Mufti-layer identification cards with intermediate layers made from a
thermoplastic
elastomer, for example thermoplastic polyurethane, are already known from
document
EP 0 430 282 A2.
The problem of plastic-containing data pages not exhibiting satisfactory
bending
properties arises repeatedly. Repeated bending leads initially to cracks in
the laminated
pages and finally to breakage of the page, particularly in the area of the
seam or at a
location where different materials merge into one other. In the worst case,
the broken data
page separates from the book-like identification document.
Inlay sheets for book-like identification documents that consist of multiple
layers but
which, at least in part, do not adhere to one another in the seam area, are
described in
document EP 0 917 966 B 1 as a solution to this problem.
Advantages of the invention
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The inlay sheet according to the invention with the features of the
independent claim has
the advantage over this that all layers of the inlay sheet are firmly attached
to one another
and therefore exhibit high stability and security against forgery. Moreover,
the inlay sheet
exhibits excellent bending properties, and cracks in the document and,
consequently,
breaks in the page, in particular in the area of the seam, are prevented. It
is furthermore
possible to personalize such inlay sheets in the customary fashion, and to
laser data into
these data pages. Such data can be image data, letters and numbers, and codes,
for
example a bar code. Moreover, it is possible to provide various security
features in the
inlay sheet, such as tilt images or holograms, as well as other security
features known
from the ID-1 area.
The basic idea of the invention consists of an inlay sheet for a book-like
identification
document which can be connected to the other parts of the book by a seam in a
hinge area
along one side and which consists of at least one layer of a thermoplastic
elastomer and at
least one additional layer, where the one or more thermoplastic elastomer
layers are
extended into the hinge area and the one or more additional layers are only
extended up
to the hinge area.
Analogous advantages can also be mentioned for the book-like identification
document
according to the invention with the inlay sheet according to the invention.
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In addition, a method according to the invention for production of an inlay
sheet for a
book-like identification document with the features of the independent claim
is specified,
which describes a simple and cost-effective method for production of such an
inlay sheet.
It is particularly advantageous that all layers are attached to one another by
lamination,
consequently resulting in high strength and security against forgery being
achieved for
the inlay sheet produced by the method.
Further advantageous developments and improvements of the subject matters
specified in
the independent claims are possible by means of the measures listed in the
dependent
claims.
To achieve high stability, it is advantageous to make the thermoplastic
elastomer layer
thicker in the hinge area than in the other areas. It is particularly
advantageous to choose
the thickness in the hinge area of the layer made of at least one
thermoplastic elastomer
such that the total thickness in the hinge area is equal to the total
thickness in the other
areas of the inlay sheet. This ensures a stepless transition between the hinge
area and the
other areas of the inlay sheet, thus largely avoiding strain concentrations in
this area
during bending. It is also advantageous when at least two additional layers
are placed on
one side of the thermoplastic elastomer layer, with these extending different
distances
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toward the hinge area. This avoids a breaking edge and an increased
concentration of
strain in the transition area between the hinge area and the other areas of
the inlay sheet
during bending.
It is particularly advantageous to offset the layers by at least 500 Vim,
particularly
advantageous by at least 1 mm. It is furthermore advantageous for strength if
the
thickness of the thermoplastic elastomer layer is in the range between 400 ~tm
and 800
Vim, preferably between 500 ~m and 800 Vim, in the hinge area.
For inlay sheets that are to be provided with microchips and non-contact data
transmission, it is advantageous to embed the transponder coils in the
thermoplastic
elastomer layer, because this material flows around the coil well, and the
coil is spring-
mounted in this layer, thereby preventing damage to the coil. It is especially
advantageous in this regard to embed the coil outside of the hinge area in the
thermoplastic elastomer layer.
Especially advantageous further developments of the method according to the
invention
for producing the inlay sheet consist of placing two additional layers on the
same side
either above or below the thermoplastic elastomer layer and tacking these
layers together
before lamination and/or tacking together the one or more thermoplastic
elastomer layers.
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This prevents shifting of the layers during lamination. Tacking together in
this regard is
understood to mean point welding or melting of the layers, with these weld
points
preferably being outside the area of the future data pages. In this case,
these weld points
are later cut off, for example when die cutting the data pages, and are no
longer visible in
the finished document. For a data page in the customary passport page format,
for
example, two to four tacking points are used for this purpose.
Another advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention
consists in
placing at least one additional layer essentially on areas of the
thermoplastic elastomer
layer which are not as thick as the reinforced areas of the thermoplastic
elastomer layer.
This ensures that after production of the inlay sheet according to the
invention, the
thermoplastic elastomer layer is thicker in the hinge area than in the other
areas of the
inlay sheet. If, when at least two additional layers are to be placed on one
side of the one
or more thermoplastic elastomer layers, one arranges the upper layer in
advantageous
manner such that it extends a little over the reinforced area, this ensures
that after
production the two or more additional layers extend different distances along
one side of
the one or more thermoplastic elastomer layers toward the hinge area,
preventing too
great a concentration of strain during bending and the formation of a breaking
edge. It is
especially advantageous and cost-effective to produce multiple units during
production of
an inlay sheet such as this by, for example, producing two or four inlay
sheets together on
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one sheet and then die cutting the inlay sheets out of the sheet after
lamination. During
this process, the areas in which the layers of the inlay sheets are tacked
together from the
finished inlay sheet are advantageously separated from the finished inlay
sheet.
Drawings
Example embodiments of the invention are presented in schematic fashion using
drawings and explained in more detail in the following description. Figure 1
shows a
schematic top view of inlay sheets according to the invention. Figure 2 shows
a
schematic side view of a book-like identification document according to the
invention
schematically in a half open state. Figure 3 shows a schematic cross-section
through an
inlay sheet according to the invention. Figures 4 and 5 show schematic cut-
outs from
cross-sections through inlay sheets according to the invention, and Figure 5
shows two
schematic top views of cut-outs from an inlay sheet according to the
invention. Figures 6,
7 and 8 show steps in the method for producing an inlay sheet for a book-like
identification document using schematic cross-sections.
Figure 1 a shows an inlay sheet 10 according to the invention for an
identification
document, for example a passport or identification document or the like. Data
on the
holder of the identification document are arranged on inlay sheet 10, for
example, the
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name 12, address 13, or a individual-specific identity number 14, e.g., an
ICAO line. In
addition, the passport photograph 11 of the holder of the identification
document is
positioned to one side, in this case the right side, of such an inlay sheet.
The inlay sheet
has a hinge area 22, in which the path of the seam is indicated by dashed line
20. This
seam is used to connect the inlay sheet with the other parts of the
identification
document.
The hinge area 22 is the area of the inlay sheet in which bending of the inlay
sheet takes
place after being stitched together with the remaining parts of the passport.
It extends
approximately 5 mm, and at least 3 mm, to the left and right of the seam.
The inlay sheet has side edges 24 and 25 parallel to the seam, with side edge
25 being
positioned on the side opposite to the side where the seam is located. In
addition, security
features are located on the inlay sheet 10 intended as a data sheet for a book-
like
identification document, illustrated in this case using guillochen. In
addition, copier
protection elements, microtext, luminescent pigments, holograms, watermarks,
and the
like can be used.
Figure 1 b shows another embodiment of an inlay sheet 10 according to the
invention
which has a two-page design. The hinge area 22, which the seam runs through in
the
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finished identification document, is located in the middle of the two data
pages and is
shown here using dashed line 20. An two-page inlay sheet such as this has two
opposing
edges 25 and 25'. The other components of such an inlay sheet which are
illustrated using
Figure 1 a are left out of Figure 1 b for the sake of clarity. After being
stitched into the
identification document, a two-page inlay sheet produces four pages, i.e., two
front and
two back pages, while the one-page inlay sheet illustrated in Figure 1
produces two pages
(one front and one back page).
An inlay sheet generally consists of a number of paper and/or plastic layers
that offer
both high security against forgery and protection for the individual-related
data arranged
on the inlay sheet.
An inlay sheet such as this is also referred to as a personalization page. In
addition to
name or address and an individual-related number, the data entered into the
personalization .page can also contain the date of birth, place of birth, a
signature, or other
individual-related data. The data contained on the inlay sheet can be printed
and/or
lasered on. When lasered on, the data are written into the finished laminated
sheet using a
laser. During this process, the laser intensity is controlled such that
discolorations occur
in the interior of the data sheet, that is in a paper or plastic layer, so
that the data written
by laser become visible. Outer plastic layers are not damaged by this process
and remain
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smooth. In another example embodiment, the laser power can be adjusted such
that the
top layer of the inlay sheet is also altered during the writing process,
creating a tangible
microrelief. Moreover, an optically active relief which interacts with the
printed or laser
induced lettering under it can be placed in the top layer of the inlay sheet.
Figure 2 shows a side view of a book-like identification document according to
the
invention. The outer jacket or cover 30 made of paper and/or paper and/or
plastic can be
seen. Both the inlay sheet 10 according to the invention and additional book
pages 32 are
arranged in the cover 30, with the inlay sheet 10 and additional book pages 32
being
attached to cover 30 by means of a seam. The seam, which is not shown here, is
located
in hinge area 22 of inlay sheet 10. In the example embodiment of an
identification
document according to the invention that is shown, a one-page inlay sheet is
positioned
before the remaining data pages of the identification document. The inlay
sheet can also
be located between the additional data pages 32 of the book-like
identification document.
In a further example embodiment, a two-page inlay sheet as shown in Figure 1 b
can also
be used in an identification document according to the invention.
Figure 3 shows a schematic cross-section of an inlay sheet according to the
invention.
The inlay sheet 10 comprises a middle layer made of a thermoplastic elastomer
40 and
two additional layers 42, 43 located respectively above and below it. The
additional
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layers consist of high-temperature stable plastic. The cross-section is taken
along the line
A-A shown in Figure 1 a. The additional upper and lower layers 42, 43 extend
in the
direction of extension of inlay sheet 50 from side edge 25, which is located
opposite from
the seam, up to the hinge area 22. The two additional layers do not, however,
extend into
hinge area 22. Only the middle thermoplastic elastomer layer 40 extends from
the side
edge 25 located opposite the seam through the hinge area 22 to side edge 24,
which is
located at hinge area 22.
Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) can be advantageously used as a thermoplastic
elastomer, although other thermoplastic elastomers can also be used. The
entire group of
thermoplastic polyurethane, the group of thermoplastic copolyesters, and the
group of
thermoplastic polyether block amides are available for this purpose. For
example,
polycarbonate (PC), polyethersulfone (PES), polyetheretherketone (PEEK),
polyphenylene oxide (PPO), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyethylene
terephthalate
(PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyoxymethylene (POM), polysulfone
(PSU),
polyetherimide (PEI), or polyamide (PA) can be used as a high-temperature
stable plastic.
The high-temperature stable plastics can be used individually or in
combination as
additional layers 42, 43.
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Additional example embodiments for an inlay sheet according to the invention
are shown
in Figures 4 and 5 using cut-outs from cross-sections along line A-A in Figure
1 a. Figure
4 shows a thermoplastic elastomer layer 140 located in the middle of the inlay
sheet body
and pairs of additional layers 144 and 142, and 145 and 143, with each pair
located on
one side and on top of this layer. The thermoplastic elastomer layer 140 is
thicker in
hinge area 22 such that inlay sheet 10 has the same thickness in the hinge
area 22 along
direction 5 l, vertical to the planar surface of the sheet 50, as in the
remaining areas of the
inlay sheet. The pairs of additional layers 142 and 144, and 143 and 145, have
both
members of each pair located on the same side of the thermoplastic elastomer
layer 140
and both members of each pair extending the same distance up to the hinge area
22. That
is, the additional layers located on one side of the thermoplastic elastomer
layer end at
one and the same edge. This design, where the inlay sheet has the same
thickness in the
hinge area and the remaining areas, ensures greater security against forgery
and increased
strength of the inlay sheet in the hinge area 22.
In the example embodiment shown in Figure 5 a, which again shows a
thermoplastic
elastomer layer 240 in a central position and pairs of additional layers 242
and 244, and
245 and 243, located on top and on each side of it, with the additional layers
that are
located on one side of the thermoplastic elastomer layer extending different
distances up
to the hinge area 22. Therefore, the members of each pair of additional layers
242 and
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244, and 243 and 245, located on the same side of the thermoplastic elastomer
layer do
not have a common end edge. This is advantageous in order to prevent the
strain during
bending from becoming too strongly concentrated at a common edge.
The distance d between two parallel edges 242a and 244a of associated
additional layers
242 and 244, and the distance d between the parallel edges 245a and 243a of
associated
additional layers 245 and 243 is greater than 500 Vim, preferably greater than
1 mm. The
two parallel edges 242a and 244a of this example embodiment are also shown in
top view
in Figure 5 b. Analogous to Figure l, seam 20 is located in hinge area 22 of
the finished
identification document. This is indicated using a dashed line in Figure 5 b.
Moreover, edge 242a of the upper additional layer 242 is shown with a solid
line, and
edge 244a of the additional layer below it is shown with a dotted line. Edges
242a and
244a run parallel to one another and parallel to the edge 24 of inlay sheet 10
which is
located closest to the seam.
Figure 5 c shows a further example embodiment for the paths followed by the
edges of
the additional layers, with the edges and the seam area labeled analogously to
Figure 5 b.
In this case, edges 242a' and 244a' follow paths which are not parallel to one
another and
also not parallel to the edge of the inlay sheet, but are instead shaped
similar to the arms
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of an isosceles triangle, with the vertex located approximately in the middle
of edge 24.
At the same time, layers 242 and 244 which are located on the same side of the
thermoplastic elastomer layer have edges 242a' and 244a' which are shaped in
the form of
the arms of isosceles triangles with vertex angles pointing in opposing
directions, so that
the upper layer extends further to the hinge area in the outer areas located
distant from its
vertex and the lower layer extends further to the hinge area in the area
around its vertex.
In addition to distributing the strain during bending, this embodiment offers
an additional
security feature if this edge arrangement is, for example, visually
noticeable.
The same additional advantage is offered by an example embodiment shown in
Figure 5
d. In this case, edges 242a" and 244a" are essentially parallel to one another
and to edge
24 of the inlay sheet. They are, however, designed with a wave-like form.
Other forms,
such as zigzag forms, for example, are also possible.
The middle distance d' designates the distance that the equivalent mid-lines
such as those
shown in Figure 5 a show as distances d.
In an additional example embodiment, a transponder coil can be embedded in the
thermoplastic elastomer layer, with said coil being used for non-contact
transmission data
for a microchip located in the inlay sheet and being electrically connected
with said
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microchip. In a preferred example embodiment, the transponder coil is embedded
in an
area outside of the hinge area of the thermoplastic elastomer layer.
In additional example embodiments of the invention, multiple thermoplastic
elastomer
layers can also be provided within an inlay sheet according to the invention.
In this case,
the thermoplastic elastomer layers are separated from one another by
intermediate layers.
Moreover, even more than two additional layers can be provided on each side of
the
thermoplastic elastomer.
It is advantageous if the one or more thermoplastic elastomer layers have a
layer
thickness of between 400 ~m and 800 ~m in the hinge area, preferably between
500 ~m
and 800 Vim. Additional layers made of high-temperature plastic can have layer
thicknesses between 20 hum and 500 pm, preferably between 100 pm and 500 Vim,
most
preferably between 300 ~m and 500 Vim. In the remaining area of the inlay
sheet not
belonging to the hinge area, the thickness of the one or more thermoplastic
elastomer
layer is between 20 pm and 300 hum, preferably between 50 ~m and 200 Vim. The
thickness in this regard is the extension of the layers along direction 51, at
right angles to
the planar surface 50 of the inlay sheet according to the invention.
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Figures 6, 7 and 8 will now be used below to describe the method according to
the
invention for producing an inlay sheet for a book-like identification
document. Figures 6
and 7 first show the production of the thermoplastic elastomer layer, which is
thicker in
the hinge area as compared to the remaining areas. The method steps
illustrated using
Figures 6, 7 and 8 are shown in schematic cross-section. Moreover, the method
relates to
a one-page inlay sheet produced in the form of double units. It can also be
used
analogously for two-page inlay sheets or for single or multiple-units.
Figure 6 a shows how additional thermoplastic elastomer layers 340' and 340"
are
positioned above and below thermoplastic elastomer layer 340. These additional
thermoplastic elastomer layers 340' and 340" are positioned in the area where
the hinge
area is to be created with reinforcement. Figure 6 b shows the immediate
placement of
the three thermoplastic elastomer layers 340, 340', and 340" on one another.
To improve fixation, these layers can be tacked to one another.
Figure 7 shows a schematic cross-section of an additional example embodiment
for a
thermoplastic elastomer layer 340. The thermoplastic elastomer layer 340 is
produced as
a formed part by extrusion.
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As described previously above, a transponder coil may also be embedded in a
thermoplastic elastomer layer in an example embodiment, with said transponder
coil
allowing non-contact data transmission. A coil of this type can, for example,
be applied
to a thermoplastic elastomer layer by printing, spraying, or other application
methods. In
a further method step, an additional thermoplastic elastomer layer is
laminated on top, so
that both thermoplastic elastomer layers with the transponder coil embedded
between
them form the thermoplastic elastomer layer 340, as shown in Figure 7.
The further method steps for production of the inlay sheet according to the
invention will
now be described using Figure 8. First, the additional layers 242, 244, 245
and 243 for
the first unit and additional layers 242', 244', 245' and 243' for the
additional unit are
arranged one on top of the other in the desired order, as shown in Figure 8 a.
In a
preferred example embodiment, the members of the pairs of additional layers
242 and
244, and 245 and 243, as well as 242' and 244', and 245' and 243', located on
each side of
the thermoplastic elastomer layer are tacked on top of one another to prevent
shifting of
the layers in question relative to one another. This is shown in Figure 8 b.
In doing so,
each additional layer 242, 242', 243 and 243' which will be on the outer
surface of the
future inlay sheet extends a little past the other additional member of the
associated pair
of additional layers on the edge where the future hinge area will be attached.
In the
method step illustrated below using Figure 8 c, the thermoplastic elastomer
layer is
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arranged between the other layers in such manner that the other layers extend
over the
areas where the thermoplastic elastomer layer 340 is thinner. The additional
layers 242,
244, 245, 243, 242', 244', 245' and 243' are not positioned in the central
reinforced area,
which is to form the future hinge area of the thermoplastic elastomer inlay
sheet
according to the invention. Only the overhanging portion of each outer
additional layer
lies on top of the reinforced area of the thermoplastic elastomer layer. In a
preferred
example embodiment, the layers arranged on top of one another can be tacked to
one
another first.
In the following, all layers are laminated. The permanent fusion of the layers
to one
another also leads to the initially overlapping ends of outer layers 242, 243,
242' and 243'
being attached to the other layers in such fashion that a smooth surface is
created these
areas. The laminated semi-finished product for the inlay sheet according to
the invention
is shown in Figure 8 d.
In a further method step, the surfaces intended for the inlay sheet according
to the
invention are then die cut out of the semi-finished product shown in Figure 8
d or the two
units separated from one another in another manner.
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In the example embodiment shown here, the collective processing of two units,
each for a
one-page inlay sheet, creates two individual units, as shown in Figure 8 e,
each of which
has only one thermoplastic elastomer layer 240 and 240' in a hinge area 22.
To produce an identification document according to the invention, the inlay
sheet is now
arranged together with the remaining data pages and the cover in such a way
that all
pages are in the correct sequence. The inlay sheet is positioned in such a way
that the
hinge area is located in the future seam area.
After the document components have been fixed, they are stitched together.
The seam subsequently follows a path in the hinge area of the inlay sheet,
that is, in the
area that only consists of thermoplastic elastomer. Still further method steps
up to
finished production of the identification document can then be added.
For one, the data pages and the cover can be cut to the specified dimensions.
Moreover, a
protective layer, made for example of plastic or linen, can be affixed to the
cover and can
show additional printing. Moreover, a fold line is provided along the seam so
the book
can also be folded at the location specified. In the case of a one-page inlay
sheet design,
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the hinge area 22 extends a little beyond the bend or seam area on one side,
as shown in
Figure 2.
Patent claims
1. An inlay sheet (10) for a book-like identification document which can be
connected to
the other parts of the book by a seam in a hinge area (22) along one side and
which
consists of at least one layer made 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 one or more additional layers extend in
the direction
of the inlay sheet planar surface (50) essentially from the edge (25, 25')
lying opposite to
the seam up to the hinge area and the one or more thermoplastic elastomer
layers extend
into the hinge area.
2. Inlay sheet according to claim 1, wherein the one or more thermoplastic
elastomer
layers in the hinge area is thicker as compared to the remaining areas.
