Titanium Oxide Print Media for UV Laser Marking Visibility
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing methods on packages using thermal printers or ink-jet printers are costly due to consumables, and direct printing can lead to contamination and viewability issues, while laser printing methods limit material choices and cause contamination from powdery dust.
Innovation Solution
A print product with a specified titanium oxide content and Raman intensity ratio in a printable region, produced using ultraviolet laser irradiation, ensuring excellent viewability and solvent resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If thermal printing or ink-jet printing is used on package surfaces, then printing of variable information is achieved, but running costs increase due to expensive consumables
Solution Approach 1:
The package surface itself serves as the printing medium through laser marking. The titanium oxide coating on the package surface undergoes laser-induced discoloration to form printed characters directly on the package, eliminating the need for separate ink or toner consumables. The package surface provides its own printing capability through the photothermal effect on titanium oxide.
2Productivity
If direct printing on package surface is performed, then printing is achieved, but print scratch and character deficiency occur due to grime and thickness variation
Solution Approach 1:
A titanium oxide coating layer is applied as an intermediary between the package surface and the laser printing process. This coating layer provides a uniform, controllable surface that responds predictably to laser irradiation, eliminating the problems of grime and thickness variation inherent in direct printing on the package surface.
3Productivity
If CO2 laser light is used to remove upper layer for printing, then printing speed increases, but material choices are limited and powdery dust contamination occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the laser wavelength parameter from CO2 (infrared) to ultraviolet. This parameter change fundamentally alters the interaction mechanism from thermal ablation (which produces dust) to photodiscoloration of titanium oxide (which produces no dust). The ultraviolet laser induces electronic transitions in titanium oxide that result in permanent discoloration without material removal.
4Productivity
If CO2 laser irradiation is used for printing, then high speed printing is achieved, but viewability is inferior due to white character on black base
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the color scheme from white characters on black background (CO2 laser method) to black characters on white background (ultraviolet laser method). The ultraviolet laser causes titanium oxide to discolor to black, providing superior viewability against the light-colored package surface while maintaining high printing speed.
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 method provides a print product with clear and resistant printed regions using titanium oxide, overcoming the limitations of existing methods by enhancing viewability and reducing contamination.
Implementation Method 1
a printed region comprising discolored titanium oxide in at least one portion of a sheet medium selected from the group consisting of paper or a film having a printable region comprising titanium oxide
Implementation Method 2
a technique involving removing an upper layer easily absorbing laser light, by irradiation with CO2 laser light, to thereby expose a lower layer
Data Source
AI summary
An object of the present invention is to provide a print product which has a printed region where printing with ultraviolet laser is applied and which is excellent in viewability, a method for producing a print product by irradiation with ultraviolet laser, and a printing medium for laser printing, for use in the print product and the method for producing a print product. The print product of the present invention has a printed region comprising discolored titanium oxide in at least one portion of a sheet medium selected from the group consisting of paper or a film having a printable region comprising titanium oxide; titanium oxide is filled in the sheet medium; a titanium oxide content in the printable region in the sheet medium is 1.0% by mass or more, pulp constituting the paper has a length-weighted average fiber length and an average fiber width in specified ranges, and the paper has a basis weight of 20 g/m2 or more, when the sheet medium is the paper; a titanium oxide content in the printable region in the sheet medium is 0.3% by mass or more, the film has a thickness of 15 μm or more, and a resin constituting the film comprises a specified resin, when the sheet medium is the film; and a ratio between a Raman intensity assigned to titanium oxide in the printed region and a Raman intensity assigned to titanium oxide in a non-printed region is 0.70 or less.