Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Methods – Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
Reexamination Certificate
1997-03-04
2001-01-16
Hess, Bruce H. (Department: 1774)
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
Methods
Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
C156S238000, C427S256000, C428S195100, C428S484100, C428S488110, C428S690000, C428S913000, C428S914000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06174400
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to thermal transfer printing media containing near-infrared fluorophores (NIRFS) which may be monomeric, copolymerized or admixed into a carrier polymer/polymer backbone which is incorporated into the wax/thermoplastic resin which forms the thermally meltable ink layer (or printing media layer) on the thermal transfer ribbon.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Thermal transfer printing media and the ribbons used for thermal transfer are well known in the art, Generally the ribbon comprises at least three main layers, a thermally meltable ink layer, a polymer film layer and a heat resistant polymer layer. The compositions of the various layers are described in JP A 3-79,683, (Apr. 4, 1991). However, thermal transfer media or ribbons capable of printing invisible marks are not disclosed.
Thermal transfer ribbons incorporating visible fluorescent dyes or pigments are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,627,997, 4,657,697,4,816,344, 5,089,350 and 5,552,231. Ribbons containing marking compositions, which are invisible to the human eye, are not disclosed.
Thermal transfer ribbons incorporating invisible UV dyes or pigments and visible pigments are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,590. However, thermal transfer ribbons incorporating invisible marking compound which are not visible to the unaided human eye, and particularly invisible near infrared fluorescent compounds are not disclosed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to thermal transfer ribbons comprising a ribbon backing element and at least one printing media layer comprising at least one near infrared fluorescent compound in a concentration which provides detectable fluorescence without imparting color to a mark made from said printing media layer.
The present invention further relates to preparation of printing and marking ribbons consisting of thin film elements with printing media adhered to one side thereof.
Also disclosed is a method for applying a mark comprising at least one invisible near infrared fluorescent compound said method comprising the steps of providing a thermal transfer ribbon comprising a ribbon backing element having coated on one side at least one printing media layer comprising at least one invisible NIRF compound; and contacting the non-coated side of said ribbon backing element with a heating element so as to contact said printing media layer with a print receiving media under conditions sufficient to thermally transfer an image to said print receiving media.
Also disclosed is a method for detecting a thermal transfer mark comprising at least one invisible NIRF compound wherein said method comprises the steps of exciting said at least one invisible NIRF compound having a peak absorbance with radiation focused within 10 nm of said peak absorbance; and detecting fluorescence emitted from said invisible NIRF compound.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3639166 (1972-02-01), Fellows et al.
patent: 3663278 (1972-05-01), Blose et al.
patent: 4255273 (1981-03-01), Sakkaab
patent: 4627997 (1986-12-01), Ide
patent: 4657697 (1987-04-01), Chiang
patent: 4816344 (1989-03-01), Chiang
patent: 5089350 (1992-02-01), Talvalkar et al.
patent: 5126390 (1992-06-01), Duff
patent: 5212558 (1993-05-01), Obata et al.
patent: 5292855 (1994-03-01), Krutak et al.
patent: 5336714 (1994-08-01), Krutak et al.
patent: 5397819 (1995-03-01), Krutak et al.
patent: 5423432 (1995-06-01), Krutak et al.
patent: 5461136 (1995-10-01), Krutak et al.
patent: 5514860 (1996-05-01), Berson
patent: 5516590 (1996-05-01), Olmstead et al.
patent: 5525516 (1996-06-01), Krutak et al.
patent: 5552231 (1996-09-01), Talvalkar et al.
patent: 5553714 (1996-09-01), Cushman et al.
patent: 0 157 568 (1985-10-01), None
patent: 0 420 613 (1991-04-01), None
patent: 0 719 654 (1996-07-01), None
patent: 3-79683 (1991-04-01), None
patent: 81 03507 (1981-12-01), None
patent: 89 00319 (1989-01-01), None
Clauberg Horst
Cyr Michael John
Escano Nelson Zamora
Helton Tony Wayne
Jackson Barbara Crawford
Casperson John R
Davis Mark L.
Hess Bruce H.
Isotag Technology, Inc.
LandOfFree
Near infrared fluorescent security thermal transfer printing... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Near infrared fluorescent security thermal transfer printing..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Near infrared fluorescent security thermal transfer printing... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2471725