Marking material containing a taggant, and method of producing an image

• US 5,301,044 A
• Filed: 03/10/1993
• Issued: 04/05/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Wright, Joseph D.
• Primary Examiner(s): BRINICH, STEPHEN M
• Application Number:
  US08/028,872
• Time in Patent Office: 391 Days
• Field of Search: 358/500-501, 355/40, 355/204, 355/6-7, 430/15, 430/21, 430/526
• US Class Current: 358/500
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/507 being interleaved with the original or directly written on he original, e.g. using a control sheet
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/046 by discriminating a special original, e.g. a bank note
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00846 based on detection of a dedicated indication, e.g. marks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00875 Inhibiting reproduction, e.g. by disabling reading or reproduction apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/38 Circuits or arrangements for blanking or otherwise eliminating unwanted parts of pictures H04N1/387 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3225 of data relating to an image, a page or a document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3233 of authentication information, e.g. digital signature, watermark
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3269 of machine readable codes or marks, e.g. bar codes or glyphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3271 Printing or stamping

Abstract

Taggants are incorporated into marking materials used to create images. Reproduction systems detect the taggants, and use the resulting information to control reproduction. The invention is particularly applicable to color correction, enhancement and translation; document identification; image preservation and highlighting; and document control and security.

Claims

1. A method of producing an image, comprising imagewise applying at least one marking material containing a taggant to a substrate by a mechanical or electromechanical printing process to form said image on said substrate.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein said printing process is selected from the group consisting of lithography, xerography, ionography, electronic reprography, impact printing, ink jet printing and thermal transfer printing.

3. A method of claim 1, wherein said marking material is selected from the group consisting of toner, ink jet ink, encapsulated marking material and marking film.

4. A method of claim 1, wherein at least two said marking materials of different colors and containing different taggants are applied to said substrate.

5. A method of claim 1, wherein said marking material contains a colorant which emits or reflects visible light and said taggant reflects or emits only ultraviolet or infrared light.

6. A method of claim 1, wherein said marking material contains a colorant which reflects or emits light in one portion of the light spectrum, and said taggant reflects or emits light in a distinguishable portion of the light spectrum.

7. A method of claim 6, wherein said distinguishable portion of the light spectrum is a very narrow wavelength band within said one portion of the light spectrum.

8. A method of claim 6, wherein said one portion of the light spectrum does not overlap with said distinguishable portion of the light spectrum.

9. A method of claim 6, wherein said one portion of the light spectrum is one member selected from the group consisting of ultraviolet light and infrared light, and said distinguishable portion of the light spectrum, is the other member of said group.

10. A marking material comprising a taggant and a colorant, said marking material being specially adapted for use in a mechanical or electromechanical printing process.

11. A marking material of claim 10, wherein said marking material is a toner.

12. A marking material of claim 10, wherein said marking material is an encapsulated marking material.

13. A marking material of claim 10, wherein said marking material is an ink jet ink.

14. A marking material of claim 10, wherein said marking material is incorporated in an impact printer ribbon or thermal transfer film.

15. A marking material of claim 10, wherein said colorant emits or reflects visible light, and said taggant reflects or emits only ultraviolet or infrared the light.

16. A marking material of claim 10, wherein said colorant reflects or emits light in one portion of the light spectrum, and said taggant reflects or emits light in a distinguishable portion of the light spectrum.

17. A marking material of claim 16, wherein said distinguishable portion of the light spectrum is a very narrow wavelength band within said one portion of the light spectrum.

18. A marking material of claim 16, wherein said one portion of the light spectrum does not overlap with said distinguishable portion of the light spectrum.

19. A marking material of claim 18, wherein said one portion of the light spectrum is one member selected from the group consisting of ultraviolet light and infrared light, and said distinguishable portion of the light spectrum, is the other member of said group.

20. A marking material of claim 10, wherein said taggant is a fluorescent pigment or dye.