Patents Assigned to Troy Group, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11884831
    Abstract: Method of making color changing inkjet inks for security printing applications use photochromic materials that cause the inkjet ink to print marks that are colorless under ambient light and appear in a color when exposed to sunlight or UV light (covert). In another embodiment, the printed mark appears in a first color under ambient light, and changes to a second color when exposed to sunlight or UV light (overt). The methods of making the photochromic inks produce ink components that are stable and maintain their color changing capability for the shelf life of the printed material. The inkjet ink formulations are suitable for use on porous and non-porous surfaces, such as plain paper, coated paper, Teslin, polymer film, ceramic or metal, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: TROY GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Xiaorong Cai, Michael R. Riley
  • Patent number: 11059987
    Abstract: High security inkjet inks are made my milling two or more functional materials, such as invisible ultraviolet fluorescent dyes or pigments, infrared Anti Stokes upconverting pigments, infrared absorption and fluorescent dyes or pigments and iron oxide magnetic pigments, into a pigment dispersion. A wet media mill is used to mill the pigment dispersion until the average particle size is below 300 nm. The dispersion is combined with main components of an inkjet ink, such as deionized water, humectants, surfactants, polymer resin and biocides, to produce the high security inkjet ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: TROY GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Xiaorong Cai, Michael R. Riley
  • Patent number: 10733825
    Abstract: A method for creating a secure document, registering the secure document and verifying the authenticity of the secure document includes receiving a print object that has content. A security feature, including an identifier, is created and is associated with the content. The identifier may be a barcode. The barcode may represent a character string. The security feature may include the identifier barcode and a decoy barcode that is not associated with the content. The identifier barcode (or the character string represented by the barcode) and the content are transmitted to a database for storage. Once stored, the identifier and the content are considered to be registered. A print object that includes the security feature and the content is then transmitted to a printer for printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: TROY GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Lewis, Xiaorong Cai, Michael R. Riley, David Altfeder
  • Patent number: 10626282
    Abstract: High security inkjet inks are made my milling two or more functional materials, such as invisible ultraviolet fluorescent dyes or pigments, infrared Anti Stokes upconverting pigments, infrared absorption and fluorescent dyes or pigments and iron oxide magnetic pigments, into a pigment dispersion. A wet media mill is used to mill the pigment dispersion until the average particle size is below 300 nm. The dispersion is combined with main components of an inkjet ink, such as deionized water, humectants, surfactants, polymer resin and biocides, to produce the high security inkjet ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: TROY GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Xiaorong Cai, Michael R. Riley
  • Patent number: 10563074
    Abstract: An upconverting pigment dispersion includes an upconverting pigment, such as a ?-NaYF4 crystal doped with at least one of Erbium, Ytterbium or Thulium. The upconverting pigment dispersion is aqueous. Upconverting inkjet ink is made by mixing the crystals with a polymer dispersant and water and milling the mixture until the crystal particles are between 50 nanometers and 200 nanometers. Deionized water, a colorant and a humectant are added to the milled mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: TROY GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Xiaorong Cai, Michael R. Riley
  • Patent number: 10475269
    Abstract: A method for creating a secure document, registering the secure document and verifying the authenticity of the secure document includes receiving a print object that has content. A security feature, including an identifier, is created and is associated with the content. The identifier may be a barcode. The barcode may represent a character string. The security feature may include the identifier barcode and a decoy barcode that is not associated with the content. The identifier barcode (or the character string represented by the barcode) and the content are transmitted to a database for storage. Once stored, the identifier and the content are considered to be registered. A print object that includes the security feature and the content is then transmitted to a printer for printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: TROY GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Lewis, Xiaorong Cai, Michael R. Riley, David Altfeder
  • Patent number: 10400121
    Abstract: An upconverting pigment dispersion includes an upconverting pigment, such as a ?-NaYF4 crystal doped with at least one of Erbium, Ytterbium or Thulium. The upconverting pigment dispersion is aqueous. Upconverting inkjet ink is made by mixing the crystals with a polymer dispersant and water and milling the mixture until the crystal particles are between 50 nanometers and 200 nanometers. Deionized water, a colorant and a humectant are added to the milled mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: TROY GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Xiaorong Cai, Michael R. Riley
  • Patent number: 10150879
    Abstract: An upconverting pigment dispersion includes an upconverting pigment, such as a ?-NaYF4 crystal doped with at least one of Erbium, Ytterbium or Thulium. The upconverting pigment dispersion is aqueous. Upconverting inkjet ink is made by mixing the crystals with a polymer dispersant and water and milling the mixture until the crystal particles are between 50 nanometers and 200 nanometers. Deionized water, a colorant and a humectant are added to the milled mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: TROY GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Xiaorong Cai, Michael R. Riley
  • Patent number: 10081736
    Abstract: An upconverting pigment dispersion includes an upconverting pigment, such as a ?-NaYF4 crystal doped with at least one of Erbium, Ytterbium or Thulium. The upconverting pigment dispersion is aqueous and, thus, includes water. A dispersant is added to increase the stability of the upconverting pigment of the dispersion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: TROY GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Xiaorong Cai, Michael R. Riley
  • Patent number: 10059854
    Abstract: An aqueous penetrating ink includes a pigment and a water-soluble dye. The ink also includes a humectant in which the water-soluble dye is to be at least partially dissolved. The humectant is present in the ink between 20 percent by weight and 70 percent by weight. This amount of humectant results in a slow evaporation rate. The ink also includes water, making it suitable for use with some inkjet printers. Because the pigment is not dissolved in the humectant or the water, it forms an image on the surface of a printed side of a substrate. The slow evaporation rate of the humectant allows it to carry the ink through a thickness of a substrate so that it is visible on a non-printed side of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: TROY GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Xiaorong Cai, Brian Lewis, Chelsea Russell, Michael R. Riley
  • Patent number: 9747483
    Abstract: A secure document includes a fluorescent barcode and a fluorescent filler printed onto a substrate. The fluorescent barcode is printed using a first fluorescent ink of a first color and the fluorescent filler is printed using a second fluorescent ink of a second color that is different than the first color. In order to read the fluorescent barcode, the secure document must be illuminated with ultraviolet and/or infrared light. Then, a color filter must be used to filter the fluorescent filler out, leaving the fluorescent barcode visible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: TROY GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Lewis, Xiaorong Cai, Michael R. Riley
  • Patent number: 9534130
    Abstract: An aqueous MICR inkjet ink includes between 20% to 60% by weight of a magnetic iron oxide with cobalt doping, pigment dispersion, mixed with between 5% to 30% by weight of a humectant, in a water solution emulsion. The dispersion is milled in a wet media mill to obtain particle size in the 150 nm range. Additional humectant, surfactants, jetting agents, and stabilizing additives are added for the final ink composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: TROY GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Xiaorong Cai, Michael R. Riley, Brian Lewis
  • Patent number: 9529294
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: TROY GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Heilman, Michael R. Riley
  • Patent number: 9442402
    Abstract: A method of making a toner composition including at least one phosphorescent pigment that absorbs energy released by natural or artificial light, and is able to be seen in a dark environment through luminescence of a certain color created by the energy released as light, is described. The phosphorescent toner has a particle size in the range of about 15 to 40 microns, which allows the toner to have the ability to absorb and then release the needed amount of light energy to be noticeable in a dark environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: TROY GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Carrie Gilson, Kevin L. Heilman, Michael R. Riley
  • Patent number: 9141009
    Abstract: A coating composition, system, and method for printing documents that are difficult to chemically or physically forge and that are easy to visually verify are disclosed. The system includes a substrate, a toner, including a colorant and a dye, a primary migration-enhancing coating applied using an offset printing process and optionally a secondary migration-enhancing coating applied using an offset printing process. An image formed using the toner of the invention is readily verified by comparing a colorant-formed image and a dye-formed image. In addition, if a solvent is used in an attempt to alter the printed image on the substrate, the dye migrates or diffuses to indicate tampering with the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: TROY GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Eugene Hoefs, Michael R. Riley, Kevin L. Heilman
  • Patent number: 9088735
    Abstract: A computer-based method and a system for adding and printing variable security data. The system includes a memory, a processor, and a printer. The memory stores received print data. The processor modifies the print data for adding variable security print data and sends the modified print data for printing. The printer receives and prints the modified print data. The variable security data may vary between different printing operations. The processor captures a portion of the stored print data based on data-capturing criteria and modifies the stored print data based on the captured portion of the stored print data. The data-capturing criteria may be user-defined and may include leading tag data, trailing tag data, matching tag data, or combinations thereof for indicating a relative position of the captured data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: TROY GROUP, INC.
    Inventor: David Altfeder
  • Patent number: 9087288
    Abstract: A method of generating a large number of different void pantographs quickly and easily enables selecting a void pantograph that works best with a particular copy machine make and model. The background patterns are generated by varying the size of the dots and placement of the dots on an X-Y grid. The foreground pattern is generated by varying the size of the dots and placement of the dots on an X-Y grid. The foreground and background patterns may be generated by combining two separate patterns. A foreground pattern is combined with multiple background patterns to produce the different void pantographs. A full page of void pantographs having a similar density is tested on a copy machine to determine which one works the best.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: TROY GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: David Altfeder, Jason Zimpelmann
  • Patent number: 9081315
    Abstract: A toner composition including at least one phosphorescent pigment that absorbs energy released by natural or artificial light, and is able to be seen in a dark environment through luminescence of a certain color created by the energy released as light, and a method of forming and using the toner are described. The phosphorescent toner has a particle size in the range of about 15-40 microns, which allows the toner to have the ability to absorb and then release the needed amount of light energy to be noticeable in a dark environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: TROY GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Carrie A. Gilson, Kevin L. Heilman, Michael R. Riley
  • Publication number: 20150092248
    Abstract: A computer-based method and a system for adding and printing variable security data. The system includes a memory, a processor, and a printer. The memory stores received print data. The processor modifies the print data for adding variable security print data and sends the modified print data for printing. The printer receives and prints the modified print data. The variable security data may vary between different printing operations. The processor captures a portion of the stored print data based on data-capturing criteria and modifies the stored print data based on the captured portion of the stored print data. The data-capturing criteria may be user-defined and may include leading tag data, trailing tag data, matching tag data, or combinations thereof for indicating a relative position of the captured data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: Troy Group, Inc.
    Inventor: David Altfeder
  • Publication number: 20140293357
    Abstract: A method of generating a large number of different void pantographs quickly and easily enables selecting a void pantograph that works best with a particular copy machine make and model. The background patterns are generated by varying the size of the dots and placement of the dots on an X-Y grid. The foreground pattern is generated by varying the size of the dots and placement of the dots on an X-Y grid. The foreground and background patterns may be generated by combining two separate patterns. A foreground pattern is combined with multiple background patterns to produce the different void pantographs. A full page of void pantographs having a similar density is tested on a copy machine to determine which one works the best.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Troy Group, Inc.
    Inventors: David Altfeder, Jason Zimpelmann