APPARATUS FOR ORIENTING MAGNETIC FLAKES

• US 20130087060A1
• Filed: 09/26/2012
• Published: 04/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Viavi Solutions, Inc. (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Viavi Solutions, Inc. (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Raksha, Vladimir P., Holman, Jay M., Coombs, Paul G., Markantes, Charles T., Phillips, Roger W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,726,806 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 101/481
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 3/20 by magnetic fields
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 3/207 post-treatment by magnetic fields
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 5/06 to obtain multicolour or other optical effects B05D5/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 5/061 Special surface effect
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 11/02 for securities security printing B41M3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 13/08 Cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 13/10 Forme cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: B41N 10/02 Blanket structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41N 6/00 Mounting boards; Sleeves Make-ready devices, e.g. underlays, overlays; Attaching by chemical means, e.g. vulcanising
• CPC Class Codes: B41P 2200/30 Heliography
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2033/16 Magnetic or magnetisable material
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/20 Optical effects
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/24 Colours
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/29 Securities; Bank notes
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/369 Magnetised or magnetisable materials
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/0011 for security or authentication holograms on information-bearing cards B42D25/328; testing papers with holograms G07D7/0032
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/0236 Form or shape of the hologram when not registered to the substrate, e.g. trimming the hologram to alphanumerical shape substrates bearing a hologram G03H1/0272
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/0244 Surface relief holograms replicating hologram without interference recording G03H1/0276
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/0256 having specific functional layer
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/188 Demetallisation, i.e. removing the enhancing metallic layer enhancement layer G03H2250/36
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2250/34 : Colour layer
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2250/36 : Conform enhancement layer
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/0032 : using holograms

Abstract

A printing apparatus includes a magnetic rotatable roller with a smooth even outer surface for aligning magnetic flakes in a carrier, such as an ink vehicle or a paint vehicle to create optically variable images in a high-speed, linear printing operation. Images can provide security features on high-value documents, such as bank notes. Magnetic flakes in the ink are aligned using magnetic portions of the roller, that can be formed by permanent magnets embedded in a non-magnetic roller body, or selectively magnetized portions of a flexible magnetic cover of the roller. In some embodiments, the roller is assembled for a plurality of interchangeable sections, which can include spinning magnets. Selected orientation of the magnetic pigment flakes can achieve a variety of illusive optical effects that are useful for decorative or security applications.

Claims

1. An apparatus for orienting magnetic flakes in a fluid carrier printed on a substrate in a printing process, the apparatus comprising:

a rotatable roller for positioning with an outer surface proximate to the substrate, said roller having an outer surface that is selectively magnetized at one or more selected locations to form one or more magnetized portions of the roller for creating a magnetic field emanating from the outer surface of the roller into the substrate, so as to orient the magnetic flakes during the printing process in a selected pattern.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the roller comprises a cylindrical body encased by a flexible magnetic sheet that is selectively magnetized for providing the one or more magnetized portions of the roller.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the cylindrical body comprises non-magnetic material.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the location and shape of the magnetized portions of the roller is selected so that the selected pattern forms an image of an object, indicia, or a logo.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the location and shape of the magnetized portions of the roller is selected so that the image provides a dynamic optical effect when viewed at a varying viewing angle or at a varying illumination angle.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the location and shape of the magnetized portions of the roller is selected so that the image comprises a rolling object or a flip-flop.

7. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the location and shape of the magnetized portions of the roller is selected so that the dynamic optical effect comprises color shifting or color changing.

8. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the location and shape of the magnetized portions of the roller is selected so that the image provides an illusive optical effect.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the location and shape of the magnetized portions of the roller is selected so that the that the image provides an illusion of depth exceeding the substrate thickness.