Abstract: Fluorescent security thermal transfer printing ribbons consisting of an elongated backing element having a printing media adhered to one side thereof. The printing media is capable of being transferred to paper, or some other print receiving medium, by conventional thermal transfer printing equipment. The thermally transferred printing media includes an interspersed distribution of fluorescent pigments, resulting in printed security characters and images which are transparent or invisible under broad spectrum light, but which fluoresce, and become visible, when exposed to black light.

Abstract: A thermal transfer medium is provided which is sufficiently opaque to be sensed by optical sensing means, yet forms images which can be transparent or semi-transparent (or opaque). The thermal transfer medium comprises a transparent substrate and multi-layer structure of a thin first coat and a thick second coating. The coatings are formulated such that only the second coating transfers to a receiving substrate upon exposure to a print head of a thermal printer leaving the first coat positioned on the transparent substrate. Separation of the two coatings allows the transparency/opacity of the image to be independent of the transparency/opacity of the first coats and the thermal transfer medium.

Abstract: A thermal transfer medium which forms images having a matte finish is provided which comprises a substrate, a thin first coating and a thick second coating. The coatings are formulated such that only the second coating transfers to a receiving substrate upon exposure to a thermal print head leaving the first coating positioned on the substrate. Separation of the two coatings provides images with a matte finish. The first coating has a higher softening point than the second coating and in preferred embodiments, the binder resin in the first coating provides higher adhesion to the substrate than the binder resin in the second coating.

Abstract: Multi-layer thermally transferable printing ribbons and methods of making the same consisting of elongated backing elements having a subcoat layer requiring a relatively high level of thermal energy to transfer the subcoat layer and a topcoat layer which requires a lower level of thermal energy to transfer the topcoat layer. Accordingly, when printing using a lower level of thermal energy, only the topcoat layer will transfer onto the paper or other print receiving medium. On the other hand, if a relatively high level of thermal energy is used, both the topcoat layer and the subcoat layer will transfer onto the paper or other print receiving medium, with the subcoat layer remaining on top and blocking or obscuring the topcoat layer.

Abstract: A printing ribbon for printing bar codes which appear visibly red and are scannable by conventional bar code scanning systems utilizing lasers emitting light having wavelengths in the visible red region and collectors which collect the light reflected from the bar codes. This is accomplished by the provision of a printing ribbon having a printing medium adhered to a backing element. The printing medium preferably includes an interspersed distribution of pigments which are retained in a binder. These pigments can include a combination of red coloring agents, such as visible red pigments which visibly appear red under broad spectrum light, fluorescent pigments which are inactive under light having wavelengths in the visible red region, but which fluoresce under broad spectrum light, and red absorbing agents, such as visible black or other dark colored pigments.

Abstract: Fluorescent security thermal transfer printing ribbons consisting of an elongated backing element having a printing media adhered to one side thereof. The printing media is preferably capable of being transferred to paper, or some other print receiving medium, by conventional thermal transfer printing equipment. If desired, the visible printed images can be made in one configuration, for example, conventional product identification bar codes, and the fluorescent security characters and indicia can be made in a different configuration, for example, the name of a particular store, or the store's logo. Thus, printing ribbons in accordance with this invention can be used to print visibly transparent printing, black printing, or other color printing as viewed under broad spectrum light, and independent fluorescent security characters and indicia which are invisible under broad spectrum light, but which fluoresce, and become visible, when exposed to black light.