Patent Description:
Polymeric security articles, such as banknotes (or currency notes), offer several advantages over their paper counterparts. For example, polymeric security articles can incorporate security features (such as transparent window regions) which are not generally possible for paper security articles. Polymeric security articles last significantly longer than paper security articles, which can decrease their environmental impact and reduce the overall cost of production and replacement.

Polymeric banknotes have increased in popularity in recent years. Polymeric banknotes currently in circulation are made from biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) films, formed by extruding and stretching a polypropylene film in two orthogonal directions (the longitudinal and transverse directions) during manufacture. In the manufacture of banknotes from BOPP films, opacification layers are typically disposed on both surfaces of the film by a conventional gravure printing process which applies at least one layer of white ink onto each surface of the film. BOPP films are, however, associated with certain processing difficulties.

For example, BOPP is an electrical insulator and so static electricity can build up on the surface of a BOPP film when it is handled, for instance during rewinding, coating, laminating and printing, and this can lead to problems such as jamming and sticking in processing devices. To reduce the build-up of static electricity, an anti-static agent is incorporated into coating layers, traditionally the afore-mentioned opacification layers. However, problems remain. Transparent window regions are popular and useful security features of polymeric banknotes, but an opaque coating containing the anti-static agent is necessarily absent in these regions. The build-up of static electricity on the window regions of BOPP banknotes can lead to jamming and sticking during downstream manufacture, processing and handling, for instance during printing and in ATM machines (where double feeding and jamming can occur). As such, the size and incidence of window region(s) in a BOPP banknote are very limited.

Once the BOPP film has been opacified and treated with anti-static agent, the information, images and security features desired for the banknote are then printed and/or applied to the film. Thus, conventional production of BOPP banknotes involves three distinct stages: (i) manufacture of the BOPP film; (ii) subsequent opacification and introduction of an anti-static agent; and (iii) subsequent application of the banknote-specific information.

BOPP is not biodegradable and impacts negatively on the environment. While BOPP articles may be recycled by shredding, melting into pellets and then reforming into new articles, it remains the case that only a relatively small fraction of BOPP articles are recycled at the end of their lifetime and there is a limit to the number of times that BOPP can be recycled. Moreover, non-biodegradable plastics in the form of micro-particles are known to find their way into the food-chain. There is a need for more environmentally friendly and sustainable banknotes.

It would be desirable to address at least one of the aforementioned problems. In particular, it would be desirable to provide a more efficient method of manufacturing a banknote or other security article, for example by reducing the number of processing steps. In addition, it would be desirable to provide a banknote or other security article which did not suffer from a build-up of static electricity, in order to improve the efficiency of the manufacturing process, to improve downstream processing and handling, and to allow larger window regions in the security article. It would also be desirable to provide a more environmentally friendly banknote.

Document <CIT> discloses a security article according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a security article, said method comprising the steps of:.

wherein said transparent film introduced into said offset printing device further comprises an ink-receptive layer on at least one surface of said substrate layer.

A security article may be selected from security documents, bonds, share certificates, stamps, tax receipts, identification documents (such as passports), security tags, security badges and banknotes. Preferably the security article is in the form of a sheet, particularly a banknote or security document, and preferably the security article is a banknote.

The thickness of the security article is preferably from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, preferably at least <NUM>, preferably at least <NUM>, preferably at least about <NUM>, preferably no more than about <NUM>, preferably no more than about <NUM>, preferably no more than about <NUM>, preferably no more than about <NUM>, preferably from about <NUM> to about <NUM>.

The method of the present invention advantageously improves the efficiency of security article manufacture, allows the inclusion of larger window regions in the security article, and does so with reduced environmental impact.

In the present invention, the opacification layer which is usually present on security articles is absent. The term "opacification" means the coating of at least a portion of at least one surface of a transparent film with a material which renders said portion opaque, and preferably opaque and white. An "opacification layer" is a layer of a material covering at least a portion of at least one surface of a transparent film rendering said portion opaque, and preferably opaque and white. The material which renders portions of the transparent film opaque comprises one or more opacifying and/or whitening agent(s), typically dissolved or suspended in a solvent or vehicle. Opacifying and whitening agents are well known in the art, and are typically selected from titanium dioxide, barium sulphate and calcium carbonate, and most typically from titanium dioxide. Suitable vehicles are similarly well known in the art, and include nitrocellulose.

As used herein, the term "printed information" refers in particular to information selected from one or more of images, patterns and alphanumeric characters. At least some of the printed information is preferably an anti-counterfeit feature added to a security article to increase the difficulty of forgery. Such printed information are often intricate and detailed, making offset printing a particularly suitable technique for incorporating them. Typical examples of such printed information include:.

The transparent film is self-supporting film, by which is meant capable of independent existence in the absence of a supporting base.

Regenerated cellulose film may be manufactured by the conversion of naturally occurring cellulose to a soluble cellulosic derivative and subsequent regeneration to form a film. Preferably, the regenerated cellulose film is manufactured by the Viscose process in which natural cellulose is treated with a base, e.g. sodium hydroxide, and carbon disulphide to form a cellulose xanthate salt also called viscose. The viscose solution is then extruded through a slit into a regeneration bath of dilute sulfuric acid and sodium sulfate to reconvert the viscose into cellulose. A preferred process for preparation of the regenerated cellulose substrate layer used in the present invention is described in more detail below.

Preferably, the cellulose-containing material used as the raw material of the present invention comprises, consists essentially of or consists of a wood material. Preferably, the cellulose-containing material comprises, consists essentially of or consists of wood pulp.

The cellulose-containing pulp (preferably wood pulp) is mixed with hot alkaline solution (preferably caustic soda solution) to form a slurry and subjected to a steeping step, during which the cellulose structure swells and the polymer chains move further apart.

The slurry is then concentrated, for instance from about a starting concentration of less than about <NUM>%, typically less than about <NUM>%, and typically about <NUM>% cellulose, preferably to a concentration of from about <NUM> to about <NUM>%, preferably at least about <NUM>%, and typically about <NUM>%, by any suitable means, preferably using a slurry press. The excess alkaline solution may be returned to the steeping step. The resultant concentrate (typically referred to as a press cake) is broken up, typically by shredding, to form alkali cellulose.

Alkali cellulose is highly reactive and is the starting point for the manufacture of many water-soluble cellulose derivatives.

Cellulose is a polymer of glucose, and the chain length (or degree of polymerisation (DP)) affects the viscosity of a soluble cellulose solution. Preferably, the chain length of the alkali cellulose is adjusted by ageing in air, preferably at about <NUM> and <NUM>% RH. During the ageing process, the glycosidic linkages in the polymer chain are broken, causing the formation of shorter polymer chains, a mechanism similar to the process of biodegradation.

The alkali cellulose is reacted under vacuum with carbon disulphide (CS<NUM>), typically for a period of about <NUM> minutes. Cellulose xanthate is formed by reaction of the hydroxyl groups on the cellulose chain with CS<NUM>. When the xanthation is completed, the product is dissolved in alkali (preferably dilute caustic soda) to form viscose, which is typically about <NUM>% cellulose and about <NUM>% sodium hydroxide. The liquid is viscous (<NUM> - <NUM> Poise), non-Newtonian and unstable (it coagulates in about <NUM> days at <NUM>). The viscose is filtered, and preferably particles above about <NUM> are removed.

Preferably, the viscose is stored at a controlled temperature for about <NUM> hours to reduce its stability. During this ageing step, substituted xanthate groups react with free caustic soda in the viscose. As the number of xanthate groups reduce, the viscose coagulates more readily.

The viscose is metered into a die which has extrusion lips pointing downwards into the coagulation bath containing a solution of sodium sulphate (preferably about <NUM>%) and sulphuric acid (preferably about <NUM>%) at about <NUM>. The thickness of the extruded film is typically up to about <NUM>, for instance <NUM>-<NUM>. The reaction of the acid with the xanthate precipitates cellulose. The cast sheets of impure cellulose are preferably passed through a plurality of baths containing successively weaker acid/sulphate mixtures, thereby completing the reaction with the xanthate and acidifying the cellulose film.

The regenerated cellulose film is then washed with water, preferably in hot water at about <NUM>, to remove residual acid, sulphate and carbon disulphide. The pH of the wash is then preferably increased to about <NUM> to dissolve any residual sulphur compounds before further washing with hot water.

Preferably, the regenerated cellulose film is then washed with cooler water, and then contacted with a solution of sodium hypochlorite (preferably a weak solution), thereby destroying residual sulphur compounds and dissolving impurities (for instance residual iron compounds). The film is then washed to remove residual hypochlorite, to provide the regenerated cellulose film.

Optionally, the regenerated cellulose film may be dyed or coloured, as for cotton or cellulosic fibres (such as rayon), using conventional dyes and colourants known in the art. Powder and/or liquid dyes may be used. Dyeing or colouring is preferably effected by passing the film through a series of hot baths containing dye solution. Residual dye is then washed out of the film.

Preferably, the regenerated cellulose film is treated or coated with a plasticiser, which improves the flexibility of the regenerated cellulose film. Suitable plasticisers are well known in the art, for instance glycols and urea.

Preferably, the regenerated cellulose film is treated or coated with an anti-blocking additive, which improves the handling, slip properties and windability of the film. Anti-blocking additives are well-known in the art. A preferred anti-blocking additive for use in the present invention is silica. The anti-blocking additive is preferably in the form of a particulate dispersion in a suitable vehicle, and is preferably in the form of a silica dispersion.

Optionally, the regenerated cellulose film is treated or coated with an anchor resin, which improves the adhesion and strength of subsequently applied layers. Suitable anchor resins are well known in the art and are preferably selected from urea-formaldehyde and melamine-formaldehyde resins.

Thus, preferably the regenerated film exhibits on one or each surface thereof one or more coating layer(s) of plasticiser and/or anti-blocking additive and optionally an anchor resin, preferably of plasticiser and anti-blocking additive and optionally an anchor resin, and in one embodiment a plasticiser, anti-blocking additive and anchor resin. Preferably, the regenerated film exhibits on one or each surface thereof a single coating layer of plasticiser and/or anti-blocking additive and optionally an anchor resin, preferably a plasticiser and anti-blocking additive and optionally an anchor resin, and optionally a plasticiser, anti-blocking additive and anchor resin.

Said plasticiser, anti-blocking additive and/or anchor resin components may be disposed on a surface of the regenerated cellulose film in the form of a coating composition which contains said component(s) as a solution or dispersion in a suitable vehicle or binder, typically wherein a binder is a polymeric binder.

The plasticiser, anti-blocking additive and/or anchor resin components may be disposed on a surface of the regenerated cellulose film using any conventional application technique. These component(s) may be disposed sequentially or simultaneously, preferably simultaneously. For instance, said component(s) may be disposed on a surface of the film by passing the film into a bath containing these component(s), and preferably a mixture of these components. Conventional coating techniques, such as gravure coating, may also be used. A coating or varnishing tower may be used.

The total dry thickness of said coating layer(s) of plasticiser, anti-blocking additive and/or anchor resin component(s) on the or each surface of said regenerated cellulose film is preferably in the range of from about <NUM> to about <NUM>.

The regenerated cellulose film is then dried in hot air, preferably under tension, to provide a film having a moisture content of about <NUM>-<NUM>%, preferably about <NUM>-<NUM>%.

The regenerated cellulose substrate layer produced by the above process is then wound onto reels, typically up to about <NUM> long, and from about <NUM> to about <NUM> wide.

The substrate layer of regenerated cellulose is non-fibrous. In other words, the substrate layer of regenerated cellulose does not include any fibers (e.g. regenerated cellulose fibres). The substrate layer is preferably an extruded non-fibrous layer of regenerated cellulose. It will be appreciated that the term "fibrous" does not refer to polymeric cellulosic chains, but instead to the fibres formed by multiple polymeric cellulosic chains which are bound together by intermolecular forces between chains to form cellulose fibres comprising many tens of polymer chains as, for instance, found in naturally occurring cellulosic fibre such as cotton.

Naturally occurring cellulose comprises, consists or consists essentially of linear chains of β(<NUM>→<NUM>) linked D-glucose units. The regenerated cellulose used in the present invention comprises, and preferably consists or consists essentially of, linear (i.e. unbranched) chains of β(<NUM>→<NUM>) linked D-glucose units and/or is chemically identical to naturally occurring cellulose. Thus, the regenerated cellulose used in the present invention is not regenerated cellulose which has been chemically modified, for example by covalently bonded chemical radicals, for instance by reaction with a tertiary amine oxide. Thus, the regenerated cellulose has the chemical formula (C<NUM>H<NUM>O<NUM>)n, where n is the degree of polymerisation. In the regenerated cellulose substrate layers of the present invention, preferably n is at least about <NUM>, preferably at least about <NUM>, preferably at least about <NUM>, typically about <NUM>, and typically less than about <NUM>, more typically less than about <NUM>, more typically less than about <NUM>, most typically less than about <NUM>. Preferably, the degree of polymerisation is from about <NUM> to about <NUM>.

The substrate layer of regenerated cellulose is co-extensive with the transparent film. In other words, the length and width dimensions of the substrate layer of regenerated cellulose are the same as the length and width dimensions of the transparent film.

As noted above, the transparent film introduced into the printing device in step (a) of the method comprises an ink-receptive layer on one or both surfaces of said substrate layer of regenerated cellulose. The ink-receptive layer improves the adhesion of the subsequently applied inks to the regenerated cellulose substrate. The ink-receptive layer preferably consists of, consists essentially of or comprises an ink-receptive polymer, preferably selected from nitrocellulose, vinyl acetate/vinyl chloride co-polymers, and copolyesters. Thus, the method of the present invention comprises, prior to step (a) above, the step of disposing an ink-receptive layer onto one or both surfaces of the regenerated cellulose substrate layer, preferably by coating a coating composition. Any conventional coating process may be used, and preferably a solvent coating process is used. The coating composition preferably comprises an ink-receptive polymer in a solvent vehicle, preferably wherein the solvent is a mixed solvent, preferably selected from THF/toluene and isopropylacetate/toluene. After application of the coating composition, the solvent is removed by drying the coated film, as is conventional in the art, and the coated film re-wound onto a reel.

The transparent film introduced into the printing device in step (a) of the method preferably comprises a barrier material on one or both surfaces of said substrate layer of regenerated cellulose, to reduce the water vapour permeability of the film. Suitable barrier materials are well-known in the art and include, for instance, polyvinylidenechloride (PVdC). Thus, the method of the present invention preferably comprises, prior to step (a) above, the step of disposing a barrier material onto one or both surfaces of the regenerated cellulose substrate layer, preferably by coating a coating composition. The barrier material may be coated using any conventional coating process, as described hereinabove in respect of the ink-receptive layer. The barrier material is preferably coated simultaneously with the ink-receptive polymer, and is preferably present in the ink-receptive coating. Alternatively, said barrier material may be coated separately and be in the form of a barrier coating.

The ink-receptive layer is preferably co-extensive with the substrate layer of regenerated cellulose. In other words, the length and width dimensions of the ink-receptive layer are the same as the length and width dimensions of the substrate layer of regenerated cellulose. Similarly, said barrier material is preferably co-extensive with the substrate layer of regenerated cellulose.

The substrate layer of regenerated cellulose preferably makes up at least <NUM>%, preferably at least <NUM>%, preferably at least <NUM>%, preferably at least <NUM>%, and preferably at least <NUM>% of the thickness of the transparent film. As described hereinabove, the substrate layer of regenerated cellulose may have disposed a coating layer on one or both surfaces thereof. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the transparent film comprises or consists essentially of or consists of said substrate layer of regenerated cellulose and said ink-receptive coating and/or said barrier material. As described hereinabove, said substrate layer of regenerated cellulose is a regenerated cellulose film which optionally comprises a plasticiser and/or an anti-blocking additive and/or an anchor resin on one or each surface thereof, preferably in the form of one or more coating layer(s) (preferably a single coating layer) disposed on the or each surface. In the present invention, it is intended that no layer which is coextensive with the substrate layer be laminated with said substrate layer.

The substrate layer of regenerated cellulose, and preferably also the transparent film introduced into the printing device of step (a) of the method of the present invention, preferably has haze of no more than <NUM>%, preferably no more than <NUM>%, preferably no more than <NUM>%, preferably no more than <NUM>%. The total luminous transmission (TLT) for light in the visible region (<NUM> to <NUM>) is preferably at least <NUM>%, preferably at least <NUM>%, more preferably at least about <NUM>%. Haze and TLT are preferably measured by standard test method ASTM D1003.

The polymer chains in the regenerated cellulose film are oriented and hence exhibit birefringence. Preferably, the substrate layer of regenerated cellulose, and hence the transparent film, have a birefringence (expressed as the measured retardation) is no more than about <NUM>, preferably no more than about <NUM>, preferably no more than about <NUM>, preferably at least <NUM>, preferably at least <NUM>, preferably from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, preferably from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, preferably from about <NUM> to about <NUM>. Birefringence is proportional to orientation and thickness, and preferably the birefringence of the substrate layer is from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, preferably from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, preferably from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, preferably about <NUM> per micron thickness of the substrate. Birefringence in transparent polymer films may suitably be measured by standard test ASTM D4093 - <NUM>(<NUM>).

The transparent film referred to herein, and particularly the transparent film which is fed into the printing device in step (a) of the method of the invention, preferably exhibits a surface energy of at least about <NUM> dynes, preferably at least about <NUM> dynes, preferably at least about <NUM> dynes, and preferably no more than from about <NUM> dynes, preferably no more than from about <NUM> dynes, preferably no more than about <NUM> dynes. The surface energy of a transparent film may suitably be measured using the procedure described in ASTM D <NUM>. The surface energy provides a measure of the ability of the surface of the film to attract a liquid (e.g. a printing ink) and allow it to wet the surface. A surface energy of greater than about <NUM> dynes improves the wetting of the surface by liquids such as printing inks. Advantageously, films of regenerated cellulose which exhibit a surface energy within the above ranges avoid the need for pre-treatments such as corona, flame and nitrogen plasma treatments which are typically required to increase the surface energy of BOPP films prior to printing.

The transparent film referred to herein, and particularly the transparent film which is fed into the printing device in step (a) of the method of the invention, preferably exhibits a coefficient of friction (preferably as measured according to ASTM D <NUM>) which is not too high that the film becomes too hard to pick up in an automated processing or handling device, and is not too low that the film experiences jamming or sticking in an automated processing or handling device, and may cause double-feeding problems in an ATM. As discussed herein, the coefficient of friction of the transparent film is preferably controlled by the addition of anti-blocking or slip additives. A preferred anti-blocking agent is silica, which modulates the surface roughness of the film, which is the preferred method of controlling the coefficient of friction in the present invention. Other suitable additives include solid slip additives such as silicone or PTFE, and migratory waxes such as glycerol monostearate or erucamide, which modulate the coefficient of friction by lubrication or alteration of the surface energy of the film.

Advantageously, the transparent film referred to herein, and particularly the transparent film which is fed into the printing device in step (a) of the method of the invention, does not require and preferably does not contain an anti-static agent. The regenerated cellulose films used in the transparent films of the present invention are not susceptible to a build-up of static electricity and do not require the inclusion of anti-static agents, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and increasing manufacturing efficiency. Thus, the method of the present invention excludes the addition of an anti-static agent to said substrate layer or any part of said transparent film, and preferably excludes the addition of an anti-static agent to any part of said security article.

Preferably, the transparent film referred to herein, and particularly the transparent film which is fed into the printing device in step (a) of the method of the invention, is devoid of watermarks, light-sensitive additives, taggants, markers or other security features. Advantageously, it is then possible to use the same substrate, the same transparent film and the same offset-printed film which results from step (b) of the method of the present invention for all denominations of a given currency, since the security features are applied after printed information has been disposed on the film, thereby reducing manufacturing costs. In addition, the banknote printer or manufacturer is able to retain a larger stock of the transparent film referred to herein and thereby better control the manufacturing process across a range of different currency and/or denominations of a given currency, without delay in the supply of batches of a specific substrate for a specific currency or denomination, thereby improving the efficiency and economy of the manufacturing process.

Optionally, the transparent film referred to herein, and particularly the transparent film which is fed into the printing device in step (a) of the method of the invention, may be coloured or dyed, as described above.

The water vapour permeability of the transparent film referred to herein, and particularly the transparent film which is fed into the printing device in step (a) of the method of the invention, is preferably in the range of from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, preferably from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, preferably from about <NUM> to about <NUM>/m<NUM>/24hours at <NUM> and <NUM>% relative humidity. Preferably, water vapour permeability is in the range of from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, preferably from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, preferably from about <NUM> to about <NUM>/m<NUM>/24hours at <NUM> and <NUM>% relative humidity. Water vapour permeability may be measured by any method suitable in the art, and preferably by ASTM E96.

The transparent film preferably makes up at least about <NUM>%, preferably at least about <NUM>%, preferably at least <NUM>%, and preferably at least <NUM>% of the thickness of the security article.

Advantageously, regenerated cellulose films are not susceptible to a build-up of static electricity, and so it is not necessary to dispose an anti-static agent-containing layer prior to introduction into the printing device, as required for instance for BOPP films. Thus, the transparent film comprising a substrate layer of regenerated cellulose film can advantageously be introduced directly into the printing device, thereby removing the need for a preceding separate anti-static agent treatment step, and thereby improving the efficiency of manufacture of the security article.

Advantageously, the method of the present invention disposes printed information directly onto said transparent film.

The offset printing step is preferably a simultaneous offset printing step, which prints on each side of said film simultaneously.

Offset printing, also referred to as offset lithography, is a method of mass-production printing in which images on printing plates are transferred (offset) to flexible rollers and then to the print media (i.e. the transparent film in the present invention). The print media does not come into direct contact with the printing plates.

Offset printing devices are known in the art and generally comprise a plurality of printing units, each comprising a plate cylinder, a blanket cylinder (usually made from rubber) and optionally an impression cylinder. The plate cylinder is a roller to which is attached the printing plate (usually metallic, preferably aluminium). During printing, the printed information created by the ink on the printing plate is transferred to the blanket cylinder and then transferred from the blanket cylinder onto the print media. The impression cylinder carries the print media through the printing unit and provides a hard backing against which the blanket cylinder can impress the printed information on the print media. Offset printing creates printed information having sharper lines and images than other printing techniques because the blanket cylinder is flexible and therefore can conform to the texture of the surface of the print media.

Each printing unit prints a single colour ink. For full-colour printing, four ink colours are used (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) and so a minimum of four printing units are used for full colour printing, with each printing unit using a single colour ink. Optionally, a fifth printing unit may be included for applying intaglio-printed information, specialised inks (e.g. magnetic or metallic inks), coatings or varnishes to the print media.

During operation, print media passes through each of the printing units of the offset printing device and printed information is disposed on a first surface of the print media. The printed media may then be allowed to dry, before being rotated through <NUM>° and passed through the same or different offset printing device to print on the second surface of the print media.

Extended offset printing devices comprise a reversing cylinder after the first set of printing units followed by a second set of printing units. These extended offset printing devices may therefore comprise <NUM>-<NUM> printing units in total. During operation, print media passes through the first set of printing units of the extended offset printing device and printed information is disposed on a first surface of the print media. The reversing cylinder then rotates the print media through <NUM>° in the extended offset printing device and the print media is passed through the second set of printing units to print on the second surface of the print media.

Simultaneous offset printing devices comprise one or more simultaneous print units in which the impression cylinder is replaced with a second blanket cylinder allowing for printing on each surface of the print sheet simultaneously. Each simultaneous printing unit therefore comprises a first and second plate cylinder and a first and second blanket cylinder (usually made from rubber). During printing, printed information created by the ink on the printing plates attached to the first and second plate cylinders is transferred to the first and second blanket cylinders and is then transferred from the first and second blanket cylinders onto the first and second surfaces of the print media simultaneously. Such simultaneous offset printing devices are the preferred devices for use in the method of the present invention.

Thus, an offset printing device suitable for use in the method of the present invention comprises one or more printing units for disposing printed information directly on at least a portion of at least one surface of the transparent film. Preferably, each of said printing unit(s) is a simultaneous printing unit for disposing printed information on at least a portion of each surface of the transparent film simultaneously. Optionally, further printing units and/or simultaneous printing units may be included to incorporate intaglio printed information, specialised inks (e.g. magnetic or metallic inks), coatings or varnishes.

The method of the present invention may be a web-fed process or a sheet-fed process.

In a web-fed process, the method of steps (a) to (b) is preferably a reel-to-reel process in which a web of said transparent film is fed into said offset printing device, printed and then re-wound onto a reel. In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises, after step (b), the step of cutting the offset-printed film into sheets prior to the application of additional printed information and/or security features thereon.

In a sheet-fed process, discrete sheets of transparent film are fed into said offset printing device.

After step (b) of the method of the present invention, additional printed information is preferably disposed on one or both surfaces of the offset-printed film. Any conventional printing process may be used, but preferably said additional printed information is disposed by intaglio printing.

Said printed information and said additional printed information are preferably independently selected from one or more of images, patterns and alphanumeric characters.

After step (b) and preferably after said optional step of disposing additional printed information, the method of the present invention preferably comprises disposing one or more security feature(s) on one or both surfaces of said offset-printed film. Said one or more security features are preferably selected from additional alphanumeric information such as a printed signature or serial number; optical security feature(s) such as a hologram; and printed features (particularly screen-printed features) comprising optically variable ink, magnetic ink and/or fluorescent ink.

After step (b) and preferably after said optional step(s) of disposing additional printed information and/or one or more security feature(s), the method of the present invention preferably comprises disposing a protective layer such as a varnish on one or both surfaces of said offset-printed film. Suitable varnishes are known in the art and include varnishes which may be dried by thermal or infrared radiation or UV-cured varnishes.

Preferably, after said additional printed information and/or security features and/or protective layer have been applied to a sheet of said offset-printed film, said method further comprises the step of cutting said sheets into a plurality of smaller pieces to provide a plurality of security articles.

The regenerated cellulose substrate layer used in the method of the present invention is an oriented film and exhibits birefringence.

Historically, security article processing machines have required that the security article exhibits an opaque leading edge so that the position of the security article can be accurately identified and the security article can be tracked through the machine, and this has restricted the use of transparent regions along one or more edges of a security article. In addition, sensors in security article processing machines may incorrectly identify a transparent region as a hole in the security article, causing the machine to jam or register the security article as faulty. However, these problems are resolved by the presence of birefringence in the security article, and the use of polarized light in processing machines. Accordingly, it is now possible to accurately identify the position of the security article and track it through the machine even if for security articles having a transparent region at the leading edge of the security article, and avoid the processing machine incorrectly identifying a transparent region as a hole.

Advantageously, therefore, the security articles disclosed herein preferably comprise a transparent region which extends along one or more edges of said security article. Particularly when the security article is rectangular, transparent region(s) preferably extend along one or both of the long edges of said security article, particularly wherein the security article is a banknote. Alternatively or additionally, transparent region(s) may extend along one or both of the short edges of a rectangular security article, particularly when the security article is a banknote. This is particularly advantageous because security articles comprising a transparent region which extends along one or more edges are more difficult to counterfeit. Preferably, there is no printed information and/or security features disposed in the transparent region; preferably the transparent region exhibits the optical properties of haze and TLT referred to herein (in respect of the substrate layer of regenerated cellulose) across the whole surface area of the transparent region.

In the present invention, it is preferred that none of the transparent region(s) on the film comprises a feature which may be used as a means for verifying, enhancing and/or optically varying a security device provided on the security article or elsewhere. In particular, the security article disclosed herein preferably does not comprise a security device and verification means to inspect and/or verify said security device by bringing said verification means into register with said security device. Preferably, the authenticity of the security article disclosed herein is verifiable only by a device or means which is extrinsic to said security device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a security article comprising a transparent film comprising a non-fibrous substrate layer of regenerated cellulose, wherein said transparent film further comprises an ink-receptive layer on at least one surface of said substrate layer, and wherein printed information is disposed on at least a portion of said transparent film, preferably wherein said printed information has been disposed by an offset-printing step.

The description of the security article in the context of the first aspect of the invention is equally applicable to the second aspect of the invention. It will therefore be appreciated that the preferred features of the first aspect of the invention in respect of the security article, the transparent film, the substrate layer of regenerated cellulose, the regenerated cellulose, and the method of making each of them are equally applicable to the second aspect.

In particular, the second aspect of the invention preferably provides a security article as described above wherein said transparent film exhibits one or more, and preferably all, of the following properties:.

Preferably at least feature (iv) is exhibited by the transparent film, and preferably also feature (i), preferably also with one or both of features (ii) and (iii), which is also applicable to the first aspect of the invention.

Preferably, the second aspect of the invention provides a security article as described above wherein said ink-receptive layer further comprises a barrier material to reduce the water vapour permeability of the film preferably wherein the barrier material is polyvinylidenechloride (PVdC).

Preferably, the second aspect of the invention provides a security article as described above wherein additional printed information and/or one or more security feature(s) (as described hereinabove) is/are disposed on one or both surfaces of the security article. Preferably said additional printed information is disposed by intaglio printing.

Preferably, the second aspect of the invention provides a security article as described above which comprises a protective layer (as described hereinabove) on one or both surfaces of said security article.

According to third and fourth aspects of the invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a plurality of different types of security article, wherein each type of security article is manufactured by a method comprising the steps of:.

The features and preferences described hereinabove for each of the first and second aspects apply also to the third and fourth aspects.

Claim 1:
A method of manufacturing a security article, said method comprising the steps of:
a. introducing into an offset printing device a transparent film comprising a non-fibrous substrate layer of regenerated cellulose; and
b. disposing printed information on at least a portion of said transparent film by an offset printing step,
wherein said transparent film introduced into said offset printing device further comprises an ink-receptive layer on at least one surface of said substrate layer.