Composite document for bearing secure information, apparatus and method for producing such document

Apparatus for assembling composite elements bearing secure information and each comprising a first laminar element having a central region and a peripheral region separable from one another one face of said first laminar element bearing an adhesive material on said peripheral region thereof, and a second laminar element of substantially the same perimetral dimensions as said first laminar element, said apparatus comprising:

• printing means for printing said secure information on one face of said second laminar element;
• means for conveying said first and second laminar elements into face-to-face contact with one another with said one face of said second laminar element facing and in contact with said one face of first laminar element, said conveying means comprising first guide means for guiding only said first laminar element bearing an adhesive from said first storage container to a heater means and second guide means separate and distinct from said first guide means for guiding only the second laminar element from said second storage to said heater means container so that said first laminar element is in a face-to-face relationship with said second laminar element after the secure information has been applied to the said one face of said second laminar element, and
• wherein said heater means heats at least said peripheral region to cause said adhesive thereon to adhere to the contacting part of said one face of said second laminar element, whereby to bond said first and second laminar elements together to form a said composite document.

Apparatus for assembling composite documents beating secure information and comprising a first laminar element having a central region and a peripheral region, and a second laminar element of substantially the same dimensions as the first laminar element and also having a central region and a peripheral region, said peripheral region of said first laminar element having an adhesive material on one face thereof, said apparatus comprising:

• a first storage container for said first laminar elements of said composite documents;
• a second storage container for said second laminar elements of said composite documents,
• printing means for printing said secure information on a central region of one face of said second laminar elements,
• press rolls for pressing said first and second laminar elements together as they pass between said press rolls;
• first guide rollers for directing the path of only said first laminar elements from said first storage container to said press rolls;
• and
• second guide rollers for directing the path of only said second laminar elements from said printing means to said press rolls;
• wherein said first guide rollers are separate and distinct from said second guide rollers.

Apparatus for assembling composite documents bearing secure information, each said document comprising a first laminar element having a central region and a peripheral region separable therefrom, a second laminar element of substantially the same dimensions as said first laminar element and also having a central region and a peripheral region, said apparatus comprising:

• a first storage container for storing a plurality of said first laminar elements,
• a second storage container for storing a plurality of said second laminar elements,
• first guide means for guiding only said first laminar elements one at a time to adhesive applicator means and a combining station,
• second guide means for guiding only said second laminar elements to said combining station at which said first and second laminar elements are superposed in pairs in face-to-face relation with said secure information on a face of a said laminar element facing towards the other said laminar element of said pair thereof and said adhesive sandwiched between said two laminar elements of said pair,
• and adhesive activation means acting to activate said adhesive whereby to bond said two laminar elements of a said pair together to form a said composite document
• wherein said first guide means are separate and distinct from said second guide means.