U.S. patent number 3,867,164 [Application Number 05/385,659] was granted by the patent office on 1975-02-18 for imprinting device having conformable film with wet applied ink for the formation of finger and footprints.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Identimation Corporation. Invention is credited to Harry S. Katz, Joseph M. Orlando, Jack W. Rainford.
United States Patent |
3,867,164 |
Orlando , et al. |
February 18, 1975 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Imprinting device having conformable film with wet applied ink for
the formation of finger and footprints
Abstract
A device having a thin conformable film with one inked surface
and in an exemplary embodiment being mounted on a frame member
whereby by the light application of finger or footprint pressure an
inked impression may be formed on a print receiving surface which
produces a print of identification character without getting ink on
the finger or foot utilized to make the impression.
Inventors: |
Orlando; Joseph M. (Parsippany,
NJ), Katz; Harry S. (West Orange, NJ), Rainford; Jack
W. (Closter, NJ) |
Assignee: |
Identimation Corporation
(Northvale, NJ)
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Family
ID: |
26919797 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/385,659 |
Filed: |
August 6, 1973 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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225648 |
Feb 11, 9172 |
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854700 |
Sep 2, 1969 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
401/267; 283/68;
427/1; 428/220; 428/195.1; 118/31.5; 283/78; 427/7; 428/207;
428/339 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B
5/1172 (20130101); A61B 5/1174 (20130101); Y10T
428/24802 (20150115); Y10T 428/269 (20150115); Y10T
428/24901 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
A61B
5/117 (20060101); B41m 003/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;117/.5,1.5,36.1,36.2
;283/7 ;118/31.5 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Martin; William D.
Assistant Examiner: Pianalto; Bernard D.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Mahoney, Schick & Cislo
Parent Case Text
RELATED APPLICATION
The present application discloses an improvement of an imprinting
device disclosed in a commonly assigned and co-pending application
Ser. No. 759,698 filed Sept. 13, 1968 and entitled "Identification
System" and now issued U.S. Pat. No. 3,584,958 and this application
is a continuation of application Ser. No. 225,648 filed Feb. 11,
1972 and now abandoned which in turn, is a continuation of patent
application Ser. No. 854,700 filed Sept. 2, 1969 and now abandoned.
Claims
1. In an imprinting device, the improvement comprising:
a. a thin flat film of impression conforming material which is
sufficiently thin and flexible to conform to the impressions and
ridges of a relief pattern, such as a fingerprint and the like,
when placed in pressure contact with the pattern whereby the
surface of the film facing away from the pattern presents a
representation of the pattern, said film having smooth and even
surfaces and having a generally uniform thickness in a range of
about 0.0001 to 0.0010 of an inch, said material comprising:
1. a resinous elastomer, and
2. a filler having the ink-absorbing and film-flattening properties
of diatomaceous earth, uniformly dispersed throughout the resinous
elastomer, the surface of the film having less irregularities than
would be present without the filler, said filler comprising about 5
to 40 parts per hundred by weight of the resinous elastomer,
and
b. a wet, slow drying ink coating adhered to the surface of said
film adapted to face away from the pattern upon light pressure
contact, with a
2. The improvement according to claim 1 wherein the filler is
diatomaceous
3. The improvement according to claim 2 wherein the resinous
elastomer is
4. The improvement according to claim 1, in which said film has a
thickness
5. The improvement according to claim 1 wherein said resin is
polyurethane and in which said material contains 10 parts of
diatomaceous earth per 100
6. The improvement according to claim 1 in which a marginal strip
of the film is not coated with ink and is transparent.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The above-mentioned application discloses an identification system
which in one embodiment employs an imprinting device in the form of
a recording card for taking fingerprints without applying any ink
directly to the finger. This system has the obvious advantage of
cleanliness over conventional fingerprint techniques. The recording
card includes, in general, a frame member which is provided with at
least one window therein, a thin sheet of impression conforming
material secured across the frame window, inking means disposed on
one surface of the sheet material, and a fingerprint receiving
surface disposed on the inked side of the sheet material in
alignment with the window. The fingerprint receiving surface is
normally maintained in spaced relationship with the inking means.
To take a print with the structure of the recording card disclosed
in the above-mentioned application, the individual's finger is
placed on the side of the sheet material opposite to the side which
carries the inking means. The sheet material is thereby stretched
and caused to conform to the individual's fingerprint. In this
condition, contact between the opposite inked surface of the
impression conforming sheet material and the fingerprint receiving
surface produces a clear and accurate ink reproduction of the
fingerprint.
With the recording card disclosed in the above mentioned
application, there are certain features which may present problems
in particular applications unless the card is handled and used
properly. One problem relates to the relationship between the
inking means and the impression conforming sheet. As disclosed in
said co-pending application, the inking means may include a coating
of wet ink adhered to the surface of the impression conforming
sheet, however, the uniformness of this coating and the strength of
the adhesive bond formed between the wet ink coating and impression
conforming sheet has been found to be less than desirable in some
instances. For example, an uneven ink coating is apt to produce a
print in which some of the lines are heavy and dark while others
are rather faint and, in some instances imperceptible. A weak
adhesive bond between the ink coating and the impression conforming
shett is apt to produce slippage at the interface between the ink
and the sheet resulting in a smudged or blurred print in which the
lines of the print are virtually indistinguishable from one
another. Of course, a good quality print can be obtained with the
recording card disclosed in said co-pending application if the user
is careful to apply just the right amount of pressure when taking
the print being especially careful to see that the inked surface of
the impression conforming sheet and the print receiving surface are
held in firmly and immovably together.
Another problem associated with the recording card disclosed in
said co-pending application arises from the face that the presence
of the ink coating makes it impossible to see through the
impression conforming sheet for purposes of determining in advance
the precise location of the ultimate print on the print receiving
surface. In certain applications, however, the precise placement of
the print on the print receiving surface is important. For example,
where the print receiving surface consists of a standard form blank
having one or more ruled boxes each of which is separately
identified as containing a specified print, it is very important
that the specified print be confined within the boundaries of the
box designated for such purpose. A common example of such a
standard form is the standard fingerprint blank used by law
enforcement agencies. Such forms are generally provided with a
series of ruled boxes indentified as containing the print of a
particular finger such as the thumb, forefinger, index finger and
so forth. Of course, the print could be properly positioned on this
type of standard form by using the recording card disclosed in the
above-mentioned application if the user makes a careful estimation
of the location of the proper box in relation to the surface area
of the opaque impression conforming sheet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, there is
provided an improved imprinting device for use with a print
receiving surface which defines predetermined print receiving areas
each of which is designated to contain a particular print.
In construction, the imprinting device includes generally a frame
member having a window therein, a thin film of impression
conforming material secured across the window of the frame member,
and a coating of wet ink adhered to one surface of the film. But
for the presence of the wet ink, the film of impression conforming
material is substantially transparent. The ink coating, however,
renders the film opaque.
Since the recording card of the present invention is intended for
making an ink print within one of the predetermined print receiving
areas on the print receiving surface, means are provided for
visually dividing the opaque film into sections corresponding in
location to the location of the print receiving areas on the print
receiving surface. This means includes a clear uninked portion of
the film which overlies the window in the frame member so that at
least a portion of the boundary lines dividing the print receiving
areas is exposed to view. With this arrangement, the location of a
particular print receiving area may be easily and accurately
estimated simply by drawing imaginary extensions of the boundary
line portions exposed to view through the ink free portion of the
film.
The subject matter of the present invention is directed
particularly to the formulation and method of making the film of
impression conforming material and also to the method of making the
recording card employing the film having the formulation disclosed
herein.
The method by which the film is formed in the present invention
comprises depositing a thin resinous coating containing a specially
formulated resinous elastomer in a liquid solvent upon a web,
drying the resinous coating to form a film, applying a wet ink
coating to the exposed surface of the web supported film, and
finally removing the film from the web. The liquid solvent is
volatilized during the drying operation leaving a thin extremely
smooth film having excellent ink retention characteristics.
Moreover, the smoothness of the film results in an even coating of
ink and, hence, a print obtained by using the imprinting device of
the present invention which employs this film is clear and accurate
with no smudged or blurred spots.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the recording card of this
invention;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view, in assembled condition, of the recording
card shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 3--3 of FIG.
2;
FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrammatic illustrations of suitable apparatus
for practicing the method of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
At the outset, it should be pointed out that, in addition to the
specific art of fingerprinting, the imprinting device of the
present invention is susceptible of general application in the
graphic arts field where it is desired to take the print of a given
reference surface. For instance, the imprinting device of the
present invention is readily adapted for medical identification
purposes in hospitals and the like (e.g., infants' footprints) or,
by way of further example the imprinting device of the invention
may be advantageously used as an artist's tool in the creation of
artistic paintings. However, for the purpose of clear and accurate
description and ready understanding of the inventive concept
underlying the present invention, reference will be quite
frequently made to the art of fingerprinting as the description of
the imprinting device proceeds.
With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the imprinting device of the
present invention includes generally a frame member 1 having a
window 2, a thin film 3 of impression conforming material secured
across the window 2, and a wet ink coating disposed on the surface
of the film facing through the window in frame member 1. Thus, as
shown in FIG. 3, the frame member supports the inked surface of the
film 3 spaced from the print receiving surface 4 on which the print
of reference surface 14 is to be placed.
The frame member may be made of cardboard, plastic or any other
suitable material having a thickness of about one-sixteenth of an
inch and the film 3 is impression conforming in the sense that it
is thin enough and flexible enough to conform precisely to the
impressions and ridges defining the particular reference surface to
be printed. As will be more fully described hereinafter, a suitable
material for the film is a polyurethane sheet having a thickness of
about 0.0001 to 0.001 inch.
The print receiving surface 4 has a series of ruled lines 5 which
define predetermined print receiving areas 6. Each print receiving
area may be provided with an appropriate caption or legend 7
inscribed at the foot thereof for the purpose of identifying the
particular print contained therein. The print receiving surface
usually comprises a standard form blank; for instance, the standard
form blank commonly used by law enforcement agencies for the
purpose of recording and classifying the fingerprints of a
particular individual. In such an application, the reference
surface would consist of an individual's finger and each print
receiving area would designate the print of a particular finger
such as the forefinger, thumb, index finger and so forth.
It will be recognized that the presence of the wet ink coating
means renders the portion of the normally transparent film it
covers opaque thus concealing the location of the print receiving
areas from view. Thus, in order to readily ascertain the location
of the print receiving areas means are provided for visually
dividing the recording card into sections located in accordance
with the layout of the print receiving areas 6.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this means comprises a transparent
portion 9 in the sheet material 3 overlying the window in body
member 1. The transparent portion 9 is formed by leaving the margin
along one side of the sheet material void of ink so that portions
of boundary lines 5 of the print receiving areas 6 are exposed to
view through the window 2 in body member 1. The width of the
transparent margin must be such that it extends over the window 2
in body member 1 a sufficient distance to expose at least some
portion of the boundary lines 5 of the underlying print receiving
areas 6 clearly to view. As shown in FIG. 2 additional width may
advantageously be allowed to also expose the captions 7
indentifying each print receiving area.
With this arrangement the general location of each print receiving
area may be accurately estimated by visual inspection. When a print
is to be taken, the reference surface 14 is merely placed beneath
the appropriate legend in between imaginary extensions of boundary
lines 5 and pressed against the inked portion of the impression
conforming sheet material to move its inked surface into contact
with the designated print receiving area 6 on the print receiving
surface 4.
Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the apparatus shown is divided into
(1) a web charging zone A, (2) a drying zone B, (3) an ink coating
zone C, and (4) a bonding zone D.
As will be explained in more detail below, the web 19 is unwound
from a suitable supply spool 20 and passed first through the web
charging zone A where a thin coating of resinous film forming
material is deposited on its upper surface, then through the drying
zone B where the resinous coating is dried by hot air to form a
film and, eventually onto a suitable take-up spool 21.
When the take-up spool is sufficiently full, the web with the
supported film is severed and the take-up spool is unwound in a
direction opposite to the direction it was initially wound. As
shown in FIG. 5, the film 21 is now disposed on the underside of
the web 19. In this position, the web is directed through the ink
coating zone C where a coating of wet ink is applied to the exposed
surface of the web supported film. For the purpose described above,
the ink is applied so as to leave a margin along one side of the
film free of ink.
The web supported inked film is finally fed into the bonding zone D
where the film is positioned over a plurality of frame members 1
with the inked surface of the film facing through the windows 2 in
each frame member. The film while still on the web is bonded to the
frame member by any suitable means. For instance, if the frame
members are made of cardboard the film may be secured thereto my
means of a suitable adhesive such as methyl-ethyl ketone base
adhesive. Alternatively, if the frame members are made of plastic
the bonding may be effected by applying heat to the edges of the
film overlying the frame member to thereby fuse the frame and film
together.
After the bonding operation is concluded, the web is stripped away
from the film and wound on a suitable spool 23 to be later
discarded. The frame members are then separated by severing the
film portions 18 linking the individual frame members together,
trimmed to remove any film overhanging the edges of the frame
members and packaged in suitable containers for shipment to the
user.
The Resinous Film Forming Material
The resinous film forming material which is deposited on the web in
the form of a thin coating comprises a resinous elastomer such as
polyurethane and a filler such as diatomaceous earth in a liquid
solvent carrier. This material is prepared by mixing an organic
solvent with a suitable diluent to form the liquid solvent carrier.
To this carrier is added a resinous elastomer in an amount ranging
between about 5 to 50 parts per hundred parts by weight of the
solvent carrier; the optimum amount being 15 parts resinous
elastomer per 100 parts by weight of the solvent carrier. The
liquid solvent carrier comprises 3 parts organic solvent to 1 part
diluent by weight. By preference the organic solvent is
tetrahydrofuran (THF); the diluent is acetone; and the polyurethane
is Estane Urethane Chip - 570 manufactured by the B. F. Goodrich
Corporation.
This mixture is introduced into a suitable comminution unit, such
as a Ball mill, until such time as the resinous elastomer has been
brought into solution. For instance, when using a Ball mill having
an 11 to 12 inch diameter drum and carborundum as the grinding
media, a time of about 8 to 12 hours at 45-55 r.p.m. is
sufficient.
To the solution so formed is added diatomaceous earth in the amount
of about 5 to 40 parts per hundred parts by weight of the resinous
elastomer. In the preferred embodiment, the diatomaceous earth is
"Celite 499" manufactured by the Johns-Manville Corporation which
is added to the solution in the amount of 10 parts per hundred
parts by weight of the resinous elastomer.
This mixture is then resubjected to the action of the Ball mill for
a sufficient time to fully disperse the diatomaceous earth
uniformly throughout the mixture, usually for about 20 hours.
The liquid solvent carrier is volatilized during the drying
operation leaving a thin pliable film having a thickness such that
the film is impression conforming in the sense defined above. A
film thickness of about 0.0001 to 0.001 inch has been found to be
most satisfactory.
This dispersion while free-flowing has a viscosity conductive to
depositing a thin coating on the web having a thickness which
remains substantially intact during the drying operation. The
precise viscosity range for the dispersion is determined primarily
by the particular device used for applying it to the web in the
charging zone A. For instance, as shown in FIG. 4 a reverse roller
type applicator 24 of conventional construction is provided for
this purpose. With this device a viscosity ranging between 125 to
150 centipoises has been found to produce the best results. The
viscosity is, of course, adjusted by providing the proper amount of
solvent. The coating may alternatively be applied to the web by a
conventional blade coater of the adjustable type at a blade setting
which produces a film thickness of 0.00015 to 0.00025 inch. A
suitable blade coater is the adjustable blade coater produced by
the Boston Bradley Co.
The Ink Coating
The ink coating is applied to the exposed surface of the web
supported film by means of a rotary Gravure Press, indicated
diagrammatically at 25 in FIG. 5, using an inking cylinder 26
having 250 rulings per inch. Such presses are well known in the art
and therefore in the interests of brevity further elaboration will
be omitted.
The ink coating itself comprises a solution containing 4 parts of
straight ink produced in accordance with formula 8A-7070 set forth
in the specifications published by the Cilco Co. diluted with 11/2
parts solvent, such as V. M. & P. naphths. The ink coating when
applied to the film remains wet in the sense that it is moist and
slow drying but not wet enough to disturb the quality of the print.
It will be obvious to those familiar with ink formulations, that
other non-drying inks may be used.
The Web
A suitable web for practicing the above-described process consists
of release paper such as clay coated bleached paper having an outer
layer of high gloss smooth lacquer. Such a paper is produced by S.
D. Warren Co., catalogue number AV C1S.
The film produced in accordance with teachings of the present
invention has unusually good ink retention characteristics. That
is, the adhesive bond between the wet ink coating and the
impression conforming film is quite strong. This characteristic is
attributed primarily to the presence of the uniform dispersion of
diatomaceous earth which advantageously acts to absorb some of the
liquid vehicle in which the ink is carried. Also, the diatomaceous
earth modifies the surface energy of the film so that the ink wets
better and adheres more strongly. While the diatomaceous earth
imparts a milky color to the film, the film is still transparent
enough to see clearly through any portions thereof which are not
coated with ink.
The diatomaceous earth also acts as a flattening agent thereby
rendering the surface of the film extremely smooth and even with
considerably less irregularities than was previously the case with
the impression conforming sheet material used with the recording
card disclosed in said co-pending application. The smoothness of
the film surface, in turn, permits the ink coating to be applied
more uniformly and hence the possibility of obtaining prints which
vary in intensity and clearness is advantageously reduced.
The above description of the present invention has been made with
reference to the preferred embodiment; however, it is to be
understood that various changes may be made thereto without
departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the
appended claims.
* * * * *