Ultraviolet Security Toner Coating for Printer Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ultraviolet security toners have reduced flowability and uneven charge distribution, making them incompatible with printers designed for chemically prepared toners, and there is a need for a cost-effective solution that provides improved print quality.
Innovation Solution
A novel ultraviolet security toner is developed by melt-blending binder resin particles with a fluorescent pigment and optionally a charge-control agent, releasing agent, and inorganic materials, where the particles are coated with a first and second inorganic material of varying sizes to enhance flow characteristics and charge distribution, allowing compatibility with high-definition printers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional size reduction methods are used to manufacture ultraviolet security toner, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but flowability and charge distribution deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a composite toner structure by coating conventional size-reduction toner particles with chemically prepared toner material. This composite approach combines the cost advantage of conventional manufacturing with the superior flowability and charge distribution properties of chemically prepared toner, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing cost and operational performance
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the surface parameters of conventional toner particles by applying a coating layer with different material properties. This coating modifies the particle surface characteristics to improve flowability and charge distribution while maintaining the core particle structure from cost-effective conventional manufacturing
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional size reduction methods are used to manufacture ultraviolet security toner, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but print quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The composite structure combines conventional toner particles with a chemically prepared toner coating layer, merging the cost benefits of conventional manufacturing with the high-quality print characteristics of chemically prepared toner, thereby achieving both low cost and high print quality
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality enhancement by coating only the surface of conventional toner particles with chemically prepared material. This allows the core particle to retain cost-effective manufacturing characteristics while the surface layer provides the high-quality print performance needed for security applications
3Ease of operation
If chemically prepared toner is used, then flowability and charge distribution are improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of fully switching to expensive chemically prepared toner, the invention applies a partial approach by coating only the surface of conventional particles with chemically prepared material. This provides sufficient improvement in flowability and charge distribution without incurring the full cost of complete chemical preparation
Solution Approach 2:
The coating layer acts as an intermediary between conventional and chemically prepared toner, transferring the beneficial surface properties of chemically prepared toner to conventional particles, thereby achieving improved performance at moderate cost
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 toner achieves improved flowability, charge distribution, and print quality, enabling its use in printers designed for chemically prepared toners while being relatively inexpensive to produce and effective for secure printing applications.
Implementation Method 1
the toner... fluoresces when subjected to ultraviolet or near ultraviolet light
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with various embodiments of the invention, a method of forming an ultraviolet security toner for use in printing hardware originally designed to use chemically prepared toner includes melt-blending binder resin particles and optionally a charge-control agent, a colorant and a releasing agent. The fluorescent pigment is then admixed to the melt-blended particles to form a fluorescent pre-toner. A first inorganic material is then blended with the fluorescent pre-toner, coating the particles of the fluorescent pre-toner with the first inorganic material. A second inorganic material is then blended with the coated pre-toner, adding another layer of coating to the fluorescent pre-toner. The first inorganic material has an average particle diameter size that is less than the average particle diameter size of the fluorescent pigment particles and the second inorganic material has an average particle diameter size less than that of the first inorganic material.