Process for making secure paper product

• US 4,964,951 A
• Filed: 04/13/1989
• Issued: 10/23/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Security Tag Systems, Inc. (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Security Tag Systems, Inc. (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Menyhert, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hastings, Karen M.
• Application Number:
  US07/337,340
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 162/138, 162/105, 162/108, 162/162, 162/140, 428/900, 428/915, 428/916
• US Class Current: 162/140
• CPC Class Codes: G03C 5/08 Photoprinting G03C5/18 takes precedence; Processes and means for preventing photoprinting
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/043 by using an original which is not reproducible or only reproducible with a different appearence, e.g. originals with a photochromic layer or a colour background
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2411 Tag deactivation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2442 Tag materials and material properties thereof, e.g. magnetic material details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2445 Tag integrated into item to be protected, e.g. source tagging

Abstract

A process for making a paper product that includes both means for preventing images from being copied from the paper product by use of a xerographic photocopier; and means for enabling detection of the paper product when the paper product is transported through an interrogation zone of an article surveillance system. The process includes the steps of (a) mixing paper ingredients with a material selected from a group of materials that either respond to light within a predetermined portion of the light spectrum by flooding the light sensing means of the photocopier so as to obsure any image defined by print on the paper product, or totally absorb light within the predetermined portion of the light spectrum so that no light is received from the paper product by the light sensing means of the photocopier; (b) mulching the mixture of step (a); (c) embedding in the mulch during step (b) means for producing a unique signal in response to an interrogation signal; and (d) drying the mulched mixture of step (b) to provide a sheet of the mulched mixture. The embedded means include a heat-treated amorphous magnetostrictive wire that responds to magnetic reversal by producing a high amplitude signal over a wide range of harmonics of the magnetic reversal frequency.

Claims

1. A process for making a paper product from which images cannot be copied by use of a xerographic photocopier that reproduces an image defined by print on the paper product by a process that includes sensing light received from the paper product upon the paper product being exposed to high intensity light within a predetermined portion of the light spectrum that is absorbed by the print, said paper making process comprising the steps of

(a) mixing paper ingredients with a material selected from a group consisting of materials that totally absorb light within said predetermined portion of the light spectrum so that no light is received from the paper product by the light sensing means of the photocopier;

and

(b) processing the mixture of step (a) to provide a sheet of the mixture wherein step (a) comprises mixing the paper ingredients with a said selected material having light absorption characteristics that are dependent upon the orientation of such material with respect to incident light, wherein said selected material is uniformly oriented in a medium that can be oriented in accordance with the orientation of an applied electric field; and

further comprising the step of

(c) applying an electric field during step (b) to orient said selected material to provide a paper product having selected light absorption characteristics.

2. A process for making a paper product from which images cannot be copied by the use of a xerographic photocopier that reproduces an image defined by print on the paper product by a process that includes sensing light received from the paper product upon the paper product being exposed to high intensity light within a predetermined portion of the light spectrum that is absorbed by the print, and that can be detected when the paper product is transported through an interrogation zone of an electronic article surveillance system, said paper making process comprising the steps of

(a) mixing paper ingredients with a material selected from a group consisting of materials that either respond to light within said predetermined portion of the light spectrum by flooding the light sensing means of the photocopier so as to obscure any image defined by print on the paper product, or totally absorb light within said predetermined portion of the light spectrum so that no light is received from the paper product by the light sensing means of the photocopier;

(b) processing the mixture of step (a) to provide a sheet of the mixture; and

(c) embedding in the mixture during step (b) means for producing a unique signal in response to an interrogation signal, wherein said unique signal can be detected by an electonic article surveillance system, wherein the embedded signal producing means comprises a heat-treated amorphous magnetostrictive wire that responds to magnetic reversal by producing a high amplitude signal over a wide range of harmonics of the magnetic reversal frequency.

3. A process for making a paper product from which images cannot be copied by use of a xerographic photocopier that reproduces an image defined by print on the paper product upon the paper product being exposed to high intensity light within a predetermined portion of the light spectrum that is absorbed by the print, and that can be detected when the paper product is transported through an interrogation zone of an electronic article surveillance system, said paper making process comprising the steps of

(a) mixing paper ingredients with a material selected from a group consisting of materials that either respond to light within said predetermined portion of the light spectrum by flooding the light sensing means of the photocopier so as to obscure any image defined by print on the paper product, or totally absorb light within said predetermined portion of the light spectrum so that no light is received from the paper product by the light sensing means of the photocopier;

(b) processing the mixture of step (a) to provide a sheet of the mixture; and

(c) laminating between two sheets produced by steps (a) and (b) means for producing a unique signal in response to an interrogation signal, wherein said unique signal can be detected by an electronic article surveillance system, wherein the laminated signal producing means comprises a heat-treated amorphous magnetostrictive wire that responds to magnetic reversal by producing a high amplitude signal over a wide range of harmonics of the magnetic reversal frequency.

4. A process for making a paper product that can be detected when the paper product is transported through an interrogation zone of an electronic article surveillance system, said paper making process comprising the steps of

(a) making paper ingredients;

(b) processing the mixture of step (a) to provide a sheet of the mixture; and

(c) embedding in the mixture during step (b) means for producing a unique signal in response to an interrogation signal, wherein said unique signal can be detected by an electronic article surveillance system;

wherein the embedded signal producing means comprises a heat-treated amorphous magnetostrictive wire that responds to magnetic reversal by producing a high amplitude signal over a wide range of harmonics of the magnetic reversal frequency.

5. A process for making a paper product that can be detected when the paper product is transported through an interrogation zone of an electronic article surveillance system, said paper making process comprising the steps of

(a) mixing paper ingredients;

(b) processing the mixture of step (a) to provide a sheet of the mixture; and

(c) laminating between two sheets produced by steps (a) and (b), means for producing a unique signal in response to an interrogation signal, wherein said unique signal can be detected by an electronic article surveillance system;

wherein the laminated signal producing means comprises a heat-treated amorphous magnetostrictive wire that responds to magnetic reversal by producing a high amplitude signal over a wide range of harmonics of the magnetic reversal frequency.