Imaging device and method for developing, duplicating and printing graphic media

• US 5,311,017 A
• Filed: 06/23/1992
• Issued: 05/10/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dittler Brothers, Inc. (RR Donnelley & Sons Company)
• Original Assignee: Simon Marketing, Inc. (Simon Worldwide, Inc.)
• Inventors: Filo, Andrew S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Berman, Jack I.
• Application Number:
  US07/902,611
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 250/316.1, 250/317.1, 250/271, 273/139, 283/85, 283/903
• US Class Current: 250/316.1
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/26 Thermography B41M5/20, B41M5/24 take precedence; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used B23K takes precedence; thermographic or photothermographic systems using noble metal compounds G03C1/494
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/48 combined with other image registration layers or compositions; Special originals for reproduction by thermography
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 15/005 with dispensing of lottery tickets
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00795 Reading arrangements details of scanning heads H04N1/024; scanning arrangements therefor H04N1/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00803 Presence or absence of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00806 According to type of the original, e.g. colour paper or transparency, or reading a plurality of different types of original
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/02865 using an array of light sources or a combination of such arrays, e.g. an LED bar
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/12 using the sheet-feed movement or the medium-advance or the drum-rotation movement as the slow scanning component, e.g. arrangements for the main-scanningsheet-feed movement by translatory movement of a flat picture-bearing surface H04N1/1008; main-scanning using oscillating or rotating mirrors H04N1/113; using multi-element arrays H04N1/19
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/128 using a scanning head arranged for linear reciprocating motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2323 according to characteristics of the reproducing medium, e.g. type, size or availability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 283/903 Lottery ticket

Abstract

The present invention provides an imaging device and method for developing, duplicating and printing graphic media. The imaging device of the present invention is utilized in devices such as copiers, printers, game cards and the like, and comprises a substrate bearing an infrared image producing layer, a thermal image forming layer and a light source. A brief but intense flash of visible light from the light source causes latent heat properties of the infrared layer to generate heat and convert visible light into far infrared light. This far infrared light develops or marks portions of the thermal layer which are adjacent the infrared layer.

Claims

1. Apparatus for reproducing an image, comprising:

a light source for emitting pulses of visible light;

a substrate;

an image including an infrared producing layer on said substrate, an image portion of said image producing layer responsive to said light source for converting said pulses of visible light into infrared light;

an image forming layer responsive to said infrared light to develop at least one portion of said image forming layer; and

means in said image portion of said infrared image producing layer for forming an infrared image not visible to an unaided eye.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the image forming layer further comprises:

image forming means developed by infrared light from said image portion for reproducing said image.

3. Apparatus for reproducing an image, comprising:

a visible light source;

an image responsive to said light source for converting said visible light into infrared light;

an image forming layer responsive to said infrared light to develop at least one portion of said image forming layer;

a substrate supporting said image; and

layer means on said substrate covering said image for obscuring said image until developed.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said image forming layer further comprises:

infrared light detector means for converting infrared light into electrical signals for developing said at least one portion of said image forming layer.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said source further comprises:

scanning means mounted for motion with respect to said image for emitting pulses of visible light.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said infrared light detector means is mounted for motion with said scanning means.