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.

Abstract: Protected printed identification cards with accompanying letters or business forms preferably consisting of a printed bond sheet having a laminate liner adhered thereto. Portions of the printed bond sheet and the laminate liner have die cuts to permit removal of the protected printed identification card from the accompanying letter or business form. To form the final protected printed identification card, a portion of the printed bond sheet and a corresponding double-wide portion of the laminate liner are pulled from the back of the accompanying letter or business form. The extending portion of the laminate liner is then folded over the front surface of the printed bond sheet to form the final protected printed identification card. An exposed adhesive on the entire surface of the top and bottom laminate liner layers adheres to the front and back surfaces, respectively, of the printed bond sheet to form a durable, tamper-resistant protected printed identification card.

Abstract: A facsimile security system includes a base sheet capable of having confidential information thereon and a cover sheet with imprinting thereon for obscuring the confidential information on the base sheet. The imprinting comprises lines in a repeated pattern over the cover sheet and the lines are separated by spaces without imprinting which spaces extend across the cover sheet or in an elongated direction of the cover sheet. The spaces may extend in a diagonal direction on the cover sheet or the spaces may extend only partially across the cover sheet in a repeated pattern. The cover sheet is preprinted in a preferred form of the invention.

Abstract: Stencils having enhanced wear-resistance consisting of a metal body, preferably fabricated from stainless steel, having a first major surface and a second major surface and a plurality of apertures extending through the metal body from the first major surface to the second major surface, and a diamond coating which is preferably applied to at least the top surface of the metal body, and to the side walls of the plurality of apertures. Such stencils are particularly useful for positioning solder paste in predetermined areas on contact pads of printing wiring boards. The diamond coating is preferably deposited on the stencil surfaces from a vapor phase of carbon-containing gases. By applying the diamond coating to the top and side wall surfaces of the stencil, improved wear-resistance is achieved, resulting in increased service life for the stencils.

Abstract: A smear resistant thermally reactive material for use in a one-coat system, the thermally reactive material being applied to a receiver stock and consisting essentially of: about 55-75% wax; a binder of about 0.5-11% ethylene vinyl acetate; a pigment of about 6-26% color pigment; a dye of about 0.5-14% color forming dye; and a reactant of about 5-15% epoxy resin. The smear resistant thermally reactive material has a cohesive strength that inhibits smearing of data that is thermally transferred from an ink ribbon to the receiver stock. A crosslinking polymer for use in a two-coat system is also disclosed. The crosslinking polymer has a first coating consisting of a catalyst of 100% organosilane and a second coating consisting essentially of: about 55-75% wax; a binder of about 0.5-11% ethylene vinyl acetate; a pigment of about 6-26% color pigment; a dye of about 0.5-14% color forming dye; and a reactant of about 5-15% organosiloxane.

Abstract: A continuous or endless loop printing ribbon cassette generally including a printing ribbon cassette body, a printing ribbon cassette nose clip member, and a continuous or endless loop inked printing ribbon. The printing ribbon cassette body includes a continuous or endless loop inked printing ribbon storage area, an outlet port, and an inlet port. The printing ribbon cassette nose clip member is positioned between the outlet port and the inlet port and locates continuous or endless loop inked printing ribbon in proper orientation relative to the interface between the print head and the printing medium.

Abstract: A moving course data collection system for use in a large-scale store such as a supermarket or the like in which a portable scanner is provided to customers which allows customers to input article code data for articles in the store customers wish to purchase. The display location of all articles in the store is stored. Thus, every time a customer inputs article code data, the time and an approximation of the customer's position in the store is determined from the article code data input by the customer and the display location of that article in the store. This information is sequentially recorded, thereby collecting data on the customer's moving course through the store.

Abstract: A transfer ribbon is suitable for use with either a thermal printer or an impact printer. The transfer ribbon comprises a substrate and a transfer coating which is coated on one side of the substrate. The transfer coating contains about 20 to 60 percent magnetic pigment; about 5 to 10 percent carbon pigment; about 0.1 to 10 percent film forming material; and about 20 to 60 percent wax binder.

Abstract: A thermal transfer ribbon has a substrate, an undercoating which contains thermal reactive materials and leuco dyes, and a thermal transfer coating applied on the undercoating and which contains a mixture of a wax emulsion and a sensible material, the undercoating assisting the transfer of color images of an improved intensity and sharpness to a receiving medium upon the application of heat to the ribbon. The invention also covers incorporation of the leuco dye and a reactant in the functional coating to intensify the transferred image, with or without the presence of sensible materials such as iron oxide or fluroescent dye, to improve the sharpness and the scratch and smear resistance of the transferred image. An alternative to the two coatings is a single coating which includes pigments with sensing characteristics, thermal reactive material, and transfer agents to obtain an improved intensity image.

Abstract: A multiple ply label has an extension that includes a bar code symbol and the extension is folded under the label ply when the label is attached to an article for the purpose of protecting the bar code symbol. Another embodiment of the multiple ply label has a cutout portion that allows a bar code symbol to be positioned so as to be partially covered by an overlying ply when the label is attached to an article for the purpose of protecting one portion of the bar code symbol while exposing the other portion of the symbol. The overlying layers or plies of the multiple ply label can be removed at successive stations while protecting the bar code symbol.

Abstract: An automatic take-up device for automatically rolling and taking up a continuous sheet of paper on which transaction results are printed. The automatic take-up device comprises a take-up spool having a first flange member, a second flange member, and a take-up shaft for coupling the first and second flange members together. The automatic take-up device also includes a housing having a first wall and a second wall, each having a slot therein to enable the take-up spool to be detachably mounted in the housing. A guide module is coupled to the housing and guides the continuous sheet of paper around the take-up spool as the continuous sheet of paper is guided to and is caused to be wrapped around the take-up spool.

Abstract: A ribbon cassette has an endless ribbon contained in the cavity of the cassette and the ribbon is directed by guide arms in a path past a printing station. A ribbon drive roller and a driven roller are positioned within the cavity and the drive roller has a shaft connected with a first bevel gear which engages a second bevel gear for driving the ribbon.

Abstract: A business form has a plurality of portions used as labels for carrying data or information and such labels are placed on packages or containers in transit. The business form has at least one portion which is folded under another portion and the form includes lines of perforations and slits for enabling the folding and for separation of certain parts. An address label has edge portions secured to the package or container and at least one edge portion is designed to be conveniently released from a release liner carrying the labels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a print head assembly for use in an ultrasonic printer. The print head assembly comprises at least one print head which is slidably mounted in a block which is slidably secured in the ultrasonic printer. Each print head comprises an ultrasonic vibrator, a horn coupled to the ultrasonic vibrator for amplifying energy generated by the ultrasonic vibrator, and a print head wire coupled to the horn. The print head wire has a tip which forces an ink ribbon into engagement with a print medium and against a platen in the ultrasonic printer in order to print a pixel thereon. A pressurizing mechanism contacts the block and forces the tip of the at least one print head against the ink ribbon and the print medium and against the platen with a predetermined force in order to print at least one pixel on the print medium.