Patent Description:
Conventionally, there was a card in which a laser color development layer was laminated above a support (base material) (for example, Patent Document <NUM>).

However, if a print layer by offset printing or the like is provided below the laser color development layer in the case of the conventional card, the print layer is damaged due to heat generated in the laser color development layer as a result of laser beam irradiation. For this reason, in the conventional card, the damaged print layer was observed as blurred around the print information of the laser color development layer, and the quality deteriorated, accordingly.

Patent Document <NUM>: <CIT> describes an ID card which has a coloring layer in black under irradiation with a laser light on a card base constituted of polyester or polycarbonate, wherein an image or character information is formed on a card face under irradiation with the laser light. Format information is printed on the coloring layer by offset printing using process ink.

<CIT> and <CIT> describe a transparent laser-marking sheet, that has a favorable bonding effect to a sheet making up an electronic passport, a plastic card or the like, is versatile, and enables laser marking of clear letters, figures, symbols or information with high contrast. Said transparent laser-marking sheet includes: a base-material sheet that is configured as a single-layer sheet made of a transparent polycarbonate resin composition including laser-light energy absorbing agent, or a base-material sheet that is configured as a multilayer sheet having skin layers and a core layer, the skin layers being made of thermoplastic resin and the core layer being made of a transparent polycarbonate resin composition including laser-light energy absorbing agent, and an adhesive layer on at least one of the faces of a base-material sheet, the adhesive layer being made of transparent thermal activation adhesive including polyester resin.

<CIT> and <CIT> describe a multilayer laser-markable sheet for an electronic passport, which includes three sheets of a sheet A/a multilayer sheet B/a sheet C as a basic constitutional unit. The sheet A includes a transparent polycarbonate resin composition including a thermoplastic polycarbonate resin and a laser light energy absorbing agent. The multilayer sheet B includes a transparent thermoplastic resin including a thermoplastic polycarbonate resin, wherein at least one layer of the skin layers and the core layer of the multilayer sheet B include at least one selected from a dye and a pigment. The sheet C includes a sheet or a laminate sheet.

<CIT> and <CIT> describe a composite hinge sheet including thermoplastic resin layers made of a thermoplastic resin formed on both surfaces of a woven-fabric like sheet having multiple openings therein. The woven-fabric like sheet includes woven fabric or non-woven fabric made of at least one type selected from polyester, polyamide and polypropylene. The thermoplastic resin layers include, as a raw material, resin having Shore A surface hardness flexibility of <NUM> or greater and Shore D surface hardness flexibility of less than <NUM>. A part of the thermoplastic resin enters the openings in the woven-fabric like sheet, thus blocking all the openings, so that the thermoplastic resin layers are integrated with the woven fabric like sheet.

<CIT> describes a security element for integration into documents for authentication. The security element comprises a substrate. A reflective optical structure and a reference pattern are disposed on the same side of the substrate. The reflective optical structure is made up of an array of Fresnel lenses. The reference pattern appears in the foreground when observed by an observer. A virtual image of the observer appears in the background behind the foreground pattern.

An object of the present invention is to provide a laminated body in which a print layer is provided below a laser color development layer without lowering quality.

The present invention solves the above-described problem by the following solving means. In order to facilitate understanding, reference symbols corresponding to the embodiments of the present invention are attached, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In addition, components described with the reference symbols may be modified as appropriate, and at least a portion thereof may be replaced by another component.

The claimed invention is defined by a method of manufacturing a laminated body as defined by appended claim <NUM>.

Preferably, a thickness t (mm) of the barrier layer (<NUM>) is <NUM> ≤ t ≤ <NUM>.

Further preferably, a thickness t (mm) of the barrier layer (<NUM>) is <NUM> ≤ t ≤ <NUM>.

Preferably, the laminated body includes a protective layer (<NUM>) provided above the laser color development layer (<NUM>), having translucency, and protecting the laser color development layer.

In a fifth aspect of the invention is the laminated body according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, in which the barrier layer (<NUM>) has optical diffraction structure.

In a sixth aspect of the invention is the laminated body according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, in which the laminated body (<NUM>, <NUM>) is a card.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a laminated body in which a print layer is provided below a laser color development layer without lowering quality.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings and the like.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a card <NUM> according to a first embodiment.

<FIG> is a view of the card <NUM> as viewed from upward.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the card <NUM> (a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in <FIG>).

In the embodiments and the drawings, for facilitating description and understanding, the description will be made based on an XYZ orthogonal coordinate system.

The coordinate system represents a left-right direction X (left side X1 and right side X2), a longitudinal direction Y (lower side Y1 and upper side Y2), a thickness direction Z (lower side Z1 and upper side Z2) with reference to the state of <FIG>.

In the drawings, the configuration in the thickness direction Z is illustrated in an exaggerated manner as appropriate.

In the embodiment, an example where the card <NUM> (laminated body) is an identification card (ID card) of an employee issued by a company will be described.

The card <NUM> includes an offset print layer <NUM>, a barrier layer <NUM>, a laser color development layer <NUM>, and a transparent layer <NUM> which are laminated in this order on a base material <NUM> from the lower side Z1 to the upper side Z2.

The base material <NUM>, the barrier layer <NUM>, the laser color development layer <NUM>, and the transparent layer <NUM> are formed with a resin sheet such as PC, PET, PET-G, or PVC or a sheet material of an alloy of these resins. Thermal welding or the like performed by heat pressing is applied for bonding these layers to each other.

In the embodiment, an example in which layers are provided only on the upper side Z2 of the base material <NUM> is described, but other layers may be provided on the lower side Z1 of the base material <NUM> as needed.

The base material <NUM> is a member that serves as a base of the card <NUM>. The base material <NUM> is a layer that does not transmit light. The color of the base material <NUM> is, for example, white or the like.

The offset print layer <NUM> is laminated on the base material <NUM> by directly performing offset printing. The printing method is not limited to offset printing, but other alternative printing methods (silk printing and the like) may be used.

The print content of the offset print layer <NUM> is print information <NUM> in which a plurality of combinations of symbols "△○□" are arranged and print information <NUM> of characters "ID CARD. " In <FIG>, for convenience sake, the print information <NUM> is indicated by a broken line.

The print content of the offset print layer <NUM> is not limited thereto, but, may be a figure, a pattern, or the like, for example. In addition, the offset print layer <NUM> may be a monochromatic print with black or the like or may be a color print with a plurality of colors.

The barrier layer <NUM> has translucency and is colorless and transparent. As described later, the barrier layer <NUM> suppresses the damage to the offset print layer <NUM> due to heat generated in the laser color development layer <NUM>.

In addition, the barrier layer <NUM> is not limited to being configured to be laminated on an entire surface of the card <NUM>. For example, the barrier layer <NUM> may be laminated only on the laser color development layer <NUM> or only on a portion where the print information appears by laser color development. In addition, although the barrier layer <NUM> is easy to manufacture in a form of one layer, the barrier layer <NUM> is not limited thereto. The barrier layer <NUM> may have a form in which two or more layers of the same material or different materials are laminated.

The laser color development layer <NUM> has translucency and is colorless and transparent. The laser color development layer <NUM> includes a color developer. Accordingly, the area irradiated with a laser beam in the laser color development layer <NUM> generates heat and develops a black color. In the embodiment, such color development is also referred to as "laser printing," "laser character printing," or the like.

For convenience sake, it is illustrated in the drawings that the laser color development layer <NUM> develops the color only partially in the thickness direction Z.

However, in general, the color is developed over an entirety of the laser color development layer <NUM> in the thickness direction Z.

In addition, the material of the laser color development layer <NUM> may not include a color developer as long as the material develops color by irradiation with a laser beam. The developed color may be other than black.

The print content of the laser color development layer <NUM> includes a photographic image <NUM> of an employee and an identification number <NUM> which is text information. As the upper surface of the card is viewed from upward, the photographic image <NUM> and the identification number <NUM> overlap with the print information <NUM> of the offset print layer <NUM>. In addition, the barrier layer <NUM> and the laser color development layer <NUM> are not limited to being colorless and transparent. The colors of the barrier layer <NUM> and the laser color development layer <NUM> may be any colors as long as the print information of the laser color development layer <NUM> and the offset print layer <NUM> is visible.

The transparent layer <NUM> is a layer having translucency like the barrier layer <NUM>. The transparent layer <NUM> is a protective layer for protecting the laser color development layer <NUM>. In a case where the laser color development layer <NUM> has a sufficient strength or the like, the transparent layer <NUM> may be omitted.

The upper surface of the card is observed as described below.

The print information <NUM> and <NUM> of the offset print layer <NUM> are observed through the laser color development layer <NUM> and the transparent layer <NUM> (refer to an arrow A20a).

In addition, in the area where the print information <NUM> of the offset print layer <NUM> overlaps with the photographic image <NUM> and the identification number <NUM> of the laser color development layer <NUM>, the print information <NUM> of the offset print layer <NUM> can be observed at the gaps of the color development portion of the laser color development layer <NUM> through the laser color development layer <NUM> and the transparent layer <NUM> (refer to an arrow A20b).

The photographic image <NUM> and the identification number <NUM>, which are the print information of the laser color development layer <NUM>, are observed through the transparent layer <NUM> (refer to an arrow A40).

The card <NUM> is manufactured according to the following processes.

By performing offset printing on the base material <NUM>, the offset print layer <NUM> is formed.

The barrier layer <NUM>, the laser color development layer <NUM> in a state before laser printing, and the transparent layer <NUM> are laminated in this order from the lower side Z1 on the base material <NUM> having been subjected to offset printing, and the layers in lamination are bonded to each other by heat pressing or the like.

In this case, instead of bonding the entire layers simultaneously, a laminated sheet in which some of the layers have been laminated may be manufactured in advance. For example, the laminated sheet in which the barrier layer <NUM>, the laser color development layer <NUM>, and the transparent layer <NUM> are bonded to each other may be manufactured in advance, and this laminated sheet and the base material <NUM> may be bonded by heat pressing or the like. Such a laminated sheet may be commercially purchased.

In addition, the card <NUM> may be manufactured by a multiple cards method. In other words, in card manufacturing, individual cards may be manufactured by a punching process and the like after a laminated body in which a plurality of cards <NUM> are arranged is manufactured.

Using a laser irradiation apparatus, the upper surface of the card is irradiated with a laser beam. After transmitting through the transparent layer <NUM> which is a transparent layer, the laser beam reaches the laser color development layer <NUM> and develops a color in the laser color development layer <NUM> (refer to an arrow B40a).

This laser printing process may be performed by a card manufacturer or by a company to which the card is to be delivered in a case where the company owns a laser irradiation apparatus.

Through the above-described processes, the card <NUM> can be manufactured.

Herein, in the laser printing process, the laser color development layer <NUM> generates heat by laser irradiation.

The heat generated in the laser color development layer <NUM> transfers to the barrier layer <NUM> and then to the offset print layer <NUM> (refer to an arrow B40b). Accordingly, the barrier layer <NUM> functions as a thermal insulator, and the heat generated in the laser color development layer <NUM> does not directly transfer to the offset print layer <NUM>. Accordingly, the barrier layer <NUM> exhibits a function and an effect which enable the suppression of the damage to the offset print information caused by the heat generation.

A trial product according to the first embodiment and a comparative product were manufactured, and a verification test was performed to verify the above-described function and effect in detail.

The configuration of the trial product according to the first embodiment, the configuration of the comparative product, and the laser irradiation apparatus will be described below.

It should be noted that the configuration described below is an example. A trial product according to the first embodiment (refer to <FIG>).

In an offset print layer <NUM>, a pattern <NUM> of light color was provided over an entire upper surface of the base material <NUM>. However, the pattern <NUM> is not a type of solid printing.

Accordingly, the upper surface of the base material <NUM> is visible in the area where the pattern <NUM> is not provided.

A comparative product has a configuration obtained by removing the barrier layer <NUM> -from the trial product.

An offset print layer <NUM> is similar to that of the trial product.

A laser irradiation apparatus: Laser Marker CLM-<NUM> produced by NIDEC COPAL CORPORATION.

In a verification test <NUM>, it was verified whether or not there was damage to the offset print layer <NUM> caused by the intensity of a laser beam.

<FIG> and <FIG> are photographic images illustrating results of trial products 1A and 1B of the verification test <NUM> according to the first embodiment.

With respect to the intensity of the laser beam, the intensity of the laser beam itself and the dot interval (that is, dot density) were changed as described below.

The intensity of the laser beam itself: The irradiation intensity (Pow) of the laser irradiation apparatus was changed by <NUM>% from <NUM> to <NUM>%.

The dot interval (Step): The dot interval was changed in steps of <NUM> from <NUM> to <NUM>.

Print information <NUM> and <NUM> of laser printing are character information indicating the condition of the intensity of the laser beam, respectively.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, with respect to the trial products 1A and 1B, the entire print information <NUM> was clearly (sharply) observable.

In addition, with respect to the trial products 1A and 1B, it was observable that the color darkened gradually from gray to black depending on the intensity of the laser beam. Furthermore, as illustrated in <FIG>, there was no damage to the offset print layer <NUM> even with respect to the character printing "Pow <NUM>% Step <NUM>" having the largest heat generation. Accordingly, the print information <NUM> of the offset print layer <NUM> was clearly observable.

As a result, with respect to the trial products 1A and 1B, it was verified that there was no damage to the offset print layer <NUM> at each of the applied intensities of the laser beam.

Although detailed description is omitted, a comparative product (not illustrated) in which the offset print layer <NUM> was omitted from the trial products 1A and 1B according to the first embodiment, that is, a comparative product in which the base material <NUM> was plain was also manufactured.

When the print information of laser printing of the comparative product and the print information of laser printing of the trial products 1A and 1B according to the first embodiment were visually observed with eyes, no difference in quality was verified between the two products. In other words, in the trial products 1A and 1B according to the first embodiment, there was no deterioration in quality due to attaching the offset print layer <NUM>.

In addition, in other trial products (not illustrated) according to the first embodiment, fine characters, figures, and the like such as microtaggants which are hard to visually distinguish with eyes were laser-printed. When such fine characters and the like were observed with a magnifying glass, there was no crush, that is, the characters and the like were clear. In addition, by the trial product, it was verified that printed characters with a character size of <NUM> were distinguishable.

<FIG> are photographic images to show a comparison.

<FIG> is a photographic image of a trial product 1C according to the first embodiment, and <FIG> is a photographic image of a comparative product 101C.

In the verification test <NUM>, characters "<NUM>" are printed by laser character printing on the trial product 1C according to the first embodiment and the comparative product 101C, as print information <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively. The character size is <NUM> pt. The print conditions for the two products are the same.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the trial product 1C according to the first embodiment had almost no damage to a portion of the pattern <NUM> (ink) of the offset print layer <NUM>, and the outline of the print information <NUM> (that is, the outline of a character "<NUM>") was sharp.

On the other hand, as illustrated in <FIG>, in the comparative product 101C, damage (burning) occurred to the pattern <NUM> (ink) of the offset print layer. This is because the heat generated in the laser color development layer transferred directly to the offset print layer.

The damage to the offset print layer in the comparative product 101C occurred within and around the area of the print information <NUM> of the laser color development layer. Accordingly, the characters of comparative product 101C were observed as blurred. For this reason, the quality of laser character printing of the comparative product 101C was significantly inferior to that of the trial product 1C according to the first embodiment.

In a verification test <NUM>, damage to the offset print layer <NUM> was verified by performing laser printing of a black- and-white photograph of a person's face. In other words, the fineness of the laser-printed photograph was verified.

The area of laser printing and the size of the image of a person are as illustrated in <FIG>. The intensity of the laser beam was adjusted by allowing the intensity of the laser beam itself to be constant and adjusting only the dot interval (dot density).

Although the photographic image of the verification test <NUM> is omitted, in the trial product according to the first embodiment, no damage occurred to the offset print layer. For this reason, it was successful that shades of gray of an intermediate color were clearly expressed. Accordingly, it was successful that the shades of the color of the skin of a person were clearly reproduced.

In addition, similarly to the above-described verification tests <NUM> and <NUM>, the hair was printed without blurring and in dark black color, so that thin black lines were expressed successfully.

On the other hand, in the comparative product, damage occurred to the hair and the offset print layer surrounding the hair like the verification test <NUM>. Accordingly, the hair was observed as fuzzed up.

In addition, in the comparative product, there was a problem in that, if the laser irradiation was performed with the intensity of the laser beam lowered to such an extent that the hair was not fuzzed up, the color of the entire laser-printed image became light.

By the above-described verification tests <NUM> to <NUM>, it was verified that the trial product according to the first embodiment suppressed the damage to the offset print layer caused by the laser irradiation, and it was also verified that even delicate print like a photograph was clearly reproducible. Accordingly, the trial product according to the first embodiment allowed the expression power (gradation and the like) of the print to be larger than that of the comparative product.

In addition, it was verified that the trial product according to the first embodiment caused no damage to the offset print layer <NUM> even if the intensity of the laser beam was set to be stronger than that of the comparative product. Accordingly, it is possible for the trial product according to the first embodiment to allow the range of the intensity of a laser beam which is a print condition to be set larger than that for the comparative product. It is possible for the trial product according to the first embodiment to expand the range of selection of dot intervals which is a setting condition of a laser irradiation apparatus, for example. Accordingly, the trial product according to the first embodiment can be easily manufactured since the setting of print conditions of the trial product is easier than that of the comparative product.

As demonstrated in the above-described verification test, it was verified that, even if a thickness of the barrier layer <NUM> was <NUM> (<NUM>), the offset print layer <NUM> was sufficiently protected from the heat generated in the laser color development layer <NUM>. Herein, the thickness of a typical card (for example, a credit card and the like) is about <NUM>. For this reason, even if the thickness of the barrier layer <NUM> is sufficiently small as compared with the total thickness of the card <NUM>, the offset print layer <NUM> can be protected from heat generation.

Accordingly, providing the barrier layer <NUM> neither causes the card to become extremely thick, nor requires other layers to be extremely thin in order to maintain the total thickness. As a result, the card <NUM> can be used not only for identification cards but also for credit cards and the like including a film substrate having, for example, a coil antenna.

In addition, products including barrier layers having a thickness of <NUM> (<NUM>) and <NUM> (<NUM>) besides the thickness of <NUM> of the barrier layer <NUM> were manufactured as the trial product according to the first embodiment. There was no difference in print quality among these three trial products.

For this reason, it was verified that it is possible to suppress the damage to the offset print layer <NUM> in the card <NUM> if the thickness t (mm) of the barrier layer <NUM> is "<NUM> ≤ t ≤ <NUM>.

In addition, if the thickness t (mm) of the barrier layer <NUM> is "<NUM> ≤ t ≤ <NUM>," the card <NUM> has the effect of providing the offset print layer <NUM> without allowing the card <NUM> to be extremely thick as described above.

In addition, in a case where barrier layers <NUM> each having a thickness less than <NUM> can be laminated between the base material <NUM> and the laser color development layer <NUM>, the thickness of less than <NUM> may be acceptable.

In addition, the barrier layer <NUM> may have a thickness of <NUM> or more as long as it is possible to obtain the effect of suppressing the damage to the offset print layer <NUM> due to the heat generated in the laser color development layer <NUM>.

As described above, in the card <NUM> according to the first embodiment, even if the offset print layer <NUM> is provided on the side Z1 lower than the laser color development layer <NUM>, the damage to the offset print layer <NUM> due to the heat generated in the laser color development layer <NUM> can be suppressed. Accordingly, the quality of the card <NUM> is not lowered.

In the following description and the drawings, the components which perform the same functions as those of the above-described first embodiment are appropriately denoted by the same reference symbols or the same reference symbols of the last portions (lower two digits), and redundant description will be appropriately omitted.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a card <NUM> according to the second embodiment.

The card <NUM> is formed by laminating a Lippmann hologram layer <NUM> and a transparent layer <NUM> on a transparent layer <NUM> of a card according to the first embodiment from the lower side Z1 to the upper side Z2.

The Lippmann hologram layer <NUM> is a layer having a Lippmann type hologram image <NUM>.

The Lippmann hologram layer <NUM> is excellent in expressing a stereoscopic sense or a sense of depth in up and down directions and in left and right directions.

The Lippmann hologram layer <NUM>, which is extremely difficult to counterfeit since the materials used and the manufacturing process are special, can improve an anti-tampering effect and an anti-counterfeit effect as compared with, for example, an embossed hologram.

Contour dimensions of the Lippmann hologram layer <NUM> are smaller than those of the other layers. The Lippmann hologram layer <NUM> is arranged at a position overlapping a photographic image <NUM> of a laser color development layer <NUM>.

The Lippmann hologram layer <NUM> has translucency.

The transparent layer <NUM> is a layer that protects the Lippmann hologram layer <NUM> and also has translucency.

Accordingly, in the area where the Lippmann hologram layer <NUM> is provided, the hologram image <NUM>, the photographic image <NUM> of the laser color development layer <NUM>, and a print information <NUM> of a symbol "△○□" of an offset print layer <NUM> are observed.

In the laser printing process of the card manufacturing process, the heat generated in the laser color development layer <NUM> transfers to the transparent layer <NUM> and then to the Lippmann hologram layer <NUM> (refer to an arrow B240c).

For this reason, the transparent layer <NUM> functions as a thermal insulator like a barrier layer <NUM>, so that the damage to the Lippmann hologram layer <NUM> can be suppressed.

In addition, it was verified that the card <NUM> exhibits the effect of suppressing the damage to the Lippmann hologram layer <NUM> by an actually manufactured trial product.

Claim 1:
A method of manufacturing a laminated body (<NUM>; <NUM>), the method comprising:
providing a base material (<NUM>);
offset printing a print layer (<NUM>) on the base material (<NUM>);
laminating a barrier layer (<NUM>) above the print layer (<NUM>), the barrier layer (<NUM>) having translucency; and
laminating a laser color development layer (<NUM>) above the barrier layer (<NUM>), the laser color development layer (<NUM>) having translucency,
wherein the laser color development layer (<NUM>) is configured to develop color by laser irradiation,
wherein the barrier layer (<NUM>) is configured to suppress damage to the print layer (<NUM>) due to heat generated in the laser color development layer (<NUM>) by laser irradiation, characterized in that the method comprises the step of:
irradiating a laser beam with a dot interval of not less than <NUM> to an area of the laser color development layer (<NUM>) so as to develop print information in the laser color development layer (<NUM>).