Glow-in-the-dark medium and method of making

• US 6,071,855 A
• Filed: 09/15/1999
• Issued: 06/06/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Schwark, Alodia M., Patton, David L., Cole, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Deborah
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bahta, Abraham
• Application Number:
  US09/396,243
• Time in Patent Office: 265 Days
• Field of Search: 428/204, 428/203, 428/488.4, 428/327, 428/323, 428/207, 428/205, 428/195, 428/913, 428/690, 430/139, 430/121, 503/227, 347/1, 347/105, 347/153
• US Class Current: 503/227
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/006 Patterns of chemical products used for a specific purpose, e.g. pesticides, perfumes, adhesive patterns; use of microencapsulated material; Printing on smoking articles
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/06 Veined printings; Fluorescent printings; Stereoscopic images; Imitated patterns, e.g. tissues, textiles
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/41 Base layers supports or substrates
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/42 Intermediate, backcoat, or covering layers B41M5/405 takes precedence; multilayer thermal transfer systems in general B41M5/38214
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/426 characterised by inorganic compounds, e.g. metals, metal salts, metal complexes
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/44 characterised by the macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/502 characterised by structural details, e.g. multilayer materials supports, backcoats or intermediate layers for thermal dye transfer donor and receiver sheets B41M5/41, B41M5/42
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/506 Intermediate layers
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/508 Supports
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/52 Macromolecular coatings
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/5218 characterised by inorganic additives, e.g. pigments, clays
• CPC Class Codes: B44F 1/00 Designs or pictures characterised by special or unusual light effects
• CPC Class Codes: B44F 1/08 characterised by colour effects
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/913 Material designed to be responsive to temperature, light, moisture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24868 Translucent outer layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24876 Intermediate layer contains particulate material [e.g., pigment, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24884 Translucent layer comprises natural oil, wax, resin, gum, glue, gelatin
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24901 including coloring matter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/25 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and including a second component containing structurally defined particles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/254 : Polymeric or resinous material

Abstract

A medium having a phosphorescent material, and a system and method for producing images on the medium using a digital printer. The medium comprises a phosphorescent layer having a phosphorescent material and an image receiving layer disposed over the phosphorescent layer. The image receiving layer is substantially translucent and capable of retaining an image from a digital printer. The medium may comprise a thin plastic film having a resin coating on at least on surface of the film that has been co-extruded with a resin coating having a phosphorescent material dispersed therein. A scanner or computer can be used for obtaining a digital record file of an image which is forwarded to a digital printer.

Claims

1. A method of producing an image on a medium, said medium having a phosphorescent layer and a receiving layer for accepting an image from a digital printer, said receiving layer being disposed over said phosphorescent layer and being substantially translucent or transparent, comprising the steps of:

a) providing said medium in a digital printer for accepting an image from said printer; and

b) printing said image on said receiving layer with said printer.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said digital printer comprises an inkjet printer.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said digital printer comprises a thermal printer.

4. A method of producing an digital image on a medium, said medium having a phosphorescent layer and a receiving layer that accepts an image from a digital printer, said receiving layer being disposed over said phosphorescent layer and being substantially translucent or transparent, comprising the steps of:

a) obtaining a digital record file of an image;

b) forwarding said digital record file to a computer;

c) providing said medium in a digital printer; and

d) forwarding said digital record file of said image to said digital printer for printing the digital image on said medium.

5. A method of producing a digital image on a medium, said medium having a phosphorescent layer and a receiving layer for accepting an image from a digital printer, said receiving layer being disposed over said phosphorescent layer and being substantially translucent, comprising the steps of:

a) obtaining a digital record file of the image;

b) forwarding said digital record file to a computer;

c) modifying said digital record file of said image so as to form a modified digital image;

d) providing said medium in a digital printer for accepting said medium; and

e) forwarding said digital record file of said modified image to said digital printer for printing the digital image on said medium.

6. A method of making a thin plastic film having a phosphorescent layer, comprising the steps of:

a) co-extruding a thin plastic film having a resin coating on at least one surface of said film, said resin coating having a phosphorescent material dispersed therein;

b) providing a receiving layer over said resin coating; and

c) providing a protective coating over said receiving layer.