Multiple pass aqueous MICR inkjet ink printing
AssigneeNu-kote International, Inc.
InventorsMichael J. McElligott, Thomas W. Martin, Donald E. Snyder, Jr., Dennis M. Lengyel, Philip Theodore
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to a multiple pass printing process for generating MICR-readable indicia using a MICR ink-jet ink composition with a magnetic pigment loading less than that needed to generate the nominal signal level according to the ANSI standard with single pass printing, and to a printed substrate, prepared by the process, which bears MICR-readable indicia having at least two layers of the MICR ink-jet ink composition and which demonstrates a MICR signal level of greater than or equal to the nominal signal value according to the ANSI standard.
Claims30
An ink-jet printing method for generating MICR-readable indicia comprising:
- a. preparing MICR ink-jet ink containing a magnetic particulate material in an amount sufficient to generate a minimally readable MICR signal level of lower than the nominal signal value of 100 according to the standard signal level specification defined by ANSI when printed in single pass mode;
- b. charging the MICR ink-jet ink containing the magnetic particulate material to a multiple-chamber ink-jet ink cartridge such that each charged chamber of the cartridge contains the same MICR ink-jet ink composition;
- c. installing the multiple chamber ink-jet ink cartridge in a full color process printer;
- d. operating the printer in a multiple pass manner to print indicia having multiple layers of MICR ink-jet ink;
- wherein the multiple layers of MICR ink-jet ink produce an additive effect with regard to the magnetic signal generated by the printed indicia such that the signal strength is increased in a manner corresponding to the number of layers of the MICR ink-jet ink which have been printed, as compared to the signal strength generated by indicia printed with a single pass of the same ink.
A method of printing MICR-readable indicia capable of generating a MICR signal value of from 100 to 200, according to ANSI specifications, from ink-jet ink that has a minimal magnetic pigment content, comprising charging a MICR ink-jet ink containing at least 10% but not greater than 30% magnetic oxide, based on 100% of the MICR ink-jet ink composition, to at least two chambers of a multiple-chamber ink-jet ink cartridge, installing the cartridge in a full color process printer, and operating the printer to eject the MICR ink-jet ink from the cartridge chambers to print indicia, such that the number of layers of ink in the printed indicia is equal to the number of chambers in the cartridge that contain the MICR ink-jet ink, wherein the printed indicia generates an ANSI MICR signal strength value increase equal to approximately the number of layers of ink deposited times the signal strength value of a single layer of the same MICR ink-jet ink.
A MICR-readable document comprising a substrate having printed thereon indicia capable of generating a MICR signal of greater than or equal to the nominal value according to the ANSI standard for the same, the indicia comprising at least two layers of a MICR ink-jet ink composition wherein each layer alone is only capable of generating a MICR signal of less than the nominal value according to the ANSI standard for the same, but wherein the additive effect of the layers generates a MICR signal of greater than or equal to the nominal signal value according to the ANSI standard for the same.
A MICR ink-jet ink composition comprising at least a magnetic iron oxide dispersion and a liquid ink-jet ink, wherein the magnetic iron oxide is present in the liquid ink composition in an amount less than that necessary to generate a nominal MICR signal value of 100, as defined by ANSI specifications and wherein the liquid ink, when printed in two or more layers exhibits an additive effect with regard to the MICR signal of the layers such that the layers together generate a MICR signal of greater than or equal to the nominal signal value according to the ANSI standard for the same.
An ink-jet printing method for printing MICR-readable indicia comprising:
- a) charging at least two chambers of a multiple-chamber ink-jet ink cartridge with a MICR ink-jet ink capable of generating a MICR-readable signal;
- and
- b) operating a printer in which the multiple-chamber ink-jet ink cartridge has been installed to print MICR-readable indicia by full color process printing,
- wherein the signal value generated by the printed indicia, as measured by ANSI specifications, is between 100 and 200, and wherein a MICR signal value, as measured by ANSI specifications, of less than 80 is generated by any one single pass during the full color process printing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.