Secure ink-jet printing for verification of an original document

• US 6,830,327 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2001
• Issued: 12/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Asakawa, Stuart D
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lamson
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOUTTET, BLAISE L
• Application Number:
  US10/016,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20030076372A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,149 Days
• Field of Search: 347/95, 347/100, 347/107, 106/31-3-
• US Class Current: 347/100
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/14 Security printing securities B42D25/29
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 11/38 characterised by non-macromolecular additives other than solvents, pigments or dyes
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 11/50 Sympathetic, colour changing or similar inks
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/02 Counting the number of copies; Billing
• 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

Abstract

The present invention provides ink-jet inks, systems, and methods for marking documents as original. Specifically, an aqueous ink-jet ink can comprise an ink vehicle; and a sufficient amount of particulates having directionally dependent light reflective properties within the ink vehicle such that when the ink-jet ink is substantially dried on a desired substrate, a multi-colored reflected light is emittable in the presence of a light source. Printing documents as original can be carried out for compensation, as a service, or by providing cartridges containing these inks to clients and/or customers.

Claims

1. An aqueous ink-jet ink printing system, comprising:

a specialty ink-jet ink comprising an ink vehicle having dispersed therein an effective amount of particulates, said particulates having directionally dependent light reflective properties, and wherein the ink-jet ink is ink jettable and said particulates are selected from the group consisting of pearlescent particulates, mica particulates, glitter particulates, coated silica composite particulates, coated plastic composite particulates, magnesium fluoride particulates, and combinations thereof;

a specialty ink-jet ink pen configured for jetting the ink-jet ink; and

a substrate configured for accepting the jetted specialty ink-jet ink, and an intensity of the directionally dependent light reflective properties is increased upon a second coating of the specialty ink-jet ink printed onto the printed substrate.

2. A system as in claim 1 wherein the particulates, when printed on the substrate and in the presence of light, emit multi-colored reflected light.

3. A system as in claim 1 wherein the average particulate size in length to bore size in diameter is from 1:

8 to 1;

300.

4. A system as in claim 1 wherein the ink-jet ink pen has a bore size from 20 microns to 200 microns in diameter.

5. A system as in claim 1 wherein the particulate size is from 0.01 microns to 100 microns in length.

6. A system as in claim 1 wherein the particulates are shaped according to a general geometry selected from the group consisting of substantially spherical, substantially plate-like, substantially irregular, and substantially needle-like.

7. A system as in claim 1 wherein the particulates range in size from 5 microns to 10 microns in length.

8. A system as in claim 1 wherein the particulates range in size from 0.01 to 0.1 microns in length.

14. A system as in claim 1 wherein pigment solids are attached to the particulates.

9. An aqueous ink-jet ink printing system, comprising:

a specialty ink-jet ink comprising an ink vehicle having dispersed therein an effective amount of particulates, said particulates having directionally dependent light reflective properties, and wherein the ink-jet ink is ink jettable and said particulates are selected from the group consisting of pearlescent particulates, mica particulates, glitter particulates, coated silica composite particulates, coated plastic composite particulates, magnesium fluoride particulates, and combinations thereof;

a specialty ink-jet ink pen configured for jetting the ink-jet ink;

a substrate configured for accepting the jetted specialty ink-jet ink; and

a standard ink-jet ink pen capable of printing black or colored images, wherein the specialty ink-jet ink pen rides along with the standard ink-jet pen, and wherein the specialty ink-jet ink pen is activated when the substrate is to be marked as an original.

10. A system as in claim 9 wherein the particulates, when printed on the substrate and in the presence of light, emit multi-colored reflected light.

11. A system as in claim 9 wherein the average particulate size in length to bore size in diameter is from 1:

8 to 1;

300.

12. A system as in claim 9 wherein the particulate size is from 0.01 microns to 100 microns in length.

13. A system as in claim 9 further comprising a plurality of standard ink-jet ink pens each capable of printing black or colored images, wherein the specialty ink-jet ink pen rides along with the plurality of standard ink-jet pens.

15. A system as in claim 9 wherein the particulates are shaped according to a general geometry selected from the group consisting of substantially spherical, substantially plate-like, substantially irregular, and substantially needle-like.

16. A system as in claim 9 wherein the particulates range in size from 5 microns to 10 microns in length.

17. A system as in claim 9 wherein the particulates range in size from 0.01 to 0.1 microns in length.

18. A system as in claim 9 wherein pigment solids are attached to the particulates.