Chromogenic media responsive to environmental conditions

• US 7,919,433 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2006
• Issued: 04/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Inventors: Cullen, Philip Michael, Samuels, Louann Behymer, Rosa, Dell T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess; Bruce H
• Application Number:
  US11/427,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20080004176A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,741 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 503/204
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/20 using electric current B41M5/24 takes precedence ; processes in which the current is transformed into a heat pattern for obtaining transfer to a receptor sheet B41M5/382; electro-coagulable or electro-adhesive printing or recording B41C1/105
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/282 using thermochromic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/34 Multicolour thermography

Abstract

The present invention relates to chromogenic material that may respond and shift in color due to environmental conditions such as heat, light or humidity. The light may include both visible and non-visible light, such as ultraviolet light. The chromogenic material may therefore provide a method to independently develop a latent image on a given substrate, and in particular, to a substrate that includes conventional thermosensitive image forming media.

Claims

1. A medium capable of developing a latent image comprising:

a substrate having a surface, wherein said surface includes a first chromogenic material providing a first image, said first image being rendered irreversibly illegible upon exposure to an environmental condition; and

a second chromogenic material capable of providing a secondary image wherein said secondary image is capable of developing upon exposure to said environmental condition from which said first image is rendered irreversibly illegible.

2. The medium of claim 1 wherein said secondary image, prior to exposure to said environmental condition, is transparent relative to said first image.

3. The medium of claim 1 wherein upon exposure to said environmental condition, said first chromogenic material is capable of undergoing a color change and said secondary image is capable of undergoing a color change that contrasts with said first chromogenic material color change.

4. The medium of claim 1 wherein said environmental condition comprises exposure to heat, light, electric, solvent, ions, pH change, mechanical friction, mechanical pressure, or combinations thereof.

5. The medium of claim 1 wherein said first image is formed from a thermochromic ink, dye, paint and/or pigment.

6. The medium of claim 1 further comprising an adhesive on said substrate.

7. The medium of claim 1 wherein said second chromogenic material is a thermochromic and/or photochromic ink, dye, paint, and/or pigment.

8. The medium of claim 1 wherein said first image is thermally printed.

9. The medium of claim 1 wherein said secondary image covers all, none, or a portion of said first image.

10. The medium of claim 1 in the form of a pharmaceutical label.

11. The medium of claim 1, further comprising a third material capable of providing an image, wherein said third material, prior to exposure to said environmental condition, is substantially transparent relative to said first image.

12. The medium of claim 11, wherein the said third material comprises a non-chromogenic material.

13. The medium of claim 1, wherein said environmental condition comprises exposure to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined period of time, such that said first image is rendered irreversibly illegible only upon exposure to said predetermined temperature for said predetermined period of time.

14. The medium of claim 13, wherein said predetermined period of time is about 72 hours.

15. The medium of claim 1, wherein said second chromogenic material comprises a layer of pure non-chromogenic white acrylic paint, a layer of gray blend of non-chromogenic white acrylic paint and thermochromic white to blank ink, and a layer of pure thermochromic white to black ink.

16. The medium of claim 1, wherein the secondary image irreversibly develops upon exposure to said environmental condition.

17. A method of developing a latent image upon exposure to an environmental condition, comprising:

providing a substrate having a surface, wherein said surface contains a first chromogenic material capable of forming a first image;

applying a second chromogenic material wherein said second chromogenic material is capable of forming a secondary image upon exposure to an environmental condition, wherein said environmental condition which forms said second image renders said first image irreversibly illegible.

18. A medium capable of developing a latent image comprising:

a substrate having a surface, wherein said surface includes a first material providing a first image, said first image being rendered irreversibly illegible upon exposure to an environmental condition; and

a second material capable of providing a secondary image, wherein said secondary image developing upon exposure to said environmental condition from which said first image is rendered irreversibly illegible, at least one of said first material and said second material comprising chromogenic material.

19. The medium of claim 18, wherein both said first material and said second material comprise chromogenic material.

20. The medium of claim 18 wherein said secondary image, prior to exposure to said environmental condition, is transparent relative to said first image.

21. The medium of claim 18 wherein upon exposure to said environmental condition, said first material undergoes an irreversible color change and said secondary image undergoes a color change that contrasts with said first material irreversible color change.

22. The medium of claim 18 wherein said environmental condition comprises exposure to heat, light, electric, solvent, ions, pH change, mechanical friction, mechanical pressure, or combinations thereof.

23. The medium of claim 18, wherein said environmental condition comprises exposure to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined period of time, such that said first material is rendered irreversibly illegible only upon exposure to said predetermined temperature for said predetermined period of time.

24. The medium of claim 23, wherein the secondary material irreversibly develops upon exposure to said environmental condition.