Inkless printing apparatus
AssigneeDatalase Ltd.
InventorsJohn Cridland, Anthony Jarvis, Martin Walker, Chris Wyres
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A substrate marking apparatus for use in combination with a substrate comprising a multi-color change diacetylene compound is disclosed. The substrate marking apparatus comprises: at least two radiation sources operable to emit radiation of different wavelengths, optical transformation elements and a control system. The control system takes digital file information and converts this to a set of emission instructions for the radiation sources. The radiation sources are then applied to the substrate in sequence and intensity determined by the control system such that the substrate is activated to change from a colorless state to any one of a range of multiple permanent colors.
Claims17
A method of calibrating a substrate marking apparatus comprising the steps of:
- providing a radiation source operable to produce radiation at two or more distinct wavelengths;
- and means for controlling emission of radiation from the radiation source so as to controllably irradiate selected areas of the substrate with desired quantities of radiation from the radiation source so as to mark said substrate in a desired manner wherein the radiation source is operable to emit radiation at a first wavelength to selectively activate irradiatable areas of the substrate for colour change and radiation at a second wavelength to effect a colour change of the previously irradiated areas of the substrate;
- and
- irradiating the substrate with a sequence of wavelengths and intensities to generate a test pattern;
- validating the test pattern by comparing it to a predefined calibration image;
- and if the test pattern is not substantially the same as the calibration image, adjusting the apparatus and generating a further test pattern by irradiating the substrate with an adjusted sequence of wavelengths and intensities to generate the further test pattern until the test pattern is substantially the same as the calibration image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.