Method for distinguishing printed originals from copies

• US 5,064,221 A
• Filed: 03/02/1990
• Issued: 11/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Francotyp-Postalia GmbH
• Original Assignee: Francotyp-Postalia Holding AG
• Inventors: Gunther, Stephan, Miehe, Friedrich-Viktor
• Primary Examiner(s): Yost, Frank T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Payer, Hwei-Siu
• Application Number:
  US07/487,526
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 283/92, 283/902, 283/67, 428/916
• US Class Current: 283/67
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/144 using fluorescent, luminescent or iridescent effects
• CPC Class Codes: G03C 5/08 Photoprinting G03C5/18 takes precedence; Processes and means for preventing photoprinting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 283/902 Anti-photocopy

Abstract

In order to distinguish originals from copies, a method adds substances to printing medium that produces markings, which are not visible to the naked eye and are only recognizable by using special scanners.

Claims

1. Method for making printed originals distinguishable from copies, which comprises:

(a) using an ink ribbon as a printing medium for printing originals;

(b) adding a substance to the ink ribbon in the form of a marking;

(c) printing an original with the marked ink ribbon for producing invisible distinguishable markings in the printed original being recognizable solely by means of special scanners.

2. Method according to claim 1, which comprises using fluorescent substances as the substance.

3. Method according to claim 1, which comprises adding markings in the form of lines of the substance to the ink ribbon.

4. Method according to claim 3, which comprises using fluorescent substances as the substance.

5. Method according to claim 1, which comprises adding markings in the form of grids of the substance to the ink ribbon.

6. Method according to claim 5, which comprises using fluorescent substances as the substance.

7. Method according to claim 1, which comprises adding markings in the form of patterns of the substance to the ink ribbon.

8. Method according to claim 7, which comprises using fluorescent substances as the substance.