Surface Taggant Toner for Infrared Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current toner compositions for security applications lack effective means to incorporate infrared luminescent taggants without interfering with toner charging or color, and existing methods require additional processing steps.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a ceramic infrared luminescent taggant comprising oxides of silicon, yttrium, lithium, ytterbium, and cerium on the surface of toner particles during the normal blend processing, which does not interfere with toner charging and can be detected using infrared methods for authentication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If infrared luminescent taggant materials are incorporated within the core toner particle structure during the emulsion aggregation process, then security authentication capability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases due to requiring additional processing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The infrared luminescent taggant is pre-mixed with the toner particles in the blend before imaging, rather than being incorporated during the emulsion aggregation process. This preliminary blending action allows the taggant to be added as a surface coating, eliminating the need to modify the core toner manufacturing process while still achieving security authentication capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a binder or carrier medium as an intermediary to apply the infrared taggant onto the toner particle surface. This intermediary approach allows the taggant to be deposited without directly interfering with the toner particle structure or requiring modifications to the emulsion aggregation process, thus reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining security functionality
2Reliability
If taggant materials are encapsulating toner particles or using taggant particle aggregates, then security features are improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates due to additional processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The infrared taggant is pre-blended with the toner particles in the formulation blend before the imaging process. This preliminary mixing allows the taggant to be uniformly distributed on the toner surface without requiring post-manufacturing encapsulation or aggregation steps, significantly improving ease of manufacture while maintaining security effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the infrared taggant application with the existing toner blending process. By combining the taggant addition step with the normal toner formulation blending, the process eliminates separate encapsulation or aggregation operations, making manufacturing easier while achieving the same security feature effectiveness
3Ease of manufacture
If infrared luminescent taggant is disposed on the surface of toner particles during normal blend processing, then ease of manufacture is improved by requiring no extra process steps, but measurement precision must be maintained for infrared detection
Solution Approach 1:
The infrared luminescent taggant is applied locally on the surface of the toner particles rather than throughout the entire particle structure. This localized surface deposition ensures that the taggant is positioned where it can be effectively detected by infrared scanners while maintaining the bulk toner properties necessary for proper charging and imaging, thus preserving measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the concentration and particle size parameters of the infrared taggant in the surface blend to ensure sufficient infrared detection precision. By carefully controlling these parameters within specific ranges, the system achieves reliable infrared detection while maintaining ease of manufacture through simple blending processes
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
The solution allows for secure authentication through infrared detection without affecting toner charging or color, and integrates seamlessly with existing toner production processes, enhancing security features without additional processing steps.
Implementation Method 1
infrared luminescent taggant... allowing authentication of the article by infrared detection of the infrared luminescent taggant
Data Source
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AI summary
A toner composition includes toner particles having a resin and a colorant, the composition further including an infrared luminescent taggant disposed on the surface of the toner particles. A method of making a toner composition includes toner particles having a resin and a colorant, the composition further including an infrared luminescent taggant disposed on the surface of the toner particles, the method includes blending toner particles with a surface additive package that includes the infrared luminescent taggant. An article includes a printed image disposed on the article, the printed image made with a toner composition including toner particles having a resin and a colorant, the composition further including an infrared luminescent taggant disposed on the surface of the toner particles, the printed image allowing authentication of the article by infrared detection of the infrared luminescent taggant.