Document security processes

• US 6,664,017 B1
• Filed: 08/20/2002
• Issued: 12/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Hu, Nan-Xing, Patel, Raj D., Halfyard, Kurt I., Goodbrand, H. Bruce, Hopper, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): GOODROW, JOHN L
• Application Number:
  US10/225,411
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 430/120, 430/137.14, 430/10, 430/108.6, 430/108.1, 430/108.2
• US Class Current: 430/123.57
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/043 by using an original which is not reproducible or only reproducible with a different appearence, e.g. originals with a photochromic layer or a colour background
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/0902 Inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/0926 characterised by physical or chemical properties
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/0928 Compounds capable to generate colouring agents by chemical reaction
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/09708 Inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/09725 Silicon-oxides; Silicates

Abstract

A process comprising applying a toner security mark on a document generated by xerographic means and which mark possesses white glossy characteristics, and wherein said toner is comprised of a polymer and a colorant.

Claims

1. A process comprising applying a toner security mark on a document generated by xerographic means, and which mark possesses white glossy characteristics, and wherein said toner is comprised of a polymer and a colorant, and wherein said glossy is from about 65 to about 140 Gardner Gloss Units.

2. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said mark is present on a coupon, or currency.

3. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said colorant is a white pigment present in an amount of from about 10 to about 40 percent pigment, and said polymer is present in an amount of from about 90 to about 60 percent.

4. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said colorant is a white pigment present in an amount of from about 20 to about 30 percent pigment and said polymer is present in an amount of from about 80 to about 70 percent, and wherein the total of said two components is about 100 percent.

5. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said mark is visible when viewed at angles of from about 15 to about 85 degrees from the perpendicular.

6. A process in accordance with claim 5 wherein the viewing angle is from about 35 to about 65 degrees.

7. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the polymeric resin possesses a molecular weight M_w of about 15,000 to about 40,000.

8. A process in accordance with claim 1 further including a second security mark containing a polymer and a UV fluorescent colorant.

9. A process in accordance with claim 8 wherein the colorant is a white pigment of titanium dioxide, aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide or zinc oxide.

10. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the white pigment is titanium dioxide present in an amount of about 20 to about 30 percent by weight of toner, and there is present about 80 to about 70 percent polymer resin.

11. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein there is further added a second security mark comprised of a UV excited fluorescent pigment present in an amount of about 2 to about 10 weight percent by weight of toner.

12. A process in accordance with claim 11 wherein the UV excited fluorescent pigment is present in an amount of about 3 to about 8 weight percent by weight of toner.

13. A process in accordance with claim 11 wherein the UV fluorescent pigment is initially invisible, and subsequently rendered visible when subjected to UV light.

14. A process in accordance with claim 8 wherein the pigment is selected from the group consisting of 4,4′

-bis(styryl)biphenyl, 2-(4-phenylstilben-4-yl)-6-butylbenzoxazole, beta-methylumbelliferone, 4-methyl-7-dimethylaminocoumarin, 4-methyl-7-aminocoumarin, N-methyl-4-methoxy-1,8-naphthalimide, 9,10-bis(phenethynyl)anthracene, and 5,12-bis(phenethynyl)naphthacene.

15. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the polymer is a styrene-butylacrylate-beta carboxyl ethyl acrylate.

18. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said polymer is a styrene acrylate, a styrene methacrylate, a styrene butadiene, or a polyester.

19. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said polymer is a styrene acrylate.

20. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said polymer is a methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl acrylate, ethyl methacrylate, propyl acrylate, propyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, butyl methacrylate, pentyl acrylate, pentyl methacrylate, hexyl acrylate, hexyl methacrylate, heptyl acrylate, heptyl methacrylate, octyl acrylate, octyl methacrylate, cyclohexyl acrylate, cyclohexyl methacrylate, lauryl acrylate, lauryl methacrylate, stearyl acrylate, stearyl methacrylate, benzyl acrylate, benzyl methacrylate, ethoxypropyl acrylate, ethoxypropyl methacrylate, methylbutyl acrylate, methylbutyl methacrylate, ethylhexyl acrylate, ethylhexyl methacrylate, methoxybutyl acrylate, methoxybutyl methacrylate, cyanobutyl acrylate, cyanobutyl methacrylate, tolyl acrylate, tolyl methacrylate, styrene, and substituted styrenes.

21. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said polymer is present in an amount of from about 65 to about 85 weight percent.

22. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said glossy value is from about 65 to about 99 GGU as measured at an angle of 75 degrees.

23. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said glossy value is from about 75 to about 140 GGU as measured at an angle of 75 degrees.

24. A process in accordance with claim 8 wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of poly(styrene-butadiene), poly(methylstyrene-butadiene), poly(methyl methacrylate-butadiene), poly(ethyl methacrylate-butadiene), poly(propyl methacrylate-butadiene), poly(butyl methacrylate-butadiene), poly(methyl acrylate-butadiene), poly(ethyl acrylate-butadiene), poly(propyl acrylate-butadiene), poly(butyl acrylate-butadiene), poly(styrene-isoprene), poly(methylstyrene-isoprene), poly(methyl methacrylate-isoprene), poly(ethyl methacrylate-isoprene), poly(propyl methacrylate-isoprene), poly(butyl methacrylate-isoprene), poly(methyl acrylate-isoprene), poly(ethyl acrylate-isoprene), poly(propyl acrylate-isoprene), poly(butyl acrylate-isoprene);

poly(styrene-propyl acrylate), poly(styrene-butyl acrylate), poly(styrene-butadiene-acrylic acid), poly(styrene-butadiene-methacrylic acid), poly(styrene-butadiene-acrylonitrile-acrylic acid), poly(styrene-butyl acrylate-acrylic acid), poly(styrene-butyl acrylate-methacrylic acid), poly(styrene-butyl acrylate-acrylononitrile), and poly(styrene-butyl acrylate-acrylononitrile-acrylic acid).

25. A process in accordance with claim 8 wherein a barcode is contained on the surface of said security mark.

26. A process in accordance with claim 25 wherein said barcode is situated below said UV fluorescent security mark.

27. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said security mark is located at various positions on the document.

28. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein a second security mark is contained on said document, and which security mark contains a UV sensitive pigment.

29. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said security mark is located at various positions on the document.

32. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the mark is viewed at an angle of from about 15 to about 85 degrees of the light source.

33. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said white glossy mark is generated from a toner which is prepared by

(i) blending a latex emulsion with a white colorant dispersion comprised of submicron particles suspended in a nonionic surfactant and water, and optionally adding a wax dispersion comprised of submicron wax particles dispersed in an ionic surfactant of a similar charge polarity to that of the ionic surfactant in said latex emulsion, and wherein said latex contains submicron resin particles, an ionic surfactant and water;

(ii) adding to said blend two coagulants of a polymetal halide dissolved in a strong acid and an ionic surfactant of opposite charge polarity to that of the latex surfactant and pigment ionic surfactant to initiate flocculation of said latex and said white particles;

(iii) heating the resulting mixture below the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the latex resin to form toner sized aggregates;

(iv) optionally adding a latex to the formed toner aggregates;

(v) adjusting the pH of the toner aggregates from about 1.8 to about 3 to a pH value of about 6.5 to about 8 with a base;

(vi) heating the resulting aggregate suspension of (v) to above the Tg of the latex resin; and

(vii) retaining the temperature of said mixture (vi) from about 70 to about 95°

C., followed by a reduction of the pH to about 4.8 to about 6, and then optionally retaining the temperature for a period of about 0.5 to about 6 hours.

34. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said colorant is a UV fluorescent component, and wherein said toner is prepared by

(i) blending a latex emulsion with a UV fluorescent component comprised of submicron particles suspended in nononic surfactant and water, and optionally adding a wax dispersion comprising submicron wax particles dispersed in an ionic surfactant of similar charge polarity to that of the ionic surfactant in said latex emulsion;

and wherein said latex is comprised of submicron resin particles of styrene-butylacrylate-beta carboxyl ethyl acrylate dispersed in an ionic surfactant and water;

(ii) adding to said blend a polyaluminum chloride dissolved in nitric acid and an ionic surfactant of opposite charge polarity to that of the latex surfactant blend to initiate flocculation of latex and pigment particles;

(iii) heating the resulting mixture below the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the latex resin;

(iv) optionally adding a latex comprised of submicron resin particles of styrene-butylacrylate-beta carboxyl ethyl acrylate particles dispersed in an ionic surfactant and water;

(v) adjusting the pH of the toner aggregates from about 2 to about 7 with a base;

(vi) heating the resulting aggregate suspension of above the Tg of the latex resin;

(vii) retaining the temperature of mixture (vi) from about 70°

C. to about 95°

C., followed by a reduction of the pH to about 5.5 and then retaining the temperature for a period of about 0.5 to about 6 hours allowing the fusion or coalescence of the toner aggregates, wherein the toner particle size and the particle size distribution thereof is substantially retained, and isolating the toner.

35. A process in accordance with claim 33 wherein said polymetal halide is a polyaluminum chloride or a polymetal sulfosilicate.

36. A process in accordance with claim 33 wherein the polymetal halide is a polyaluminum chloride, the polymetal sulfosilicate is a polyaluminum sulfo silicate and the multivalent salts thereof are aluminum silicate, zinc sulfate magnesium sulfate, magnesium chloride, and/or calcium chloride, and wherein submicron is from about 0.05 to about 1 micron in diameter.

37. A process in accordance with claim 35 further containing a cationic surfactant selected from a group consisting of dialkyl benzenealkyl ammonium chloride, lauryl trimethyl ammonium chloride, alkylbenzyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, alkyl benzyl dimethyl ammonium bromide, benzalkonium chloride, cetyl pyridinium bromide, trimethyl ammonium bromides, halide salts of quaternized polyoxyethylalkylamines, and dodecylbenzyl triethyl ammonium chloride.

16. A process comprising applying a security mark on a document and which mark possesses white glossy characteristics, and wherein said mark is visible and contains a pigment embedded in a polymer and a second toner mark which contains a colorant that fluoresces under UV light, and wherein said glossy is from about 65 to about 140 Gardner Gloss Units.

17. A process comprising providing a security mark or marks on a document generated xerographically, and which mark is comprised of a glossy toner containing a polymer and a pigment, and wherein said glossy is from about 65 to about 140 Gardner Gloss Units.

30. A process for avoiding the copying of a document by providing a security mark on said document, and which mark is comprised of a glossy toner containing a pigment and optionally a second mark containing a UV sensitive pigment, and wherein said glossy is from about 65 to about 140 Gardner Gloss Units.

31. A process in accordance with claim 30 wherein the documents are tickets, coupons, identification badges, passes, or negotiable securities.

38. A process comprising applying a dry toner security mark on a document generated by xerographic means, and which mark possesses white glossy characteristics, and wherein said toner is comprised of a polymer and a colorant, and wherein said glossy is from about 65 to about 140 Gardner Gloss Units.