Contrast enhancing marking system for application of unobtrusive identification and other markings
AssigneeSpectra Systems Corporation
InventorsNabil M. Lawandy, Timothy J. Driscoll, Charles M. Zepp
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and a system is disclosed for affixing invisible or unobtrusive markings to mail pieces (4), and subsequently collecting information from the mail pieces for sorting purposes. The system includes the affixation of an optically contrasting layer (1) to a mail piece, the layer changing optically upon the application of a stimulus to present a contrasting background for imaging encoded information (3) applied over the layer and related to the mail piece.
Claims31
A marking system comprising:
- a layer that is applied over a substrate, said layer being transparent or substantially transparent in a non-stimulated state, said layer becoming optically contrasting to said substrate upon the application of a stimulus;
- and
- indicia applied over said layer, wherein said indicia comprises optically readable information.
A thermochromic composition comprised of color formers and a Lewis acid introduced into a polymer containing material, wherein said polymer containing material is transparent or substantially transparent below a lower critical solution temperature, said polymer containing material reversibly becoming non-transparent above the lower critical solution temperature.
A method for processing mail, comprising:
- providing a mail piece requiring marking;
- identifying an address to which said mail piece is to be delivered;
- encoding address information for said mail piece;
- affixing a layer of material onto said mail piece, said layer being transparent or substantially transparent in a non-stimulated state, said layer reversibly becoming non-transparent upon the application of a stimulus;
- and
- affixing a marking upon said layer, wherein said marking carries the encoded address information.
A method for processing mail, comprising:
- providing a mail piece for sorting, the mail piece having been marked with a transparent or substantially transparent layer and indicia recording information related to the delivery of the mail piece;
- subjecting said layer and indicia to appropriate stimulus to create optical changes in the appearance of at least said layer;
- detecting information recorded in said indicia;
- interpreting information recorded in said indicia;
- and
- providing said information to a mail sorting system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.