Claims
- 1. An image printed on a substrate, the image comprising:
a first image portion having a first plurality of magnetic flakes aligned so as to reflect light in a first direction; and a second image portion adjacent to the first image portion having a second plurality of magnetic flakes aligned so as to reflect light in a second direction, the first image portion appearing lighter than the second image portion when viewed from a first viewing direction and the first image portion appearing darker than the second image portion when viewed from a second viewing direction.
- 2. The image according to claim 1 wherein the magnetic flakes are colored.
- 3. The image according to claim 1 wherein the magnetic flakes comprise an optical interference structure.
- 4. The image according to claim 1 wherein the magnetic flakes are dispersed in a tinted carrier.
- 5. A document comprising:
an illusive image providing a security feature, the illusive image including
a first image portion having a first plurality of magnetic flakes aligned so as to reflect light in a first direction; and a second image portion adjacent to the first image portion having a second plurality of magnetic flakes aligned so as to reflect light in a second direction, the first image portion appearing lighter than the second image portion when viewed from a first viewing direction and the first image portion appearing darker than the second image portion when viewed from a second viewing direction.
- 6. The document according to claim 5 wherein the document is a bank note.
- 7. An image printed on a substrate, the image comprising:
a plurality of magnetic flakes wherein a portion of the plurality of magnetic flakes are aligned in an arching pattern relative to a surface of the substrate so as to create a contrasting bar across the image appearing between a first adjacent field and a second adjacent field, the contrasting bar appearing to move relative to the first adjacent field and the second adjacent field as the image is tilted.
- 8. The image of claim 7 wherein the contrasting bar appears brighter than the first adjacent field.
- 9. The image of claim 7 wherein the magnetic flakes are dispersed in a tinted carrier.
- 10. The image of claim 7 wherein the magnetic flakes are printed over a reflective background.
- 11. The image of claim 7 wherein the magnetic flakes are colored.
- 12. The image of claim 7 wherein the magnetic flakes include an optical interference structure.
- 13. A document comprising:
an illusive image providing a security feature, the illusive image including
a plurality of magnetic flakes wherein a portion of the plurality of magnetic flakes are aligned in a pattern so as to create a contrasting bar across the image appearing between a first adjacent field and a second adjacent field, the contrasting bar appearing to move relative to the first adjacent field and the second adjacent field as the image is tilted relative to a viewing angle.
- 14. The document of claim 13 wherein the document is a bank note.
- 15. An apparatus for orienting magnetic pigment in a fluid carrier printed on a first side of a substrate in a linear printing process, the apparatus comprising:
a magnet disposed proximate to a second side of the substrate, the magnet creating a selected magnetic field configuration to orient the magnetic pigment to form an image.
- 16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the magnet is disposed in a rotating element.
- 17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the magnet is disposed in an impression roller.
- 18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the magnet is disposed in a tensioner.
- 19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein a face of the magnet is shaped into a symbol.
- 20. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the image is an illusive three-dimensional image with an apparent depth greater than an image thickness.
- 21. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the magnet is configured to produce a rolling bar image on the substrate.
- 22. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a second magnet.
- 23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the magnet and the second magnet are configured to produce a flip-flop image on the substrate.
- 24. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising a magnetic base.
- 25. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising a magnetic blade disposed between the magnet and the second magnet.
- 26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein a tip of the magnetic blade is sharpened to form an edge defining an angle of between 5 degrees and 150 degrees.
- 27. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a magnetic cap disposed between the magnet and the first side of the substrate.
- 28. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the magnet has a trailing edge, a corner of the trailing edge being chamfered so as to gradually reduce magnetic field intensity as the image moves past the trailing edge of the magnet.
- 29. An apparatus for printing flip-flop images on a substrate in a linear printing process, the apparatus comprising:
a first elongated magnet and a second elongated magnet extending along a direction of travel of the substrate attached to a base; and a blade disposed between the first elongated magnet and the second elongated magnet, the blade also extending along the direction of travel of the substrate.
- 30. An apparatus for printing rolling bar images on a substrate in a linear printing process, the apparatus comprising:
a magnet having a north face, a south face, and an upper edge, the upper edge extending along a direction of travel of the substrate, a magnetic axis between the north face and the south face being transverse to the direction of travel of the substrate, and a trailing edge having a chamfered upper corner.
- 31. The apparatus of claim 30 further comprising:
a second magnet essentially identical to the first magnet, and having a second north face, a second south face, and a second upper edge, the magnet and the second magnet being disposed in a non-magnetic housing such that the north face faces the second north face or such that the south face faces the second south face, and the upper edge lies in a plane with the second upper edge.
- 32. A method of forming an image on a substrate, the method comprising steps of:
printing a field of magnetic pigment dispersed in a fluid carrier on a substrate; moving the substrate relative to a magnet to selectively orient the magnetic pigment to form the image; and fixing the image.
- 33. The method of claim 32 wherein the step of fixing occurs before the image moves past the magnet.
- 34. The method of claim 32 wherein the substrate is a sheet of paper.
- 35. The method of claim 32 wherein the substrate is a roll of paper.
- 36. The method of claim 32 wherein a plurality images are concurrently printed.
- 37. The method of claim 36 wherein the plurality of images includes a first image and a second image, the first image appearing different from the second image.
- 38. The method of claim 36 wherein the first image is printed with a first ink and the second image is printed with a second ink.
- 39. The method of claim 36 wherein the first image has a first shape and the second image has a second shape.
- 40. The method of claim 32 wherein the image is an illusive three-dimensional image having an apparent depth greater than an image thickness.
- 41. A method of forming an image on a substrate, the method comprising steps of:
moving the substrate past a magnetic roller; aligning magnetic pigment flakes dispersed in a fluid carrier on a surface of the substrate to form the image; and fixing the image.
- 42. The method of claim 41 wherein the magnetic roller is an impression roller that applies the magnetic flakes and fluid carrier to the substrate.
- 43. The method of claim 41 wherein the magnetic pigment flakes and fluid carrier are applied to the substrate before the magnetic roller aligns the magnetic pigment flakes.
- 44. The method of claim 41 wherein the step of fixing the image occurs while the magnetic roller maintains alignment of the magnetic pigment flakes.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/410,546 filed Sep. 13, 2002 by Vladimir P. Raksha, from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/410,547 filed Sep. 13, 2002 by Vladimir P. Raksha, Paul G. Coombs, Charles T. Markantes, Dishuan Chu, and Jay M. Holman, and from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/396,210 filed Jul. 15, 2002 by Vladimir P. Raksha, Paul G. Coombs, Charles T. Markantes, Dishuan Chu, and Jay M. Holman, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety for all purposes.
Provisional Applications (3)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60410546 |
Sep 2002 |
US |
|
60410547 |
Sep 2002 |
US |
|
60396210 |
Jul 2002 |
US |