Patent US3368988A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4336323A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Decolorizable imaging system
Assignee: 3M Co
•
Filing: 1980-10-22
•
Granted: 1982-06-22
•
Expires: 2000-10-22
Abstract
Abstract A light insensitive imageable layer comprising a synthetic polymeric binder, a dye, a nitrate salt, and an acid.
Inventors
- 👤 John M. Winslow
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 17:16
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41M; B41M5/00; B41M5/26; B41M5/28; B41M5/286; B41M5/30; B41M5/323; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/913
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A light insensitive imageable layer comprising a synthetic polymeric binder, and within said binder (1) a dye, (2) a nitrate salt, and (3) an acid, said dye being present in said binder in sufficient concentration to provide an optical density of at least 0.1 in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum or to absorb at least 20% of incident radiation in a 50 nm range within the infrared or ultraviolet wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum, and said nitrate ion being present in a ratio of at least 0.1 moles/mole of dye, said nitrate salt in said binder being capable of liberating a sufficient quantity of an oxidizing agent selected from the class consisting of HNO 3 , NO, NO 2 , and N 2 O 4 when heated to 200° C. for 60 seconds to oxidize said dye to a different color or colorless state.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
A light insensitive imageable layer comprising a synthetic polymeric binder, and within said binder (1) a dye, (2) a nitrate salt, and (3) an acid, said dye being present in said binder in sufficient concentration to provide an optical density of at least 0.1 in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum or to absorb at least 20% of incident radiation in a 50 nm range within the infrared or ultraviolet wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum, and said nitrate ion being present in a ratio of at least 0.1 moles/mole of dye, said nitrate salt in said binder being capable of liberating a sufficient quantity of an oxidizing agent selected from the class consisting of HNO 3 , NO, NO 2 , and N 2 O 4 when heated to 200° C. for 60 seconds to oxidize said dye to a different color or colorless state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
82 words
The imageable layer of claim 1 wherein the concentration of dye is sufficient to provide an optical density of at least 0.3 in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum, the ratio of the moles of nitrate ion to moles of dye is at least 0.3, and said nitrate salt in said binder is capable of liberating said sufficient quantity of oxidizing agent when heated to 160° C. for 60 seconds to oxidize said dye to a different color or colorless state.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
The imageable layer of claim 2 wherein the concentration of dye is sufficient to provide an optical density of at least 0.7 in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum and the ratio of the moles of nitrate ion to moles of dye is at least 0.5, said binder is a thermoplastic resin and where phenidone is present in said binder as an antioxidant.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The imageable layer of claim 1 wherein said acid is an organic carboxylic acid present as from 0.2 to 2.0 the molar amount of nitrate ion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The imageable layer of claim 3 wherein the pH of said imageable layer is less than 7.0 and phenidone is present as an antioxidant.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The imageable layer of claims 4 or 5 wherein said nitrate ion comprises a metal nitrate salt.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The imageable layer of claims 4 or 5 wherein said nitrate ion comprises a hydrated metal nitrate salt.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
The imageable layer of claims 4 or 5 which is light insensitive and wherein said dye has an oxidation potential less than +1.0, is selected from the group of dyes consisting of methines, indamines, anthraquinones, triarylmethanes, monoazos, oxazines, azines, thiazines, xanthenes, indigoids, cyanines, merocyanines, phenols, naphthols, and pyrazolones.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The imageable layer of claim 3 laminated to a photothermographic emulsion on the side of the emulsion away from the surface to be exposed to light.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The imageable layer of claims 4 or 5 wherein said nitrate salt is a hydrated salt of one of the group consisting of zinc, cadmium, nickel, aluminum, iron, copper, magnesium, chromium, cobalt, bismuth, lanthanum, gadolinium, and thorium.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The imageable layer of claims 4 or 5 where said layer is bonded between a support base layer and a photothermographic imaging layer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
THe imageable layer of claims 3, 4 or 5 which is light insensitive and wherein said dye is selected from the group of dyes consisting of methines, indamines, anthraquinones, triarylmethanes, monoazos, oxazines, azines, thiazines, xanthenes, indigoids, cyanines, merocyanines, phenols, napthols, and pyrazolones and said nitrate salt is a hydrated metal nitrate salt.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1916350A
Cited
US2390707A
Cited
US2772284A
Cited
US2884326A
Cited
US2880153A
Cited
US3300314A
Cited
US3390997A
Cited
US3460964A
Cited
US3615548A
Cited
US3595655A
Cited
US3595657A
Cited
US3745009A
Cited
US3705807A
Cited
US3801319A
Cited
US3988154A
Cited
US4017313A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-06-21 | 1985-12-21 | 1986-06-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-06-21 | 1989-12-21 | 1990-06-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-06-21 | 1993-12-21 | 1994-06-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |