Process for printing a fluorescent security feature on identification cards and cards produced therefrom

• US 20030107639A1
• Filed: 12/11/2002
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gary Field
• Original Assignee: Gary Field
• Inventors: Field, Gary
• Application Number:
  US10/316,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20030107639A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/105
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/0015 for treating before, during or after printing or for uniform coating or laminating the copy material before or after printing selective coating B41J2/2114
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/12 specially adapted for small cards, envelopes, or the like , e.g. credit cards, cut visiting cards
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/325 by selective transfer of ink from ink carrier, e.g. from ink ribbon or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/33 Thermal printer with pre-coating or post-coating ribbon system
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/34 Thermal printer with pre-coating or post-processing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/35 Thermal printing on id card
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/14 Security printing securities B42D25/29
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/144 using fluorescent, luminescent or iridescent effects
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 7/0027 using protective coatings or layers by lamination or by fusion of the coatings or layers
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 7/0036 using protective coatings or layers dried without curing

Abstract

A thermal transfer printing process for making identification cards is provided. The process involves printing indicia onto a dye-receptive surface of a card substrate. The indicia is printed in a processed color generated from a combination of yellow, magenta, and cyan dyes. An overlay coating is applied in precise registration with selected print indicia to form indicia having latent fluorescent properties. The printed indicia is visible in ordinary light and exhibits a bright, distinctive fluorescent glow when irradiated with ultraviolet light (black light). The invention also includes the identification cards produced by this process. The process can be used to produce cards such as licenses, employee badges, student cards, bank cards, and the like having unique security features.

Claims

1. A process for thermal transfer printing an identification card, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a card substrate having a thermal transfer dye-receptive surface;

b) printing indicia onto a selected portion of the dye-receptive surface, said indicia printed in a processed color achieved from a combination of at least two dyes selected from the group consisting of yellow, magenta, and cyan dyes; and

c) applying a transparent overlay coating in registration with the printed indicia to form indicia having latent fluorescent properties.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the card substrate is in the form of a paper.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein the card substrate is in the form of a film.

4. The process of claim 3, wherein the film comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyesters, vinyls polyamides, polyolefins, polyacrylates, polyimides, polystyrenes, polysulfones, aramids, polycarbonates, and celluloses.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein the surface of the card substrate is coated with a resin selected from the group consisting of polyesters, vinyls, polyamides, polyolefins, polyacrylates, polyimides, polystyrenes, polycarbonates, celluloses, and mixtures thereof.

6. The process of claim 1, wherein the processed color is achieved from a combination of yellow, magenta, and cyan dyes.

7. The process of claim 6, wherein the processed color is black.

8. The process of claim 1, wherein the processed color is achieved from a combination of yellow and magenta dyes.

9. The process of claim 1, wherein the processed color is achieved from a combination of yellow and cyan dyes.

10. The process of claim 1, wherein the processed color is achieved from a combination of magenta and cyan dyes.

11. The process of claim 1, wherein the overlay coating comprises a resin selected from the group consisting of polyester, polystyrene, acrylics, polyurethane, polysiloxane, and mixtures thereof.

12. A process for thermal transfer printing an identification card, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a card substrate having a thermal transfer dye-receptive surface;

b) printing indicia onto a selected portion of the dye-receptive surface, said indicia printed in a processed color achieved from a combination of at least two dyes selected from the group consisting of yellow, magenta, and cyan dyes;

c) applying a transparent overlay coating in registration with the printed indicia to form indicia having latent fluorescent properties; and

d) irradiating the overlay coating and printed indicia with ultraviolet light so that the indicia fluoresces.

13. An identification card having printed indicia with latent fluorescent properties produced by a process, comprising the steps of:

a) thermal transfer printing indicia onto a selected portion of a dye-receptive surface of a card substrate, said indicia printed in a processed color achieved from a combination of at least two dyes selected from the group consisting of yellow, magenta, and cyan dyes; and

b) applying a transparent overlay coating in registration with the printed indicia to form indicia having latent fluorescent properties.

14. The identification card of claim 13, wherein the card is a license.

15. The identification card of claim 13, wherein the card is a credit card.

16. The identification card of claim 13, wherein the processed color is achieved from a combination of yellow, magenta, and cyan dyes.

17. The identification card of claim 16, wherein the processed color is black.

18. The identification card of claim 13, wherein the processed color is achieved from a combination of yellow and magenta dyes.

19. The identification card of claim 13, wherein the processed color is achieved from a combination of yellow and cyan dyes.

20. The identification card of claim 13, wherein the processed color is achieved from a combination of magenta and cyan dyes.

21. The identification card of claim 13, wherein the overlay coating comprises a resin selected from the group consisting of polyester, polystyrene, acrylics, polyurethane, polysiloxane, and mixtures thereof.