DE69112823T3 - Fiduciary document or security document with anti-counterfeiting device and method for producing such a document. - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to trust or security documents, and more specifically to documents with a device for protecting them against forgery. The documents concerned are all valuable or trust documents which, due to their nature or the rights they confer, must be protected against forgery, falsification or reproduction. This is the case, for example, with securities, checks and traveller's checks, stamps, credit cards, vouchers or also security documents such as identity cards, passports..., the list being non-limiting.

It has already been proposed to use a metallized thread that is fully or alternately integrated into the paper of a document, where the thread can be coded by a discontinuous coating of a wire made of a non-ferromagnetic material with a ferromagnetic material (see, for example, British Patents Nos. 1 095 286 and 1 127 043).

This method has been used for a long time, but is inevitably always linked to a confirmation of the authenticity of the document by a detector specially adapted to the thread in question and does not allow for an effective prevention of the photocopying of the document: the image of the thread remains extremely thin and not only attracts little attention when examined with the naked eye, but it results in an extremely small reflective surface which causes only minor disturbances in the reproduction of the document.

Various processes have also been proposed, using special inks, in particular inks called alternating effect inks, which have the possibility of changing from a blue to a green colour depending on the tendency of the document, or inks which only cause a colour to appear when exposed to a particular radiation (e.g. UV radiation). Reference can be made, for example, to US Patent No. 4,175,776 and European Patents Nos. 0,327,788 and 0,340,153. These processes are generally complex, so that their use is limited to areas which are very small in size compared to the dimensions of the document.

It has also been suggested that these methods can be combined with an application of transferring a continuous, repeating pattern in stripe form to a part of the document and overprinting that part of the document using a security ink (see, e.g., European Patent No. 0 093 009). Alternatively, to better prevent colour photocopying, it has been suggested that small areas can be overprinted with an ink containing a possibly coloured reflective substance, for example aluminium powder (see, e.g., US Patent Nos. 4 066 280 and 4 352 706).

Methods which involve coating the document with a very thin metal film and then printing and embossing the document may also be mentioned (see, for example, US Patent No. 4,420,515), as well as methods which involve applying holograms to a document (see, for example, French Patent No. 2,535,864, British Patent No. 1,517,840 and US Patent No. 4,171,864), or gravure printing (see, for example, French Patent No. 2,192,496).

Finally, EP-A-0 070 172 discloses a trust or security document according to the preamble of claim 1.

According to this document, a metallic or metallized strip is incorporated into the paper layer, which partially protrudes from the surface to form reflective, lined-up individual elements. These processes undoubtedly allow the attention of a warned observer to be attracted, but they remain relatively complex and do not always effectively prevent the photocopying of the documents in question.

The aim of the invention is to provide a trust or security document whose anti-counterfeiting device is improved over the above-mentioned systems, both with regard to inspection with the naked eye and with regard to modern reproduction methods.

It is a further object of the invention to realize a document that can be easily produced with consistent quality and ensures an increased degree of protection against its reproduction.

It is also the aim of the invention to realize a document in which the device for protection against forgery can also be arranged well and continuously on a narrow, continuous strip of paper, as on already cut sheets, although working on a roll is generally preferred if possible.

Finally, the aim of the invention is to produce a document whose anti-counterfeiting device adheres perfectly to the document and is resistant to wear and/or chemical attack by solvents conventionally used in the printing field.

Accordingly, the invention proposes a trust or security document according to claim 1.

Preferred embodiments of the document are defined in subclaims 2 to 8.

The invention also proposes methods for producing such a document, which are the subject of claims 9, 10, 11 and 15.

Preferred embodiments of these methods are defined in claims 12 to 14 and 16, 17.

Further features and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly in the light of the following description and the accompanying drawings, which relate to a particular embodiment.

Show it:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a document with a device according to the invention for protection against forgery;

Fig. 2 two individual reflective elements as part of the aforementioned device for protection against counterfeiting on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of the elements from Fig. 2, in which the outline of the individual reflective elements is rectangular;

Fig. 4a and 4b two sections along the line IV-IV in Fig. 1, showing two different embodiments, without and with protective varnish respectively;

Fig. 5a and 5b two cross-sections showing the multilayer structure of two different embodiments of an initial carrier tape according to the invention, the carrier tape being used for transferring the anti-counterfeiting device, respectively without and with the protective varnish (these figures are therefore to be compared with Fig. 4a and 4b above, which show the document after transferring the anti-counterfeiting device);

Fig. 6 is a schematic representation of the continuous transmission of the device for protection against counterfeiting, whereby it is guided through two cylinders, of which one cylinder is a printing cylinder and one cylinder is a heating counter-pressure cylinder;

Fig. 7 a side view of the aforementioned cylinders, between which a continuous

paper strip is passed through and the output carrier tape carries the anti-counterfeiting device to be transferred;

Fig. 8 and 9 two embodiments of Fig. 7 with a printing cylinder with a discontinuous and a continuous pressure track;

Fig. 10 is an overall view of a machine which advantageously serves to effect a

continuous transfer of the anti-counterfeiting device to a paper strip that is continuously moving through the machine.

Fig. 1 shows a document D, here in the form of a rectangular sheet, which comprises a device according to the invention for protection against forgery.

According to a feature essential to the invention, the device for protection against forgery is in the form of a discontinuous reflective surface 100, which is formed by a sequence of individual reflective elements 101 and is aligned according to a general direction DG of orientation, which is predetermined with respect to the edges 11, 12 of the document.

As will be described in more detail below, the reflective individual elements 101 are applied by transfer (preferably by hot stamping) to a surface 10 of the document D. Furthermore, each reflective individual element 101 has both a dimension, along a direction transverse to the general direction DG, of several millimetres and an optimum compactness for a given reflection area, determined by means of a coefficient corresponding to the reflection surface/perimeter ratio, such that the reflection phenomenon is clearly visible to the naked eye and dazzles the known optical analysis and reproduction systems, in particular by a high reflectivity and relatively large reflection surfaces. Any value corresponding to at least 0.5 mm is considered satisfactory for the above-mentioned ratio.

This document D comprises a printed graphic device G and a discontinuous reflection surface 100, the general direction DG of which is parallel to the short edge 11 of the document. Such an arrangement is of course nothing more than a possible example, but the orientation chosen parallel to an edge of the document, here the short side, is advantageous when it is intended to guide the document through an automatic processing machine, the document moving parallel to one of its edges.

Each individual element 101 can thus form a mirror capable of reflecting all visible wavelengths. Accordingly, it is preferred that the reflecting individual elements 101 are formed by a thin metal layer, preferably by a thin aluminum layer. This layer can, for example, have a thickness of the order of 0.5 µm. The choice of aluminum is advantageous because of its very high reflection coefficient, but it is obvious to choose other metals, such as chromium, for example. The reflection coefficient formed by at least some of the The mirror formed by individual reflecting elements 101 is complete or flat, without being interrupted by elements that at least partially cover the mirror.

The discontinuous surface 100, formed by a plurality of individual reflecting elements 101, allows a significant disturbance of the analysis or reproduction systems due to the large size of each of the individual reflecting elements 101 in a direction transverse to the general direction DG. In this context, it should be noted that the known method of alternating incorporation of a metal strip did not allow a strip with a width greater than one millimeter to be produced. In this case, by means of a transfer process, it is possible to use a discontinuous surface whose width exceeds 3 mm and can even go up to 10 mm.

Furthermore, still to maximize the disturbance of the analysis or reproduction system, each reflecting element 101 must have an optimal compactness for a given reflection surface. This means that the surface area of each reflecting element 101 is as large as possible for a given circumference, or that the largest circle inscribed in the circumference of a reflecting element is maximized for a given reflection surface.

Fig. 2 shows two individual reflecting elements 101 on an enlarged scale, which are part of a device for protection against counterfeiting 100, each individual reflecting element in this case having a contour C in the form of a quadrilateral, and more precisely the form of a parallelogram. Each individual reflecting element 101 is on distributed discontinuously between two lines 105, 106 parallel to the general direction DG of the discontinuous surface. In an alternative configuration, as shown in Fig. 3, it is possible to use a contour C in the shape of a rectangle, one edge of which (in this case the edge 103) is parallel to the general direction DG. The embodiment of Fig. 2 is, however, preferred in that it makes it possible to have a short attack edge at an end point of each reflective element and thus makes it possible to resist the risk of detachment of metal particles transferred to the document. In the case of Fig. 2, the edge 103 of each reflective element 101 is parallel to the general direction DG with a dimension L preferably in the range of 2 to 10 mm, while the short edge 104 is inclined at a given angle with respect to the general direction, which angle is preferably close to 45°. The dimensions of the rectangular individual reflecting elements shown in Fig. 3 are preferably identical to those given above, with a width 1 in the order of 2 to 10 mm (this width corresponds to the distance between the contour lines 105, 106) and a length L in the order of 2 to 10 mm. These dimensions are selected so that a minimum surface area of 100 mm² is given for each individual reflecting element.

Such individual reflecting elements make it possible to obtain an extremely satisfactory reflection coefficient of the mirror reflection, since the effective width of each of these elements is relatively large, and the effective width is also significantly larger than that with a band alternately incorporated into the paper of the document.

Fig. 1 shows the existence of a discontinuous surface 100 constituting the anti-counterfeiting device on a face 10 of the document D, but it is obvious that an anti-counterfeiting device can be provided on each side of the document, each anti-counterfeiting device being in the form of a discontinuous reflective surface and the two devices then preferably being constituted by identical individual reflective elements 101. This makes it possible to produce a reflection phenomenon which, regardless of the orientation of the document, is clearly visible to the naked eye and blinds known optical analysis or reproduction systems.

As previously stated, the sequence of individual reflective elements 101 is applied to a surface of the document by transfer, preferably by hot stamping. The application by direct transfer to a surface of the document can be carried out continuously, so that the spaces 102 between adjacent individual reflective elements 101 comprise a non-reflective, but nevertheless visible, coating originating from the starting carrier strip with a discontinuous pattern to be transferred. Fig. 6 shows schematically a continuous transfer of this type of device for protection against counterfeiting (the pattern of which is discontinuous here) by passing between two cylinders, a printing cylinder and a heating counter-pressure cylinder.

Fig. 6 shows a reel 310 from which a strip of paper P is unwound, which passes through successive rollers 311, 312 and 313 before arriving between a printing cylinder 300 and a heating impression cylinder 301. An initial carrier tape F bearing the pattern to be transferred is unwound from a reel 314 to pass equally between the cylinders 300 and 301, the two strips P and F thus being pressed against each other using a given temperature to hot-stamp the discontinuous pattern to produce the desired discontinuous reflective surface 100 with its sequence of individual reflective elements 101. Downstream of the transfer, the carrier strip F, or more precisely the part remaining therefrom, is wound onto a reel 315. In this case, two smooth cylinders 300 and 301 are used, as can be seen in Fig. 7. This ensures a transfer with clean edges without embossing the paper. However, after transfer, the paper is highly satined (its smoothness is essentially multiplied by 5), the thickness of the paper has decreased (essentially by 10%) and the paper is very slightly elongated in the direction of travel (an elongation of the order of 2º/00 will usually occur). If the document also has a watermark, which is particularly the case with banknotes, then the watermark will have lost its sharpness after the transfer of the discontinuous reflection pattern.

It is possible to improve the transfer of the discontinuous pattern by providing a slightly different printing cylinder, as shown in Fig. 9. In this case, the printing cylinder 302 actually comprises a continuous printing track 303 which forms the output carrier strip F is pressed against the paper strip P which rests on the heating impression cylinder 301. This then retains the advantage of a transfer with clean edges and without embossing of the paper, but this arrangement ensures, due to the locally applied pressure, that the paper is not satin-finished and that the sharpness of the watermark is preserved, if the latter is provided.

However, it is also possible to use an output carrier strip that has a continuous reflective band to be transferred to the document.

In this case, it is possible to either choose a continuous transfer of the continuous reflective tape to the paper and then subsequently provide for a special treatment of the transferred, continuous reflective tape to produce the gaps between adjacent individual elements, or, in an alternative embodiment of the treatment, it is possible to provide for the transfer of areas of the continuous reflective tape to directly produce the gaps between adjacent individual elements.

If the method used is a continuous application of a continuous reflective tape, then it is possible to create the gaps 102 between the adjacent individual elements 101 by printing a discontinuous pattern with white ink on the transferred reflective tape, or, in an alternative method, it is possible to To create gaps by partially dissolving the transferred reflective tape.

In the case of discontinuous application, as shown in Fig. 8, it is possible to provide that the discontinuous character of the pattern results from the starting carrier strip F, whereby a continuous reflective tape and the paper strip P are pressed between a printing cylinder 304 with a discontinuous pressure track 305 and a heated impression cylinder 301. The discontinuous character of the pattern then results from knurling by the discontinuous pressure track 305 on the continuous reflective tape. However, it is difficult to avoid flakes of the reflective material being accidentally torn off at the contour boundaries of the individual reflective elements, which flakes can disturb a subsequent offset printing of the document. It is easy to understand that the transfer of a discontinuous band by means of a continuous printing cylinder (Fig. 7) or by means of a cylinder with a continuous pressure track (Fig. 9) makes it possible to avoid the formation of such flakes of reflecting material.

In a variant of the rotary type direct transfer described just above, it is of course possible to provide for a direct transfer resulting from stamping the initial carrier strip for application to a sheet of paper within a framework of the process for transferring it to a sheet. This procedure, which is not shown here, is well known to the person skilled in the art of printing and may involve the transfer of a continuous reflective band to the paper (in which case the The application stamp is preferably continuous if the process involves subsequent printing using a white ink on the transferred continuous reflective tape, or it is discontinuous if such operations are to be avoided), as well as the transfer of a discontinuous reflective tape (in which case the application stamp is preferably continuous).

The multilayer structure of the starting carrier strip according to the invention will now be described, wherein the carrier strip used is used for transferring the anti-counterfeiting device and this can be applied with respect to a continuous or discontinuous pattern to be transferred.

The cross-section shown in Fig. 5a shows a starting carrier strip F which comprises in succession an upper layer 200 serving as a carrier, a layer 202 of a wax or hot-melt adhesive, a very thin metal layer 201, for example aluminum, forming the reflective band to be transferred, and finally a layer 203 of a hot-melt adhesive. The layer 200 is preferably made of a plastic material and is for example a layer of polyester 10 to 15 µm thick, while the metal layer is of the order of a few hundredths of a micrometer, for example 0.5 µm. The wax or adhesive corresponding to the thickness 202 serves to ensure secure separation between the polyester layer 200 and the metal layer 201 during hot stamping and is of the order of 2 to 5 µm thick. The adhesive forming the layer 203 serves to ensure the adhesion between the metal layer 201 and the paper and its thickness is also in the Order of magnitude of 5 µm. It is advantageous to provide that the material forming the layer 202 melts at a temperature T1 lower than the temperature T2 at which the adhesive layer 203 melts, in order to achieve separation of the metal layer 201 from the polyester layer 200 shortly before the transfer of the metal layer. The transfer is effected, for example, using temperatures in the range 110 to 150ºC. After transfer, the document appears in cross-section as shown in Fig. 4a: it is thus possible to see a series of individual reflecting elements 101 separated from one another by gaps 102, and also traces 203' left by the adhesive 203 which have penetrated into the paper just below the upper surface of the document. The gaps 102 between adjacent individual elements 101 comprise a non-reflective, but nevertheless visible coating originating from the starting carrier strip F with the discontinuous pattern to be transferred. The non-reflective coating in this case contains the hot-melt adhesive 203', but possibly also a protective lacquer, as described below in another embodiment.

Fig. 5b shows a carrier strip F with a multilayer structure, which is more complex than the one described above in that two protective lacquer layers are provided.

This structure again contains the upper polyester layer 200 serving as a carrier and the layers 202 and 203 of hot-melt adhesive, with a material selection for the latter such that the adhesion to the paper is stronger than the adhesion to the polyester carrier. Accordingly, the layer 201 corresponding metallized zone between two layers of varnish 204 and 205, the thickness of which is in the order of 1 to 5 µm. The upper layer of varnish 204 enables the individual reflecting elements 101 to be protected with a high degree of resistance to abrasion and solvents. The lower layer of varnish 205 also protects the metallized zone corresponding to layer 201 by preventing the penetration of metal particles into the paper during transfer. After transfer, the document appears as shown in the cross-section in Fig. 4b: as before, there are again individual reflecting elements 101 separated from one another by gaps 102 and traces of adhesive 203' coming from layer 203. However, unlike the cross-section shown in Fig. 4a, Fig. 4b now shows a protective film formed by layers of varnish 204 and 205, the upper layer corresponding to the layer protecting the entire discontinuous reflection surface. In this case, the gaps 102 contain a non-reflective coating, clearly visible to the naked eye, which contains protective varnish and traces of hot melt adhesive. It should be noted, however, that the thickness of the varnishes has decreased during transfer due to the pressure and temperature developed.

In the case of discontinuous application of the reflective individual elements by direct transfer to a surface of the document, the gaps 102 between adjacent individual elements are practically free of any coating.

In order to continue to provide maximum interference to optical analysis or reproduction systems, an interesting proposal is to use the largest possible number of reflective individual elements 101 for a given dimension of the document. The space between adjacent individual elements will therefore be of the order of a fraction of the length of the contour of these elements, as viewed in an orientation running along the general direction DG. Thus, for a rectangular document such as a banknote, which has a width of the order of 80 mm, it is possible to provide at least five reflective individual elements for constructing the discrete reflection surface for forming the anti-counterfeiting device.

With reference to Fig. 10, a machine is now described which can advantageously be used to transfer the anti-counterfeiting device according to the invention to a paper strip in continuous flow.

The transfer machine 400 comprises a frame structure 406 supporting a paper reel 401 from which a paper strip is unwound. The paper strip first passes through a series of rollers forming part of a structure 402 for regulating tension in the strip, and then travels to a location of a structure 403 which provides a lateral guide for correctly positioning the paper strip P before it travels on to transfer the anti-counterfeiting device. The machine has at least one film reel 430 on which is wound the initial carrier strip carrying the anti-counterfeiting device to be transferred. In this case, four reels 430 are provided to allow simultaneous transfer of four reflective strips on a given paper width corresponding to that of the strip wound on the reel 401. The paper strip P and the output carrier strip meet at a guide roller 404, against the circumference of which they are correctly pressed by a roller 405 arranged downstream.

The two strips P and F thus reach the actual transfer station, which is formed by a hot stamping assembly with a cylinder 407 heated, for example, by hot water circulation, the associated circuit not being shown here. The two strips are pressed against a substantial part of the surface of the heating cylinder 407 by a system of pressure rollers 408 supported by movable supports 409; Fig. 10 shows the two positions of the roller assembly 408, the operating position corresponding to the pressing of the rollers against the surface of the cylinder 407, while the rest position corresponds to the initial insertion of the two strips P and F under the cylinder. The movement from one position to the other is effected by means of pressure devices 410 and 411, which allow the supports 409 supporting the rollers 408 to be raised or lowered.

Downstream of the transfer station, the paper strip (onto which the reflective surface has been transferred) and the remaining part of the initial carrier strip (the remaining strip then comprising only the polyester layer which served as a carrier) pass around a first cooling roller 414, against which they are pressed by a pressure roller 412 carried by an articulated lever 413, the position of the lever being controlled by an associated actuator 427. The two strips also pass around a second cooling cylinder 415, the two strips engaging the two cooling cylinders in an S-shaped configuration to obtain satisfactory strip contact and closure, as is well known in the printing art. The cooling cylinders 414 and 415 are cooled, for example, by cold water, the associated circuit not being shown here. The paper strip P carrying the anti-counterfeiting device 100 then passes around a structure 418 serving as a tension regulator for rewinding and then moves against a guide cylinder 431 against which it is pressed by a roller 419 carried by an articulated lever 425, the position of the lever being controlled by an associated actuator 426. The paper strip P carrying the anti-counterfeiting device 100 then passes through a lateral guide structure 420 to reach a cutting station where a plurality of adjacent parallel strips, for example four strips, each comprising a reflective band (continuous or discontinuous), can be cut lengthwise: the cutting station, which is of course by no means obligatory, is formed by a support roller 422 and cutting rollers 421. The cut strips finally pass around guide rollers 423 before being finally wound onto a reel 424.

The remaining part of the carrier strip (the polyester film 200 which has served as a carrier), after passing around the cooling cylinder 415, passes around a guide roller 416 before finally arriving at a station 417 for rewinding the polyester film 200.

It is obvious that other types of machines can be considered for transferring the continuous or discontinuous reflective tape, but the transfer station described above makes it possible to obtain particularly satisfactory results. In this context, reference is made to European Patent No. 0 089 494, which describes a device of this type for hot stamping.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments just described, but on the contrary includes any alternative variant which, with equivalent means, achieves the essential characteristics set out above.

Claims (17)

1. Trust or security document (D) which has a device for protection against forgery in the form of a discontinuous, reflective surface (101) which is formed by a sequence of reflective individual elements (101) which are aligned according to a predetermined general direction (DG), each reflective individual element (101) simultaneously having a dimension of - transverse to the general direction - at least 3 mm and an optimal compactness for a given reflection surface, ie a coefficient of at least 0.5 mm corresponding to the area/perimeter ratio of the given reflection surface, characterized in that each reflective individual element (101) forms a uniform mirror which is able to reflect all visible wavelengths, at least the mirrors formed by certain of the reflective individual elements being full-surface, that the reflective elements are transfer elements and are transferred from a carrier tape (F) to a surface of the document in a transfer process, and that the reflective elements (101) have a contour (C) in the form of a quadrilateral, the length of the outline - viewed in a direction parallel to the general direction (DG) of alignment - of each of the S reflective elements (101) being between 4 and 10 mm. 2. Document according to claim 1, characterized in that each individual reflective element (101) is covered by a protective varnish (204) against abrasion and solvent. 3. Document according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the reflective individual elements (101) are formed by a metal layer, preferably an aluminum layer. 4. Document according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the contour (C) has the shape of a rectangle, one edge (103) of which runs parallel to the general direction (DG) of the alignment of the individual reflecting elements (101). 5. Document according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the contour (C) has the shape of a parallelogram, one side (103) of which runs parallel to the general direction (DG) of the alignment of the individual reflecting elements (101). 6. Document according to claim 5, characterized in that the other side (104) of the parallelogram is inclined at a predetermined angle (a) with respect to the general direction (DG) of alignment, this angle preferably being approximately 45º. 7. Document according to one of claims 1 to 6, which has a rectangular shape, characterized in that the general direction (DG) of the alignment of the reflective individual elements (101) runs parallel to the small edge (11) of the document. 8. Document according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it has on its two surfaces a device for protection against forgery, which is in the form of a discontinuous, reflective surface (100), the two devices preferably being formed by identical individual reflective elements (101). 9. A method for producing a document according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the individual reflecting elements (101) are transferred to the surface (10) of the document (D) by direct and continuous transfer from an initial carrier tape (F) which has a discontinuous pattern of individual reflecting elements (101), in such a way that the spaces (102) between adjacent individual elements (101) carry a non-reflective, but nevertheless visible, cover applied to the document (D). 10. Method for producing a document according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the individual reflective elements (101) are applied to the surface (10) of the document (D) by direct and continuous transfer from an initial carrier tape (F) which has a continuous reflective strip, the spaces between adjacent individual elements (101) being created after the transfer by printing a discontinuous motif on the continuous reflective strip with white ink. 11. Method for producing a document according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the individual reflective elements (101) are applied to the surface (10) of the document (D) by direct and continuous transfer from an initial carrier tape (F) which has a continuous reflective strip, 1, the spaces between adjacent individual elements (101) being formed by partial detachment of the reflective layer after transfer of the continuous reflective strip to the surface (10) of the document. 12. Method according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the reflective elements (101) are transferred directly from the carrier tape (F) to a paper document (D) by (F) and a paper tape (P) passes between a pressure cylinder (3ßß) and a heated counterpressure cylinder (301). 13. Method according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the reflective elements (101) are transferred directly from the carrier tape (F) to a paper document (D) by passing the starting carrier tape (F) and a paper tape (p) between a printing cylinder (302) with a continuous pressure track (303) and a heated impression cylinder (301). 14. Method according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the reflective elements (101) are transferred directly from the carrier tape (F) to a paper document (D) by embossing the starting carrier tape (F) onto a sheet of paper using a continuous transfer matrix. 15. A method for producing a document according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the individual reflecting elements (101) are applied in a discontinuous manner by direct transfer to a surface (10) of the document (D) in such a way that such that the gaps (102) between adjacent individual elements (101) are left without any covering. 16. Method according to claim 15, characterized in that - to produce a discontinuous pattern - an initial carrier tape (F) which carries a continuous, reflective strip and a paper tape forming the document (D) are allowed to run between a printing cylinder (304) with a discontinuous pressure track (305) and a heated impression cylinder (301). 17. Method according to claim 15, characterized in that - to produce a discontinuous pattern - a starting carrier tape (F) provided with a reflective strip is embossed onto a paper sheet using a matrice for discontinuous application.