Method and apparatus for manufacturing security strips

Claim 3

A method according to claim 1,characterized in that weakened zones (31), extending transversely of the continuous strip assembly (200) are made, spaced according to a desired length of the security strip, thus enabling the continuous strip assembly to be divided into security strips (200) of a desired length.

Claim 4

A method according to claim 1, characterized in that notches (30) are formed in a central region of the continuous strip assembly (200) which notches allow optical scanning in automatic labelling devices.

Claim 5

A method according to claim 2, wherein the weakened zones areequally spaced along the length of the continuous strip assembly (200).

Claim 6

Apparatus for manufacturing security strips containing magnetizeable components comprising: a) supply reels (19, 14, 15) for supplying respectively, a carrier band (11) having a double-sided adhesive film (11'), a soft magnetic band (16) and a cover band (17), and means for causing periodic progressive movement of the carrier band (11) and continuous progressive movement of the other bands (16, 17): b) at least one further supply reel (12) for supplying a strip (13) of hard magnetic material, a respective deflecting device (12") associated with each further supply reel (12) and a cutting and contact pressure device (18), which. ensure that the strip (13) which is periodically drawn off from the further supply reel (12) is deflected in such a way that it runs parallel with the self-adhesive film of the carrier band, is then cut off piece by piece into strip sections or elements (13') and is.pressed against the self-adhesive film of the carrier band (11) so that it adheres thereto; c) contra-rotating rollers (105) to which the soft magnetic band (16, 17), the cover band (11) and the band carrying the strip sections or elements (13') are fed and superimposed, for the purpose of combining them to form a security strip (200) assembly; and d) a take up reel (108) for receiving the manufactured security strip assembly (200).

Claim 7

Apparatus for manufacturing security strips containing magnetizeable components comprising: a) supply reels (19, 14, 15) for supplying respectively, a carrier band (11) having a double-sided adhesive film (11'), a soft magnetic band (16) and a cover band (17), and means for causing periodic progressive movement of the carrier band (11) and continuous progressive movement of the other bands (16, 17): b) at least one further supply reel (12) for supplying a strip (13) of hard magnetic material, a respective deflecting device (12") associated with each further supply reel (12) and a cutting and contact pressure device (18), which. ensure that the strip (13) which is periodically drawn off from the further supply reel (12) is deflected in such a way that it runs parallel with the self-adhesive film of the carrier band, is then cut off piece by piece into strip sections or elements (13') and is.pressed against the self-adhesive film of the carrier band (11) so that it adheres thereto; c) contra-rotating rollers (105) to which the soft magnetic band (16, 17), the cover band (11) and the band carrying the strip sections or elements (13') are fed and superimposed, for the purpose of combining them to form a security strip (200) assembly; and d) a take up reel (108) for receiving the manufactured security strip assembly (200).

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that a plurality of said further supply reels (12) are provided, whereby after each progressive movement of the carrier band (11), a plurality of strip sections or elements (13') are applied to the self-adhesive film (11') on the carrier band (11).

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that there is provided a perforating device (100) which provides the carrier band (11) with perforations (21) along at least one side edge (20).

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that means for producing weakened zones are provided along the path of movement of said carrier band beyond said contra-rotating rollers.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said means for producing weakened zones comprises a punch.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said means for producing weakened zones comprises a rotating blade.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that for the purpose of testing the magnetic properties of the soft magnetic band (16) there is provided a checking device (107) through which the band passes before being combined with the remaining components of the security strip assembly (200), and which is arranged to stop the apparatus upon detection of deviations of the material properties of the soft magnetic band (16) from prescribed parameters._

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that a demagnetizing device (109) is provided through which the manufactured security strip (200) assembly passes before it is wound onto a supply reel (108), in order to remove any magnetizing conditions which may have been caused during manufacture.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising an alarm which is activated when the apparatus is stopped.

Claim 18

A method according to claim 14 wherein said elements of said magnetically hard magnetizable material are separated from continuous bands at spaced apart depositing stations arranged along the path of movement of said carrier band.

Claim 19

A method according to claim 15 wherein said continuous bandsare advanced from supply rolls by amounts corresponding to the length of said elements and positioned adjacent said carrier band before said elements are separated from their respective continuous bands.

Claim 20

A method according to claim 16 wherein said elements are separated from said continuous bands by causing an end portion of said continuous bands to project from a deflecting element and then pressing down on the end portion.

Claim 21

A method according to claim 14 wherein said elongated carrier band is advanced intermittently by a distance equal to the length of security strips being manufactured.

Claim 22

A method according to claim 18 wherein there are simultaneously deposited a number of magnetically hard magnetizable elements corresponding to the number of such elements or the individual security strips being manufactured.

Claim 23

A method according to claim 19 wherein the magnetically hard . magnetizable strips are deposited at locations along the path of movement of said carrier band which are separated by an amount equal to (N-1)/N times the length of the security strips being manufactured where N is the number of elements on each security strip.

Claim 24

A method according to claim 19 wherein the magnetically hard magnetizable strips are deposited at locations along the path of movement of said carrier band which are separated by an amount equal to (N+1)/N times the length of the security strips being manufactured where N is the number of elements on each security strip.

Claim 25

A method according to claim 14 wherein a cover strip is adhesively applied to said carrier strip to cover said continuous strip of said magnetically soft material and said magnetically hard magnetizable elements.

Claim 26

Apparatus for manufacturing security strips containing magnetically hard magnetizable elements spaced apart along a length of magnetically soft material, said apparatus comprising: means for intermittently advancing an elongated carrier band having adhesive along one side, along a given path; a plurality of depositing stations arranged in spaced apart relation along said path, said depositing stations being operative to deposit elements of said magnetically hard magnetizable material onto said carrier band when said carrier band is stationary between successive intermittent advancements thereof; and means for applying a continuous strip of said magnetically soft material to said carrier band.

Claim 27

Apparatus for manufacturing security strips containing magnetically hard magnetizable elements spaced apart along a length of magnetically soft material, said apparatus comprising: means for intermittently advancing an elongated carrier band having adhesive along one side, along a given path; a plurality of depositing stations arranged in spaced apart relation along said path, said depositing stations being operative to deposit elements of said magnetically hard magnetizable material onto said carrier band when said carrier band is stationary between successive intermittent advancements thereof; and means for applying a continuous strip of said magnetically soft material to said carrier band.

Claim 28

Apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said depositing stations include associated reels containing continuous bands of said magnetically hard magnetizable material and wherein said depositing stations further include separation means for separating elements from the ends of said continuous bands and depositing same onto said carrier strip.

Claim 29

Apparatus according to claim 24 wherein said depositing stations include deflecting elements arranged to guide said bands so that an end portion thereof projects out from said deflecting elements toward said carrier band and wherein said separation means each comprise a plunger arranged to press down on said end of the band adjacent its associated deflecting elements.

Claim 30

Apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said means for intermittently advancing an elongated carrier band comprises means to advance the carrier band by distance equal to the length of said security strips.

Claim 31

Apparatus according to claim 26 wherein there are provided a number.of depositing stations corresponding to the number of elements of magnetically hard magnetizable material to be placed on each security strip.

Claim 32

Apparatus according to claim 27 wherein said depositing stations are spaced apart from each other along said given path by an amount equal to (N-1)/N times the length of said security strips, whereNis the number of elements on each security strip.

Claim 33

Apparatus according to claim 27 wherein said depositing stations are spaced apart from each other along said given path by an amount equal to (N+1)/N times the length of said security strips, where N is the number of elements on each security strip.

Claim 34

Apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said apparatus further includes means for adhesively applying a cover strip to cover said continuous strip of said magnetically soft material and said magnetically hard magnetizable elements.