Abstract:
Sheet print media are printed/marked with both transient and permanent marking which may be juxtaposed or the transient marking overprinted to change the meaning or message of text on the appearance of an image over time. Applications include advertising and labels for articles of commerce. The method applies to plain paper or coated print media for subsequent ultraviolet radiation.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS AND APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The following patents/applications, the disclosures of each being totally incorporated herein by reference are mentioned: 
         [0002]    U.S. Publication No. US-2006-0067756-A1 (Attorney Docket No. 20031867Q-US-NP), filed Sep. 27, 2005, entitled “PRINTING SYSTEM,” by David G. Anderson, et al., and claiming priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/631,918 (Attorney Docket No. 20031867-US-PSP), filed Nov. 30, 2004, entitled “PRINTING SYSTEM WITH MULTIPLE OPERATIONS FOR FINAL APPEARANCE AND PERMANENCE,” and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/631,921, filed Nov. 30, 2004, entitled “PRINTING SYSTEM WITH MULTIPLE OPERATIONS FOR FINAL APPEARANCE AND PERMANENCE”; 
         [0003]    U.S. Publication No. US-2006-0067757-A1 (Attorney Docket No. 20031867Q-US-NP), filed Sep. 27, 2005, entitled “PRINTING SYSTEM,” by David G. Anderson, et al., and claiming priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/631,918, Filed Nov. 30, 2004, entitled “PRINTING SYSTEM WITH MULTIPLE OPERATIONS FOR FINAL APPEARANCE AND PERMANENCE,” and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/631,921, filed Nov. 30, 2004, entitled “PRINTING SYSTEM WITH MULTIPLE OPERATIONS FOR FINAL APPEARANCE AND PERMANENCE”; 
         [0004]    U.S. Publication No. US-2006-0115287-A1 (Attorney Docket No. 20040503-US-NP), Published Jun. 1, 2006, entitled “Glossing System For Use In A TIPP Architecture,” by Bryan J. Roof; 
         [0005]    U.S. application Ser. No. 11/000,168 (Attorney Docket No. 20021985-US-NP), filed Nov. 30, 2004, entitled “Addressable Fusing and Heating Methods and Apparatus,” by David K. Biegelsen, et al.; 
         [0006]    U.S. Publication No. US-2006-0115288-A1 (Attorney Docket No. 200405030-US-NP), Published Jun. 1, 2006, entitled “Glossing System For Use In A TIPP Architecture,” by Bryan J. Roof; 
         [0007]    U.S. Publication No. US-2006-0132815-A1 (Attorney Docket 20040744-US-NP), Published Jun. 22, 2006, entitled “PRINTING SYSTEMS,” by Robert M. Lofthus, et al.; 
         [0008]    U.S. Publication No. US-2006-0114313-A1 (Attorney Docket 20040448-US-NP), Published Jun. 1, 2006, entitled “PRINTING SYSTEM,” by Steven R. Moore; 
         [0009]    U.S. Publication No. US-2006-0221362-A1 (Attorney Docket 20040676-US-NP), Published Oct. 5, 2006, entitled “PRINTING SYSTEM,” by Paul C. Julien; 
         [0010]    U.S. Publication No. US-2006-0222393-A1 (Attorney Docket 20040971-US-NP), Published Oct. 5, 2006, entitled “PRINTING SYSTEM,” by Jeremy C. deJong, et al.; 
         [0011]    U.S. Publication No. US-2006-0238778-A1 (Attorney Docket 20040704-US-NP), Published Oct. 26, 2006, entitled “PRINTING SYSTEMS,” by Michael C. Mongeon, et al.; 
         [0012]    U.S. Publication No. US-2006-0269310-A1 (Attorney Docket 20040649-US-NP), Published Nov. 30, 2006, entitled “PRINTING SYSTEMS,” by Kristine A. German, et al.; 
         [0013]    U.S. Publication No. US-2006-0268318-A1 (Attorney Docket 20050281-US-NP), Published Nov. 30, 2006, entitled “PRINTING SYSTEM,” by Robert M. Lofthus, et al.; 
         [0014]    U.S. Publication No. US-2006-0268317-A1 (Attorney Docket 20050382-US-NP), Published Nov. 30, 2006, entitled “SCHEDULING SYSTEM,” by Robert M. Lofthus, et al.; 
         [0015]    U.S. Publication No. US-2006-0066885-A1 (Attorney Docket A3546-US-CIP), filed May 25, 2005, entitled “PRINTING SYSTEM,” by David G. Anderson, et al.; 
         [0016]    U.S. application Ser. No. 11/166,299 (Attorney Docket 20041110-US-NP), filed Jun. 24, 2005, entitled “PRINTING SYSTEM,” by Steven R. Moore; 
         [0017]    U.S. Publication No. US-2007-0024894-A1 (Attorney Docket 20041111-US-NP), Published Feb. 1, 2007, entitled “PRINTING SYSTEM,” by Steven R. Moore, et al.; 
         [0018]    U.S. application Ser. No. 11/215,791 (Attorney Docket 2005077-US-NP), filed Aug. 30, 2005, entitled “CONSUMABLE SELECTION IN A PRINTING SYSTEM,” by Eric Hamby, et al.; 
         [0019]    U.S. application Ser. No. 11/234,468 (Attorney Docket 20050262-US-NP), filed Sep. 23, 2005, entitled “PRINTING SYSTEM,” by Eric Hamby, et al.; 
         [0020]    U.S. Publication No. US-2007-0081828-A1 (Attorney Docket 20031549-US-NP), Published Apr. 12, 2007, entitled “PRINTING SYSTEM WITH BALANCED CONSUMABLE USAGE,” by Charles Radulski, et al.; 
         [0021]    U.S. Publication No. 20051103-US-NP (Attorney Docket 20051103-US-NP), Published May 31, 2007, entitled “PRINTING SYSTEM,” by David A. Mueller; and, 
         [0022]    U.S. application Ser. No. 11/317,167 (Attorney Docket 20050823-US-NP), filed Dec. 23, 2005, entitled “PRINTING SYSTEM,” by Robert M. Lofthus, et al. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0023]    The present disclosure relates to a technique or process of printing documents on print media and particularly digital printing on print media in sheet form in which some of the marking on the print media is transient or changes over an interval of time. Heretofore, many marking compositions have been employed which faded or disappeared over time and have spawned the expression “disappearing ink.” Also, it is known that certain chemical compositions for the marking will darken upon exposure to radiation in a limited frequency band such as, for example, radiation in the ultraviolet spectrum. Furthermore, it has been known to provide a coating on the surface of the print media which darkened or changed upon exposure to ultraviolet radiation and coatings which responded to heat or infrared radiation to darken. The primary purpose of such transient printing was either to eliminate the content of the document over time for security or privacy reasons or to enable the print media to be reused for printing. 
         [0024]    The aforesaid techniques for transient printing have been treated substantially as novelties in the commercial marketplace and have found primary applicability in the arena of document security applications. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    The present disclosure describes a method or technique of printing on sheet print media in which some of the marking is transient over time. A portion of the image on a side of the print media sheet is printed with marking of transient nature over time; and, other portions of the image on the same side of the print media sheet are printed with permanent marking. Thus, the appearance or meaning, depending upon whether the transient portion is graphic or textual, changes over time. This is commercially significant where the change is in the nature of the meaning of text; or, in the case of graphic images, the very nature of the image presented. In one version of the disclosed method, the transient marking may be applied along with permanent marking on a label to be affixed to an article of commerce. The transient marking may thus change the meaning of the label over time, such as instructions for use of the product to which the label is affixed or warnings as to changes in the condition over time of the article to which the label is affixed. 
         [0026]    In another version of the disclosed method, the transient marking and the permanent marking are mutually overprinted, such that, upon change of the transient marking, different aspects of the permanent marking are exposed to view. The method of the present disclosure has applicability for the intended purpose of changing the appearance or meaning of the marking on the print media. 
         [0027]    In another version of the method, coated paper sensitive to color change upon exposure to ultraviolet radiation (U.V.) may be employed in which the desired transient portion is marked by exposure to U.V.; and, the permanent marking performed by another print engine such as an ink jet printer or electrostatic printer. 
         [0028]    In another version of the method, the portion of the image marked in the transient printing may include segments of transient printing with different time intervals for sequential disappearance. The version of the method employing transient marking segments with different time intervals may also be applied for printing labels for use on articles of manufacture. 
         [0029]    In another version of the method, the transient portion of the image may comprise meta tags. In still another version of the method, the transient portion may comprise half tone marking; and, the permanent portion may also comprise half tone marking. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0030]      FIG. 1  is a block flow diagram of the method as practiced with plain paper print media; 
           [0031]      FIG. 2  is a block flow diagram of the method as practiced with coated print media; and, 
           [0032]      FIG. 3  is a block flow diagram of the user inputs of the versions of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the method is exemplified for printing on plain paper, where the user input to the print engine system is indicated at  10  where the user inputs information relating to the image composition, including transient interval(s) and which may include over printing. The user then proceeds to step  11  and selects plain paper as the print media. The method then proceeds at step  12  to inquire as to whether the image to be printed is to be permanent marking only. If the determination at step  12  is negative, the method proceeds to step  14  where the inquiry is made as to whether a transient image is to be printed first. If the inquiry in step  14  is answered in the affirmative, the transient image is printed at step  16  on the plain paper. 
         [0034]    However, if the determination at step  12  was affirmative, the method proceeds to step  18  and the image is permanently marked. If the determination in step  14  is negative, the system proceeds to print the permanent image at step  20  and then proceeds to print the transient image at step  22 . 
         [0035]    Alternatively, following the printing of the transient image at step  16 , the system proceeds to print the permanent image at step  24 . The transient marking of steps  16  and  22  may include marking the material that changes color over time by virtue of the composition of the marking. 
         [0036]    Subsequently, the printed images from either steps  24  or  22  have their exposed transient marking irradiated with ultraviolet radiation at step  26  to effect the desired changes in the transient image. The printed images from steps  26 ,  18  may then be assembled to form a document at step  28  and distributed to the end user at step  30 . Upon lapse of the predetermined time interval the transient image disappears as indicated at step  32 . 
         [0037]    The present disclosure also includes the arrangement in which the transient marking is performed in segments wherein each segment is marked with material which disappears in a different interval, thus giving the printed image a sequentially changing appearance over time. If this latter version is employed, the transient marking would be accomplished by printing the individual segments on different e.g. plural print engines. The transient marking may also include meta-tags. The transient marking may include half tone marking; and, the permanent marking may individually or in combination therewith include half tone marking. 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , another version of the method of the present disclosure is illustrated wherein a user input at step  40  determines the composition, including transient interval(s), over printing, if any, and proceeds to step  41  and selects printing from coated paper. For example, paper coated with transparent dye which is operative to turn opaque upon exposure to ultraviolet radiation may be employed. Upon completion of the user inputs at step  40 ,  41 , the method proceeds to step  42  and inquires as to whether the image is to be permanently marked only. If the query at step  42  is answered in the affirmative, the method proceeds to step  44  and optionally prints the permanent image on plain paper. 
         [0039]    If, however, the query at step  42  is answered in the negative, the method proceeds to step  46  and prints the permanent image on the coated paper. The method then proceeds to step  48  and prints the transient image by localizing ultraviolet radiation on a transient image area at step  48 . 
         [0040]    The method then proceeds from either step  48  or step  44  to step  50  where the document is assembled; and, at step  52  the assembled document is distributed to the end user. The transient image then disappears within the predetermined time interval as indicated at step  54  to provide the desired effect on the printed image. 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , block flow diagram of the user composition steps  10 ,  40  of the method of  FIGS. 1 and 2  is presented wherein at step  60  the method which may be software driven enables the user to generate an editable page layout view of the image to be permanently marked. The method then proceeds to step  62  and enables the user to add editable transient image(s) features to a page layout view of the image to be permanently marked. The method then proceeds to step  64  and inquires as to whether the layout of the combined transient and permanent images is acceptable. The combined image may include over printing of one of the transient and permanent marking with respect to the other. If the query in step  64  is answered in the affirmative, the method proceeds to step  66  and creates a print job ticket or order and sends the job to the digital front end (DFE) of one or more print engines. For example, the transient marking may be accomplished on one print engine; and, the permanent marking on another print engine. 
         [0042]    If the version of the presently disclosed method utilizing segments of the transient image changing over different intervals is employed, these different segments of the transient image may also be marked on different print engines. The print engine may also be of the electrostatic or ink jet type. If the query in step  64  is answered in the negative the program proceeds concurrently to steps  68 ,  70  and  72  where respectively the permanent image features, the combined permanent and transient image features and the transient image(s) features are viewed and edited. Upon completion of the user editing at steps  68 ,  70 ,  72  the program returns to step  64 . 
         [0043]    The result of the disappearing transient image may produce either a change in color, a change in the writing or meaning of textural information, or may change the visual appearance of an image, either by elimination of portions thereof or by eliminating a characteristic such as color from overprinting. The permanent marking may be a first color and the transient marking changing to a different color over a predetermined time interval. 
         [0044]    The second portion of transient marking may also contain codes such as, for example, scrambling, bar codes and graph codes which are transient over a predetermined time interval. The second portion of transient marking may also be effective to disappear and reappear after a predetermined time. 
         [0045]    In plain paper media the transient coating may be made by the ultraviolet sensitive marking followed by ultraviolet radiation exposure. The predetermined time intervals for the transient images can be varied by changing the ultraviolet sensitive marking such as materials and quantity and/or by changing the level of the ultraviolet radiation exposure such as time and intensity. On coated media, the transient marking may be by ultraviolet laser from one print engine; and, the permanent marking applied from another print engine. 
         [0046]    The version of the presently disclosed method employing segments of the transient image changing over different time intervals may be employed with coated papers by providing different coating in selected regions or areas of the coated print media. However, this latter version results in a significant increase in the cost of the coated print media and is thus viewed as more limited to images having a standardized format thereby enabling the specially segmented coated print media to be manufactured in sufficient quantity to result in less costly media. 
         [0047]    The method of the present disclosure thus enables the change in communication of information or the meaning or appearance of images over time by the process of the printing on the print media. This presently disclosed method may be practiced on one side of the print media sheet; or, the transient marking may be performed on the side of the sheet opposite the permanent marking; or, combinations of either may be performed with respect to the front and back sides of the print media sheet. Combinations of transient and permanent marking may also be applied to labels for articles of manufacture where the information thereon is desired to change over time. 
         [0048]    Both permanent and transient images can be digitized into half tone. The arrangement of both half tone images includes juxtaposing the permanent and the transient portions. 
         [0049]    The present disclosure thus describes a method of transient printing and which alters the conveyance or communication of information or images on sheet print media including labels over a predetermined time for serving the purpose of changing the information conveyed by the print media. 
         [0050]    It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.