Identification card and method of making

• US 6,054,170 A
• Filed: 06/29/1998
• Issued: 04/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Moore U.S.A. Inc. (RR Donnelley & Sons Company)
• Original Assignee: Moore U.S.A. Inc. (RR Donnelley & Sons Company)
• Inventors: Heeb, Myron C., Nash, Thomas P., Maier, Michael C., Chess, Stanley C., Moeller, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BELL, JANYCE A
• Application Number:
  US09/106,113
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 427/7, 427/289, 427/288, 427/554, 427/559, 427/395
• US Class Current: 427/7
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2033/44 combined with other objects
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/00 Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof printing processes to produce identification or security features B41M3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/23 Identity cards
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/41 using electromagnetic radiation B42D25/435 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 5/027 Sheets or cards attached to a carrier strip or web shipping forms B42D15/006
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/041 Constructional details G06K19/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06046 Constructional details

Abstract

A combined business form/identification card includes a sheet of cellulosic stock material having a barrier coating on a first portion of the sheet with an overlay of laser-printable varnish on the barrier coat. Lines of weakness are provided in the sheet in the area of the barrier coat and varnish to produce an identification card detachable from the sheet. A second portion of the sheet has indicia imaged thereon.

Claims

1. A method of producing a combined identification card and business form using a substantially rectangular sheet of cellulose stock having a weight of between about 31-52 pounds per 11"×

17" ream, and a caliper of between about 6-10 ml, comprising the steps of;

(a) applying a barrier coat to a portion of the sheet at least as large as an identification card;

(b) applying a laser printable varnish over the barrier coat; and

(c) acting on the sheet to provide lines of weakness in the sheet at the area of the barrier coat and varnish to produce an identification card, the lines of weakness allowing detachment of the card from the rest of the sheet.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein step (a) is practiced by applying the barrier coat and varnish to only a first portion of the sheet having an area of less than 50% of the area of the sheet.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein the barrier coat and laser-printable varnish are applied in a strip having a width of about 3-5 inches, and wherein the sheet has dimensions of about 8.5×

11, 8.5×

14, or is A4 size.

4. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein the steps of applying the barrier coat and laser-printable varnish provide a composite coating on one face of the sheet that is between 0.1-0.5 mm thick.

5. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein the steps of applying the barrier coat and laser-printable varnish provide a composite coating weight of between about 2.5-12.5 gm/sq.m.

6. A method as recited in claim 5 comprising the further step of (d) imaging with indicia a second portion of the sheet distinct from the first portion, and comprising the further step of laser printing indicia on the laser printable varnish.

7. A method as recited in claim 6 comprising the further step of calendering the sheet before or after steps (b) and (c).

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the barrier coat and laser-printable varnish are applied over substantially an entire first face of the sheet.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the barrier coat and laser-printable varnish are applied on both first and second faces of the sheet.

10. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the barrier coat applied in step (a) includes polyvinyl alcohol as a major constituent.

11. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the laser-printable varnish applied in step (b) includes a UV curable varnish as the varnish.

12. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein step (b) is practiced using a pigmented varnish, having a color other than white, black, brown, or tan, to provide a colored identification card.

13. A method of producing a combined identification card and business form using a substantially rectangular sheet of cellulose stock having a weight of between about 31-52 pounds per ream, and a caliper of between about 6-10 mil, comprising the steps of:

(a) applying a laser printable varnish on the sheet; and

(b) acting on the sheet to provide lines of weakness in the sheet at the area of the varnish to produce an identification card, the lines of weakness allowing detachment of the card from the rest of the sheet.

14. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein the step of applying a laser-printable varnish includes applying the varnish to only a first portion of the sheet having an area of less than 50% of the area of the sheet.

15. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein the step of applying a laser-printable varnish includes applying the varnish in a strip having a width of about 3-5 inches, and wherein the sheet has dimensions of about 8.5×

11, 8.5×

14, or is A4 size.

16. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein the step of applying a laser-printable varnish includes applying a coating on one face of the sheet that is between about 0.1-0.5 mm thick.

17. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein step (a) is practiced to provide a composite coating weight of between about 2.5-12.5 gm/sq.m.

18. A method as recited in claim 13 comprising the further step of imaging with indicia a second portion of the sheet distinct from the first portion.

19. A method as recited in claim 13 comprising the further step of laser printing indicia on the laser printable varnish.

20. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein the step of applying a laser-printable varnish includes applying the varnish over substantially an entire first face of the sheet.

21. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein the step of applying a laser-printable varnish includes applying the varnish on both first and second faces of the sheet.

22. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein the step of applying a laser-printable varnish includes using UV curable varnish as the varnish.

23. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein step (a) is practiced using a pigmented varnish, having a color other than white, black, brown, or tan, to provide a colored identification card.

24. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein step (b) is practiced by die cutting or microperfing.