Laser Imageable Paper with Integrated Color Former

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for creating light-activated color change paper substrates are inefficient due to a wasteful and time-consuming printing stage, and previous technologies only produce grey-scale brown-burn marks.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating metal oxyanions, molecular organics, or their combinations as color formers into the paper substrate during the manufacturing process, specifically at the sizing stage or within the paper's body, allowing for direct light imaging without a secondary printing step and enabling multi-color marks and black marks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If surface coating with light activated colour change technology is used, then the paper can undergo colour change reaction, but a wasteful and time consuming printing stage is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolour change capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The colour former is incorporated into the paper substrate during the paper manufacturing process itself, specifically at the sizing stage or within the paper body, rather than applying it later through a separate printing stage. This preliminary incorporation eliminates the need for subsequent printing operations while ensuring the paper has the required colour change capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the paper manufacturing process with the colour former application process. The colour former is added to the paper stock or sizing solution during manufacturing, merging two previously separate operations (paper making and colour former application) into one integrated process, thereby eliminating wasteful and time-consuming secondary printing stages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If surface coating with light activated colour change technology is used, then the paper can undergo colour change reaction, but the process is time consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolour change capabilityVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The colour former is incorporated into the paper substrate during the paper manufacturing process itself, specifically at the sizing stage or within the paper body, rather than applying it later through a separate printing stage. This preliminary incorporation eliminates the need for subsequent printing operations while ensuring the paper has the required colour change capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the paper manufacturing process with the colour former application process. The colour former is added to the paper stock or sizing solution during manufacturing, merging two previously separate operations (paper making and colour former application) into one integrated process, thereby eliminating wasteful and time-consuming secondary printing stages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Manufacturing precision

If micronized polymers are used as absorber material, then the paper can be imaged, but only grey-scale brown-burn marks are produced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimaging capabilityVSAvoidmark quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical nature of the colour former from carbonizing polymers to metal oxyanions and molecular organics that undergo light-activated colour change reactions. This parameter change transforms the imaging mechanism from thermal carbonization (producing brown-burn marks) to photochemical colour change reactions (producing multi-colour and black marks), thereby improving mark quality while maintaining imaging capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite colour former systems combining metal oxyanions (such as molybdates, tungstates, vanadates) with molecular organics (such as diacetylenes, leuco dyes, charge transfer agents). These composite materials enable multi-colour imaging capabilities that neither component could achieve alone, producing aesthetically pleasing multi-colour and black marks instead of simple brown-burn marks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach eliminates the need for a separate printing stage, produces high-quality multi-color and black marks, and maintains the paper's properties for further processing, such as surface-coating and laminating, while providing secure and aesthetic imaging capabilities.

Implementation Method 1

a colour former which is capable undergoing a light activated colour change reaction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight activated colour change reaction: Photochromism

Data Source

PatentEP2331751B1Laser imageable paper

Publication Date: 2017.07.26 DATALASE

AI summary

A method of manufacturing a paper substrate comprising a colour former which is capable undergoing a light activated colour change reaction, wherein the colour former is applied to the paper substrate during the manufacture of said paper substrate, and the colour former is a metal oxyanion or a molecular organic. A paper substrate obtainable by this method is also provided.