Two-step method of coating an article for security printing

• US 20060194040A1
• Filed: 05/01/2006
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Viavi Solutions, Inc. (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Viavi Solutions, Inc. (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Teitelbaum, Neil, Raksha, Vladimir P., Coombs, Paul G., Markantes, Charles T., Argoitia, Alberto
• Granted Patent: US 7,674,501 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/323
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 3/207 post-treatment by magnetic fields
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 5/06 to obtain multicolour or other optical effects B05D5/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 7/52 Two layers
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/14 Security printing securities B42D25/29
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2033/16 Magnetic or magnetisable material
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/24 Colours
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/328 Diffraction gratings; Holograms
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/369 Magnetised or magnetisable materials
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/14 displaying different signs depending upon the view-point of the observer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/25 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and including a second component containing structurally defined particles

Abstract

A two-step method of making of a security printed image is disclosed and includes coating of the surface of a substrate with a predetermined image shape with an ink containing flaked magnetic pigment in a predetermined concentration, exposing a wet printed image to a magnetic field to align magnetic particles in a predetermined manner, allowing the ink to cure, and coating the substrate with a second printed image on the top of the first image. The second printed image with the same or different image shape is printed with another ink containing clear or dyed ink vehicle mixed with flaked magnetic pigment in a low concentration, exposed to the magnetic field of the same or different configuration as the first printed image and cured until the ink is dry.

Claims

1. A method of coating an article comprising the steps of:

applying a first field orientable coating to a first side of a substrate and using a magnetic or electric field to orient flakes within the coating along the magnetic field lines; and

, after the first coating has cured, subsequently applying a second magnetic coating over the first coating or over the second side of the substrate and using a magnetic or electric field to orienting flakes within the second coating along the magnetic field lines.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the magnetic field for orienting the flakes within the first magnetic coating is a first magnetic field and wherein the first magnetic field is used to orient flakes within the second coating.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the magnetic field for orienting the flakes within the first magnetic coating is a first magnetic field and wherein the magnetic field used to orient flakes within the second coating is a second magnetic field.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field are generated by different magnets or different magnetic generating systems.

5. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein one of the first and second coatings are of different concentrations.

6. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein one of the first and second coatings includes multilayer optically variable flakes and wherein the other of the coatings includes diffractive flakes, wherein as at least some of the diffractive flakes have a surface relief pattern formed therein.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein a two stage manufacturing process is utilized.

14. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein the first and second coatings include diffractive flakes, having a surface relief pattern formed therein or thereon, and wherein flakes in the first coating are oriented along their surface relief pattern in a different orientation than diffractive flakes in the second coating.

8. A method of creating an image comprising the steps of:

applying at a first coating over a first side of a substrate;

providing a magnetic field to align particles within the first coating in a predetermined manner;

allowing the first coating to cure or dry; and

,

applying a second coating over the first coating or over a second side of the substrate and, providing a magnetic field before the second coating is cured or dried so as to align particles within the second coating.

9. An image having a first optical feature that changes in appearance with a change in viewing angle or change in incident light upon the image;

and having a second optical feature, independent from the first optical feature that changes in appearance with a change in viewing angle or change in incident light upon the image, wherein the first feature includes a first coating of magnetically aligned flakes, and wherein the second feature includes a second coating of magnetically aligned flakes oriented differently than the flakes of the first coating.

10. A method of forming an image on a substrate comprising the steps of:

applying a first optical effect coating to a first side of the substrate and using a magnetic or electric field to orient flakes within the coating independence upon the field; and

,

applying a second optical effect coating over the first coating or over the second side of the substrate, wherein effects of both coatings, or combined effects can be seen from at least one side of the substrate.

11. A substrate supporting an image comprised of:

a first coating of aligned optical flakes that provide a change in color, reflectance diffraction with a change in viewing angle, wherein the substrate further supports a second coating having optically distinguishable features thereon, the first and second coatings being visible from at least one side of the substrate.

12. A substrate as defined in claim 11, wherein the second coating is a coating of aligned optical flakes.

13. A substrate as defined in claim 12, wherein the first and second coatings each form a distinct image, wherein each distinct image is formed by magnetically aligning optical flakes.