MARKING CONSUMER ITEMS BY RENDERING COLORLESS MARKINGS PERMANENTLY COLORED WITH RADIATION EXPOSURE

• US 3,639,762 A
• Filed: 02/14/1969
• Issued: 02/01/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Burton B. Hughes
• Original Assignee: Burton B. Hughes
• Inventors: Hughes, Burton B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Borchelt, Archie R.
• Application Number:
  US04/801,244
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 250/65.1,71
• US Class Current: 250/459.1
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 3/06 by exposure to radiation B05D3/02 takes precedence ; plasma treatment B05D3/141
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 61/26 for marking or coding completed packages
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/00 Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means medals or badges A44C3/00; making labels B31D1/02; sheets temporarily attached together B42F; labelling B65C; labels on record carriers G11B23/38, G11B23/40; Seals; Postage or like stamps

Abstract

Consumer items are marked with two or more colorless markings each of which can be rendered colored by exposure to different levels of radiation. Exposure to one level of radiation selectively changes one marking to a substantially permanently colored, visible state without affecting the colorless state of the other markings.

Claims

1. Process for marking consumer items which comprises placing at least two different, normally colorless markings on a consumer item, said markings being unAffected by ambient light conditions but being capable of being rendered substantially permanently colored by exposure to different levels of radiation, and selectively rendering one of said markings substantially permanently colored by exposing said marking to that level of radiation that will render said marking colored without affecting the normally colorless state of the other markings.

2. Process of claim 1 wherein a plurality of consumer items are marked simultaneously.

3. Process of claim 1 wherein one marking is sensitive to infrared and deactivated by being rendered permanently colorless, by ultraviolet and a second marking is sensitive to ultraviolet and deactivated by infrared.

4. Consumer item having at least two different, normally colorless markings thereon, said marking being unaffected by ambient light conditions but being capable of being rendered substantially permanently colored by exposure to different levels of radiation, one of said markings being substantially permanently colored by virtue of having been exposed to that level of radiation that will render said marking colored without affecting the normally colorless state of the other markings.

5. Consumer item of claim 4 wherein said markings are sensitive to different levels of ultraviolet and/or infrared radiations.

6. Consumer item of claim 4 wherein one marking is sensitive to infrared and deactivated by being rendered permanently colorless by ultraviolet and a second marking is sensitive to ultraviolet and deactivated by infrared.

7. Apparatus for marking consumer items having at least two normally colorless markings thereon, said markings being capable of being rendered substantially permanently colored by exposure to different levels of radiation, which comprises means for advancing said consumer item to a marking station, selective radiation means adjacent said station comprising an activating station and means for activating said radiation means to a level of radiation such that one of said markings will be rendered colored by exposure thereto without affecting the normally colorless state of the other markings.

8. Apparatus of claim 7 wherein said radiation means comprises sources of ultraviolet and infrared radiations.

9. Apparatus of claim 7 wherein said radiation means include filter means.