Abstract: A method includes scanning a check to generate image data representative of an image of the check. The method further includes detecting at least one security feature of the check. The method also includes transforming the image data to include at least one encoded indication of the detected at least one security feature of the check.

Abstract: A printer ink identification system including a detector, an excitation source and a controller. The detector is adapted to detect an excitable feature of an ink forming an indicium on an article. The excitation source is adapted to cause excitation of the excitable feature of the ink. The controller is coupled to the detector. The controller is adapted to initiate a predetermined task based, at least partially, upon input from the detector.

Abstract: A water-based ink for inkjet recording exhibits a blue color defined as L*<45, 25<C*<28, 255<h<278, and comprises a mixture of dyes and pigments, glycerol and polyethylene glycol #200 as water-soluble organic solvents and a polymeric dispersant. The ink will preferably have a ratio of glycerol to polyethylene glycol 200 within the range of from 2:1 to 3.5 1. The water-based ink preferably includes C.I. Pigment Blue 60 as a colorant and provides good printing stability and good storage stability. Tests show the inks to have good jettability.

Abstract: A method to improve the image of a printed barcode by enhancing coverage of the print pixels within solid printed areas to improve the print uniformity and decrease the graininess of the typical ink jet printing by dissolving a small percentage of the colorant and distributing more uniformly. The parameter improved by the invention is the graininess or uniformity of coverage. The contrast ratio within barcode data elements can be also improved without causing unwanted image bleed into unintended areas. Hence, the printed barcode will contain more clearly defined printed and non printed areas to enable the barcode to be accurately read. The invention prevents also unwanted bleeding in areas where it could lower the quality of the printed material by avoiding application of enhanced coverage facilitators when desired white space is identified within a minimum distance.

Abstract: Described are compositions and methods effective to improve the security obtainable for red phosphorescent inks printed, such as by ink jet printing. Specially designed polymeric chelating agents are water soluble and have a high chelating efficiency for lanthanide cations and are themselves strongly adsorbed on polymeric substrates, especially paper. The polymeric chelating agents comprise a polymer chain of either general formulae (1) or (2) containing pyridine-N-oxide, quinoline-N-oxide or isoquinoline-N oxide pendent ligand groups A, where m and n are independent integers in the range of from 1 to 10, and the number average molecular weight of the polymers lies in the range from 1×103 to 5×105: In one aspect a polymeric chelate as described is produced in situ in an aqueous ink formulation and is subsequently printed onto a substrate and dried.

Abstract: A water-based ink for inkjet recording exhibits a blue color defined as L*<45, 25<C*<28, 255<h<278, and comprises a mixture of dyes and pigments, specifically including C.I. Pigment Blue 60 and C.I. Acid Blue 90, with water and a water-soluble organic solvent. The blue ink provide an image which has good water resistance and high optical density.

Abstract: A method and system for authenticating an item by using a security marking. The security marking is provided on the item with an OVD ink capable of absorbing light in a visible wavelength range to appear visibly black and producing a red fluorescent emission under ultraviolet excitation. Under visible light illumination and ultraviolet excitation, a visible image and a fluorescent image are obtained from the security marking using image scanners. The images are compared to find a substantial match with each other. The security marking can be a postage indicium, a barcode, a symbol, a message or an image. The item to be authenticated can be a mailpiece, a banknote, a tag, a ticket, a document, an identification card, or the like.

Abstract: A document printed marking including a first information marking including first luminescent taggants having a first luminescence wavelength band; and a second information marking printed at least partially on the first information marking at an overlap location. The second information marking includes second different luminescent taggant having a second different luminescence wavelength band. The second luminescence wavelength band is spaced from the first luminescence wavelength band such that the first information marking and the second information marking are substantially luminescently non-intrusive with each other at the overlap location.

Abstract: A label including a main section forming a blank label section and including a fluorescent signal section on the blank label section. The label is adapted to have an indicium subsequently printed on the blank label section by a printing device without the fluorescent signal section substantially interfering with reading of the indicium on the label.

Abstract: A water-based ink for inkjet recording exhibits a blue color defined as L*<45, 25<C*<28, 255<h<278, and comprises a mixture of dyes and pigments, specifically including C.I. Pigment Blue 60 and C.I. Acid Blue 90, with water and a water-soluble organic solvent. The blue ink provide an image which has good water resistance and high optical density.

Abstract: A water-based ink for inkjet recording exhibits a blue color defined as L*<45, 25<C*<28, 255<h<278, and comprises a mixture of dyes and pigments, glycerol and polyethylene glycol #200 as water-soluble organic solvents and a polymeric dispersant. The ink will preferably have a ratio of glycerol to polyethylene glycol 200 within the range of from 2:1 to 3.5 1. The water-based ink preferably includes C.I. Pigment Blue 60 as a colorant and provides good printing stability and good storage stability. Tests show the inks to have good jettability.

Abstract: A method to improve the image of a printed barcode by enhancing coverage of the print pixels within solid printed areas to improve the print uniformity and decrease the graininess of the typical ink jet printing by dissolving a small percentage of the colorant and distributing more uniformly. The parameter improved by the invention is the graininess or uniformity of coverage. The contrast ratio within barcode data elements can be also improved without causing unwanted image bleed into unintended areas. Hence, the printed barcode will contain more clearly defined printed and non printed areas to enable the barcode to be accurately read. The invention prevents also unwanted bleeding in areas where it could lower the quality of the printed material by avoiding application of enhanced coverage facilitators when desired white space is identified within a minimum distance.

Abstract: A method to improve the image of a printed barcode by causing controlled “bleeding” of the print pixels within solid printed areas surrounded by a barrier to improve the print contrast ratio within the barcode data element by homogenizing the printed data without causing image bleed into unintended areas. Hence, the printed material will contain more clearly defined printed and non printed areas to enable the printed material to be accurately read.

Abstract: A method and system for authenticating an item by using a security marking. The security marking is provided on the item with an OVD ink capable of absorbing light in a visible wavelength range to appear visibly black and producing a red fluorescent emission under ultraviolet excitation. Under visible light illumination and ultraviolet excitation, a visible image and a fluorescent image are obtained from the security marking using image scanners. The images are compared to find a substantial match with each other. The security marking can be a postage indicium, a barcode, a symbol, a message or an image. The item to be authenticated can be a mailpiece, a banknote, a tag, a ticket, a document, an identification card, or the like.

Abstract: Systems and methods for allowing the sender of a mail piece to obtain an accurate recipient address for the mail piece when the mail piece is being prepared are provided. The mail processing systems of the sender and recipient businesses are networked such that communication can occur between them. When the sender is preparing a mail piece for delivery to a recipient, the sender can participate in an interactive session with the recipient's mail room, utilizing the networked mail processing systems, to obtain a correct recipient address for a mail piece based on a database of recipient addresses maintained by the recipient's mail processing system. Since the mail piece is provided with an accurate recipient address, upon receipt of the mail piece by the recipient's mail room the mail piece can be properly delivered without requiring significant work by the recipient's mailroom to determine the appropriate intended recipient.

Abstract: Disclosed are optical codes, e.g., DataMatrix bar codes, of enhanced security and readability and a process for printing one. These codes are comprised of a perimeter finder pattern providing a target area and a pattern of symbology defining a data field in fixed position relative to the target area. Preferably, at least a portion of the optical code so defined is printed in a black fluorescent ink in order to enhance the signal to noise ratio in the environment of other visible, monochrome printing. The invention simplifies the detection of the machine-readable symbology for reading by optical code reader and provides enhanced security features. The image is a covert composite of a visible light readable and a fluorescent image. If fluorescent image is not detected or does not match a reference image, then it can be rejected as an unauthentic, e.g., simple copy image.

Abstract: Described are compositions and methods effective to improve the security obtainable for red phosphorescent inks printed, such as by ink jet printing. Specially designed polymeric chelating agents are water soluble and have a high chelating efficiency for lanthanide cations and are themselves strongly adsorbed on polymeric substrates, especially paper. The polymeric chelating agents comprise a polymer chain of either general formulae (1) or (2) containing pyridine-N-oxide, quinoline-N-oxide or isoquinoline-N oxide pendent ligand groups A, where m and n are independent integers in the range of from 1 to 10, and the number average molecular weight of the polymers lies in the range from 1×103 to 5×105: In one aspect a polymeric chelate as described is produced in situ in an aqueous ink formulation and is subsequently printed onto a substrate and dried.

Abstract: A method and system for authenticating an item by using a security marking. The security marking is provided on the item with an OVD ink capable of absorbing light in a visible wavelength range to appear visibly black and producing a red fluorescent emission under ultraviolet excitation. Under visible light illumination and ultraviolet excitation, a visible image and a fluorescent image are obtained from the security marking using image scanners. The images are compared to find a substantial match with each other. The security marking can be a postage indicium, a barcode, a symbol, a message or an image. The item to be authenticated can be a mailpiece, a banknote, a tag, a ticket, a document, an identification card, or the like.

Abstract: New blue inks are provided for inkjet printing, especially using piezoelectric printers, on papers which are typically difficult to print with good quality, high-contrast images. The inks are characterized by a color of the ink (color illumination D65) of L*: about 37±5, a*: about 7±7, b*: about ?27±8. The inks contain an aqueous vehicle including water and a humectant comprising a polyhydric alcohol, a penetrant, surfactant, and a blue dye. The relative amounts of the aqueous vehicle, the penetrant, the surfactant and the blue dye, are effective to provide an ink having a viscosity and surface tension effective for inkjet printing, especially for piezoelectric printing, having a viscosity of from about 2 to about 4 mPa·s and a surface tension of from 30 to 50 mN/m. Also provided are a process for printing an image and a printed image prepared using the ink.

Abstract: New blue inks are provided for inkjet printing, on papers which are typically difficult to print with good quality, high-contrast images. The inks are characterized by a color of the ink (color illumination D65) of L*: about 37±5, a*: about 7±7, b*: about ?27±8. The inks contain an aqueous vehicle including water and a humectant comprising a polyhydric alcohol, a water-soluble polymer effective to improve the “hold out” properties of the dye-based ink on paper, surfactant, and a blue dye. The relative amounts of the aqueous vehicle, the water-soluble polymer, the surfactant and the blue dye, are effective to provide an ink having a viscosity and surface tension effective for inkjet printing, having a viscosity of from about 2 to about 4 mPa·s and a surface tension of from 30 to 50 mN/m. Also provided are a process for printing an image and a printed image prepared using the ink.