US4540595A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Article identification material and method and apparatus for using it
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1982-10-07
•
Granted: 1985-09-10
•
Expires: 2002-10-07
Abstract
Abstract An ink that fluoresces in the near infrared is used to mark documents such as bank checks for automatic identification. Markings with this ink are reliably detectable, even in the presence of other markings commonly found on such documents. The preferred fluorescent material of our invention is a phenoxazine dye 3,7-BIS(diethylamino) phenoxazonium nitrate.
Inventors
- 👤 Mario A. Acitelli
- 👤 Richard F. Tynan
- 👤 Alan R. Wayson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 20:27
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09D; C09D11/00; C09D11/50; B; B41; B41M; B41M3/00; B41M3/06; B41M3/14; B41M3/144; C09D11/02; C09D11/03; C09D11/037
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A system for marking items for subsequent automatic identification comprising, in combination, means for printing identifying intelligible markings on said items and employing a marking medium said marking medium comprising a compatible ink vehicle capable of drying by evaporation and penetration of the item without leaving a residue that is significantly absorptive of radiation in the visible or near infrared spectrum, and a material which, when applied to an item, fluoresces in response to radiation excitation to produce fluorescent radiation of wave-lengths lying principally in the spectrum comprising wave-lengths between 650 and 800 nm.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
94 words
A system for marking items for subsequent automatic identification comprising, in combination, means for printing identifying intelligible markings on said items and employing a marking medium said marking medium comprising a compatible ink vehicle capable of drying by evaporation and penetration of the item without leaving a residue that is significantly absorptive of radiation in the visible or near infrared spectrum, and a material which, when applied to an item, fluoresces in response to radiation excitation to produce fluorescent radiation of wave-lengths lying principally in the spectrum comprising wave-lengths between 650 and 800 nm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A marking system, as defined in claim 1, wherein said marking material comprises a phenoxazine dye.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A marking system, as defined in claim 2, wherein said ink vehicle has a pH of 6 or less.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system, as defined in claim 3, wherein said phenoxazine dye is of the structure ##STR6## where X is the anion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system, as defined in claim 1, wherein said items comprise banking documents, such as checks, and wherein said printing means comprises an ink jet printer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system, as defined in claim 5, wherein said ink vehicle comprises, as a major constituent thereof, a solvent selected from the group of water, methanol and ethylene glycol.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A marking system, as defined in claim 2, wherein said marking medium includes said phenoxazine dye in a concentration of between 0.12 and 0.35% by weight with respect to said marking medium.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
90 words
The method of automatically identifying objects comprising the steps of: applying identifying intelligible markings to the objects using a material which, when applied to the object, fluoresces in response to radiation excitation to produce a radiation response principally in a spectrum of wave lengths between 650 and 800 mm, subjecting the objects to exciting radiation that includes substantially no radiation in said spectrum, reading said markings by selectively detecting only radiation in said spectrum emanating from the object, and identifying the object in response to the reading of said markings.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
90 words
The method of automatically identifying objects comprising the steps of: applying identifying intelligible markings to the objects using a material which, when applied to the object, fluoresces in response to radiation excitation to produce a radiation response principally in a spectrum of wave lengths between 650 and 800 mm, subjecting the objects to exciting radiation that includes substantially no radiation in said spectrum, reading said markings by selectively detecting only radiation in said spectrum emanating from the object, and identifying the object in response to the reading of said markings.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method of automatically identifying objects, as defined in claim 8, wherein said marking material comprises a phenoxazine dye.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of automatically identifying objects, as defined in claim 9, wherein said phenoxazine dye is of the structure ##STR7## where X is the anion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3105908A
Cited
US3027830A
Cited
US3395284A
Cited
US3422266A
Cited
DE1928297A1
Cited
DE1794248A1
Cited
US3634017A
Cited
US3705043A
Cited
US3703628A
Cited
US3731222A
Cited
GB1439173A
Cited
US3933094A
Cited
US3969612A
Cited
US3946203A
Cited
US4013997A
Cited
US3993894A
Cited
US4007462A
Cited
US4248636A
Cited
US4202491A
Cited
US4451530A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-09-09 | 1989-03-11 | 1989-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-09-09 | 1993-03-11 | 1993-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-09-09 | 1997-03-11 | 1997-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |