METHODS OF FORMING SHEETING WITH COMPOSITE IMAGES THAT FLOAT AND SHEETING WITH COMPOSITE IMAGES THAT FLOAT

• US 20100103528A1
• Filed: 10/23/2008
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Endle, James P., Lorimor, Lynn E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,995,278 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/620
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2033/10 Metallic material
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2033/20 Coloured material; Pigments or inks
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/20 Optical effects
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/24 Colours
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/34 Markings visible under particular conditions or containing coded information
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/00 Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof printing processes to produce identification or security features B41M3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/29 Securities; Bank notes
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/318 Signatures
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/324 Reliefs
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/41 using electromagnetic radiation B42D25/435 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/42 by photographic processes
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/425 by deformation, e.g. embossing
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/435 using electromagnetic radiation, e.g. laser
• CPC Class Codes: B44F 1/10 Changing, amusing, or secret pictures
• CPC Class Codes: B44F 7/00 Designs imitating three-dimensional effects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0006 Arrays G02B3/02, G02B5/188 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/27 involving lenticular arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/003 using security elements using digital security elements G07D7/004
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/005 Testing security markings invisible to the naked eye, e.g. verifying thickened lines or unobtrusive markings or alterations

Abstract

Microlens sheetings with different types of composite images are disclosed, in which the composite image floats above, in, or below the sheeting, or some combination. One type of composite image may be viewable to the unaided eye or an observer and another type of composite image is viewable only to the aided eye of an observer. Methods for providing such an imaged sheeting are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of forming two composite images on a microlens sheeting, comprising the steps of:

providing a sheeting having a plurality of microlenses and a material layer adjacent the plurality of microlenses;

providing a first donor substrate adjacent the material layer of the sheeting, wherein the first donor substrate is radiation sensitive;

providing a radiation source;

transferring at least a portion of the first donor substrate to the sheeting using the radiation source to form individual, partially complete images on the material layer associated with each of the plurality of the microlenses, whereby the sheeting exhibits a first composite image, provided by the individual images, that appears to the unaided eye to float above, in, or below the sheeting;

thereafter removing selected portions of the individual, partially complete images using the radiation source to form a second composite image, provided by the individual images, that appears to the aided eye to float above, in, or below the sheeting.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second composite image is aligned with the first composite image.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second composite image includes micrographics.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the removing step comprises ablating the selected portions using the radiation source.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first donor substrate comprises a colorant, and wherein at least a portion of the first or second composite image exhibits a color similar to the colorant in the first donor substrate.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

removing the first donor substrate;

providing a second donor substrate adjacent the material layer of the sheeting, wherein the second donor substrate is radiation sensitive; and

transferring at least a portion of the second donor substrate to the sheeting using the radiation source to form individual, partially complete images on the material layer associated with each of the plurality of the microlenses.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second donor substrate comprises a colorant different from the colorant of the first donor substrate.

8. The sheeting including two composite images made by the method of claim 1.

9. The sheeting of claim 8, wherein the sheeting is adhered to a substrate, and wherein the substrate is a document, a sign, an identification card, a container, a display, a credit card, or wherein the sheeting is used for advertising, decoration, authentication or identification purposes.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first composite image also appears to be at least in part in the plane of the sheeting.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first composite image is a three-dimensional image.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the second composite mage appears substantially to float only in the plane of the sheeting.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the second composite image is an angularly variable array of images.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the second composite image appears to scroll relative to the sheeting.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the individual, partially complete images on the material layer associated with each of a plurality of the microlenses form positive contrast second composite images.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the individual, partially complete images on the material layer associated with each of a plurality of the microlenses form negative contrast second composite images.

17. A sheeting comprising:

a plurality of microlenses;

a material layer adjacent the plurality of microlenses;

a first donor material in contact with the material layer, wherein the donor material forms at least two individual, partially complete images formed on the material layer associated with each of the plurality of the microlenses;

a first composite image, provided by at least one of the individual images, that appears to the unaided eye to float above, in, or below the sheeting;

a second composite image, provided by at least one of the individual images, that appears to the aided eye to float above, in, or below the sheeting,

wherein the at least one of the individual, partially complete images includes a gaseous void.

18. The sheeting of claim 17, wherein the second composite image is aligned with the first composite image.

19. The sheeting of claim 17, wherein the individual, partially complete images on the material layer associated with each of a plurality of the microlenses form negative contrast second composite images.

20. The sheeting of claim 17, wherein the individual, partially complete images on the material layer associated with each of a plurality of the microlenses form positive contrast second composite images.

21. The sheeting of claim 17, wherein the first donor material comprises a colorant, wherein at least a portion of the first or second composite image exhibits a color similar to the colorant in the first donor material.

22. The sheeting of claim 17, wherein the first or second composite image appears under reflected light or transmitted light to float above the sheeting.

23. The sheeting of claim 17, wherein the first or second composite image appears under reflected light or transmitted light to float below the sheeting.

24. The sheeting of claim 17, wherein the first composite image also appears to be at least in part in the plane of the sheeting.

25. The sheeting of claim 24, wherein the first composite image is a three-dimensional image.

26. The sheeting of claim 17, wherein the second composite image appears substantially to float only in the plane of the sheeting.

27. The sheeting of claim 17, wherein the donor material comprises radiation sensitive material.

28. The sheeting of claim 17, wherein the second composite image appears to move relative to the sheeting as the viewing position changes relative to the sheeting.

29. The sheeting of claim 17, wherein the second composite image is an angularly variable array of images.

30. The sheeting of claim 29, wherein the second composite image appears to scroll relative to the sheeting.

31. The sheeting of claim 17, wherein the sheeting is adhered to a substrate, and wherein the substrate is a document, a sign, an identification card, a container, a display, a credit card, or wherein the sheeting is used for advertising, decoration, authentication or identification purposes.