Patent Application
20110017816
Checks and other negotiable instruments are used between people and/or companies many times a day to complete financial transactions. In some instances, the check will have a duplicate version such that each party to the transaction will have a record of the transaction details. A large amount of time and cost is devoted to making safe checks and duplicates. Every check has to contain some personalized information to associate to the drafter of the check. The personalization adds to the overall printing task and can result in a number of steps to the production of books of personalized checks with duplicate blanks. There is a need in the art for a better way to make duplicates which reduces overall production time and cost.
Various embodiments are illustrated by way of example in the figures of the accompanying drawings. Such embodiments are demonstrative and not intended to be exhaustive or exclusive embodiments of the present subject matter.
The following detailed description of the present invention refers to subject matter in the accompanying drawings which show, by way of illustration, specific aspects and embodiments in which the present subject matter may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the present subject matter. References to “an”, “one”, or “various” embodiments in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references contemplate more than one embodiment. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full scope of legal equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
In some embodiments, negotiable instruments such as checks, purchase agreements, leases, or other contracts have duplicate versions that are mated to the original negotiable instrument. For instance, a booklet of checks will have a set of duplicate checks that are mated to the originals. In this manner, a person may store or otherwise keep a record of any checks that are written. In an example embodiment, an original check has personalized information such as a name, address, accounting number, etc., which is also printed on the associated duplicate check. The duplicate check has information common to record keeping such as a balancing portion and a tracking portion (e.g., categories). Both the original and duplicate check may also have information that is common to all checks such as signature and memo lines.
In an embodiment, a printing system is used that uses one printing process to allow the legible transfer of information from a negotiable instrument to its associated duplicate. The printing system includes a base stock of a negotiable instrument (original base stock) and a base stock of a duplicate negotiable instrument (duplicate base stock) with a light sensitive coating applied. The two base stocks are mated together to form a mated base stock. In an embodiment, the mated base stock is exposed to a light (e.g., laser light, UV light, or a visible light source) and information on the base stock of the negotiable instrument is transferred to the coated areas of the base stock of the duplicate negotiable instrument in a human readable form. By using the process above to transfer information from the original base stock to the duplicate base stock, only half as much printing may be needed to obtain a duplicate base stock with personalized information as compared to having to print personalized information on both the original and duplicate base stock.
In other embodiments, varying arrangements and types of information are printed on the original and duplicate checks. For instance, a duplicate check may include the same bank information as the original check. In another embodiment, the original check does not include any personalized information. In yet another embodiment, additional portions of the duplicate check have the photosensitive coating applied. Other combinations of information and photosensitive portions may also be used.
In additional embodiments, there is more than one duplicate negotiable instrument for each original negotiable instrument. For example, a contract may have four copies that are mated to the original contract. Each of the duplicates can be a different color (e.g., the white, yellow, pink, and blue) and have different portions with the photosensitive coating applied.
In an embodiment, a base stock of a negotiable instrument (original base stock) 308 (e.g., a check) is mated with a base stock of a duplicate negotiable instrument (duplicate base stock) 310 using mating device 302. In an embodiment, original base stock 308 and duplicate base stock 310 are both a type of paper. In an embodiment the paper has a particular weight such as 141b to 171b for duplicate base stock and 201b to 241b for original base stock. In an embodiment, original base stock 308 and duplicate 310 have a top and bottom side in which the top side has information printed (e.g., bank information). In an embodiment, the top side of original base stock 308 and duplicate base stock 310 have information printed that is common to both base stock 308 and 310. For example, if the negotiable instrument is a check, a dollar box is printed on both base stocks. In other embodiments, the base stock of the negotiable instrument 308 is printed with information common to all checks and the base stock of the duplicate negotiable instrument is left blank. In various embodiments, no personalized information is printed on either base stock (e.g., no check numbers, account numbers, bank specific contact information, etc.)
In various embodiments, a photosensitive material is coated on portions of the top of the base stock of the duplicate negotiable instrument 310. The photosensitive material is coated on the regions of the duplicate negotiable instrument that correspond to the location of information printed on the original base stock 308 that is to be transferred to the duplicate base stock 310. For example, if the negotiable instrument is a check, there is a check number printed in the upper right corner. Thus, the photosensitive material is coated in the upper right corner of the duplicate base stock 310.
In one embodiment, mating device 302 mates base stock of a negotiable instrument 308 with base stock of a duplicate negotiable instrument 310 to form mated base stock 312. In an embodiment, the base stocks are printed separately and padded together at a later point in time. For example, loose sheets are printed with consecutive numbers and stacked post print. The stack is cut to size and then the ends are padded together with glue to create a sequence of original and duplicate alternating within the pad. In some embodiments, an adhesive is applied to the bottom of original base stock 308, the top side of duplicate base stock 310, or both. The adhesive is such that, upon mating, original base stock 308 and duplicate base stock 310 are separable without damaging the information, if any, printed on either base stock. In an embodiment, the adhesive is applied only to the edges of either base stock.
In an embodiment, printing device 304 prints personalized information 314 on the base stock of the negotiable instrument 308 portion of mated stock 312. Personalized information may include, but is not limited to, the information printed on check 100. In embodiments where the base stock of the negotiable instrument is blank before printing, additional information is printed. For example, when the negotiable instrument is a check, the signature, pay to, and memo lines are printed. In an embodiment, printing device 304 is a laser printer. In various embodiments the printer is an inkjet, thermographic, or other types of printer that has the capability to print at a density sufficient enough to block the exposure of light from exposure unit 306.
In an embodiment, mated base stock 312 passes under an exposure unit 306. Exposure unit 306 applies light to mated base stock 312. In an embodiment, the light is ultraviolet light. Upon exposure to the light, the printed personalized information 314 is transferred to the base stock of the duplicate negotiable instrument 310 as personalized information 316.
For example, the printed portion of base stock 308 creates a shadowing on the base stock of 310 which creates a difference in exposure between printed and non-printed areas of the duplicate negotiable instrument. The exposure creates a change in color on areas that have been coated with the photosensitive material. Through a photo chromic process, a shift occurs in the coated regions of the base stock of the negotiable instrument 312 which matches the shadowing (e.g., the printed information on base stock 310). For example, the photosensitive material may be blue when applied, but upon being exposed to the UV light, the exposed areas turn gray and the shaded image areas remain blue. Thus, if the base stock of the duplicate negotiable instrument 310 is completely coated in a photosensitive material, all the information printed on the base stock of the negotiable instrument 308 will be transferred to the base stock 310.
In some embodiment, the specifications of the exposure unit and base stock allow a legible transfer of information from the base stock of the negotiable instrument to the duplicate base stock. For example, the intensity, wavelength, distance, and time may have an effect on the transfer of information. In an embodiment, the thickness of the original base stock is 20-24 lb stock. The stocks are preprinted but have 30% or less coverage of the preprinted design in the exposed area that would need to transfer light. In an embodiment, the photosensitive material applied to the duplicate base stock will react within the UV light source's output range. In an embodiment, the light transferring through the original base stock provides a minimum of 30% light transfer to expose the treated areas of the duplicate base stock. The exposed area will fade and reveal the image shaded by the print on the top sheet. Also, in an embodiment, the photosensitive material is non-hazardous.
In an embodiment, the speed of the stock under the exposure source is 100-feet per minute (FPM). For example, the character field in an application where only the check number is printed can be 1.25″ in length. In further applications, in digital production systems using standard 8.5″×11″ paper, there may be a target range of achieving 200 FPM.
At block 404, a photosensitive coating is applied to a portion of a base stock of the a duplicate negotiable instrument. In an embodiment, the photosensitive coating is to provide transfer of selected personalized information from the negotiable instrument when light is applied to the mated base stock.
At block 406, the base stock of the negotiable instrument is mated with the base stock of the duplicate negotiable instrument to form mated base stock. At block 408, light is applied to the mated base stock. In an embodiment, the light is ultraviolet light.
This application is intended to cover adaptations or variations of the present subject matter. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of the present subject matter should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of legal equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
This patent application claims the benefit of priority, under 35 U.S.C. §119(e), to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/228,388, filed on Jul. 24, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61228388 | Jul 2009 | US |
