US3037863A - Photosensitive record - Google Patents

Description

June 5, 1962 M. P. PRATER 3,037,363

Y PHOTOSENSITIVE RECORD Filed Aug. 14, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m w m m 7 3 v u G 1 .l H I F M M H 52 M 52:22 m2 fimwmw ER 5.055% H m .9 6 i m h: ME ME a n 2 Wu $8 :59: a: :5 E:

FIG. 4

United States Patent Office 3,37,8b3 Patented June 5, 1962 3,037,863 PHOTGSENSITIVE RECORD Merle P. Prater, Vestal, N.Y., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 14, 1959, Ser. No. 833,744 4 Claims. (CI. 96-79) This invention relates to photosensitive records, and it also relates to source record documents which are adapted both to receive information and to provide a copy thereof at a point of sale or other information source.

Sales transaction information customarily is recorded on manifold record forms that contain smudgy, carbontype transfer materials. Proposals have been made to replace these conventional manifold forms with duplex record forms having photosensitive copy sheets that can be developed by a simple dry process, thereby eliminating the need for a carbon transfer medium. Among the photosensitive materials proposed for such use is a class of relatively inexpensive dyes developed by Dr. Lyman Chalkley and disclosed in various United States patents granted to him. A substance of this kind is substantially colorless until it is exposed to ultraviolet light, whereupon. it undergoes a rapid and permanent color change.

In accordance with previous proposals for utilizing these photosensitive records, a light-transmitting sheet bearing opaque original information is superimposed on a copy sheet treated with a Chalkley dye or similar photosensitive substance, and the superimposed sheets then are exposed to concentrated ultraviolet radiation, causing the copy sheet to turn dark in those areas where the radiation is transmitted to the copy sheet and thus provide a negative photographic copy of the original information. Unfortunately, the photosensitive dyes presently available will turn dark from prolonged exposure to daylight, so that a photographic copy produced by this method is not necessarily a permanent record.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel way of utilizing these dry-process photosensitive materials to produce more permanent photographic records.

Another object is to provide an improved type of duplex source record having a copy sheet treated with a dry-process, light-sensitive dye on which information photographically recorded will be permanently retained despite subsequent exposures of the copy sheet to actinic rays.

A further object is to provide an improved source record of the aforesaid type in which the copy sheet is a machine-processable unit record having a detachable, folded stub that serves as the original sheet.

A feature of the invention is the provision of a nonsmudging, colorless coating of actinic ray-absorbing material on the back of the original sheet, which coating material will transfer under writing pressure to the lightsensitive surface of the copy sheet. Those portions of the actinic ray-absorbing coating which are transferred to the copy sheet during the writing operation will permanently protect the underlying areas of the copy sheet so that the light-sensitive substance in these protected areas will not change color even after long exposure to rays of short wavelength in daylight or to actinic rays from other sources, and the transferred coating material will not interfere either mechanically or electrically with the use of the copy sheet as a machine-processable record.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodimerit of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing one side of a foldable record card which is adapted for use in recording sales transactions according to the principles of the invention, the card being shown in a completely unfolded condition.

FIG. 2 shows the reverse side of the unfolded record card.

FIG. 3 is a perspective View of the card in a partially unfolded condition.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the card in its completely folded condition.

The record card shown in the drawings is specifically designed to record information relating to the retail sales of merchandise such as gasoline and oil products. The card as a whole is divided by a fold score line 10 into two principal components consisting of a body portion 11 and a detachable stub portion 12. The body 11 is adapted to serve as a machine-processable unit record following its detachment from the stub 12. Normally the card is kept in its completely folded condition with the stub 12 overlying a photosensitive area of the body portion 11, as illustrated in FIG. 4, and it is not unfolded until the sales transaction data have been written on the stub 12. FIG. 4 shows certain sales transaction data written on the stub 12, but for simplicity of illustration the handwritten data have been omitted from FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. Also omitted from the present show ing is the promotional literature that customarily would be printed upon certain areas of the card.

A supply of these sales transaction cards is maintained at the point of sale, and the cards are intended to be used in conjunction with the purchasers credit card or other means of identification. After each transaction is written up, the stub 12 is detached from the body portion 11 of the card and is given to the purchaser as his record of the transaction. The detached body 11 of the card then is photographically developed (in a manner which will presently be explained) to provide a duplicate record of the transaction for the vendors use.

When the card is folded about the score line 10, as shown in FIG. 4, the outer edge 14 of the stub 12 registers at least approximately with a printed line 15, FIG. 1, on the card body 11. That portion of the body 11 which is disposed between the lines 10 and 15 is treated over at least a part of its area with a substance that gives it a photosensitive surface. Satisfactory results have been obtained by impregnating this part of the card 11 with a Chalkley dye as suggested hereinabove. The dye is substantially colorless until it is exposed to concentrated ultraviolet radiation, whereupon it turns dark. This color change also can occur if the dye is exposed to dilute ultraviolet radiation (as in ordinary daylight) for a long period of time. Hence, the photosensitive surface of the card 1 1 must be kept shielded from long exposure to daylight or from exposure to other sources of ultraviolet radiation until the card is ready for use. The manner of protecting the photosensitive area of the card from unwanted exposure will be explained shortly.

Between the line 15 and the outer end 16 of the card 11, FIG. 1, is an area of the card that is reserved for punched information or other machine-processable data. This area is divided into various fields 17, 18 and 19 which may be allocated, for example, to an oil company code, a customers account number and the total amount of the bill. The manner of recording information in this portion of the card and the uses to which this information may be put are not necessary to a proper understanding of the instant invention, and hence will not be described herein.

As shown in FIG. 1, the inside of the stub 12 has a coating 20 of material which is capable of absorbing ultraviolet or other actinic radiation having a wavelength be- 7 tween 4000 A. and 2200 A., and thus it acts as a barrier to any actinic rays whichrwould affect the photosensitive dye on the card 11 as itadequately covers the wavelength of the response of the photosensitive dye on one end and the energy output of a mercury vapor lamp at the other. When the stub 12 is folded against the card 11, FIG. 4, the coating 20, FIG. 1, contacts the photosensitive area of the card 11 which underlies the Writing surface of the stub 12. The material in the coating is sufficiently pressure-sensitive so that it will be transferred to the card 11 under concentrated pressure applied to. the stub 12 by the tip of a writing instrument. This material 20 is nonsmudging; that is, it will not smear or transfer when lightly touched or otherwise subjected to light pressures. It appears substantially colorless or only faintly colored in visible light. A material suitable for this type of coating has been obtainedby dissolving ultraviolet radiationabsorbing crystals of the type sold under the trade name of Uvanol in a Wax or plastic base.

When recording a credit sale, the gasoline station attendant makes handwritten entries such as those indicated at 22, FIG. 4, on the outer writing surface of the folded stub 12. He then obtains the signature of the purchaser on the stub, as indicated at 23, FIG. 4. Under pressure of the writing instrument, a part of the absorbent coating 20, FIG. 1, will transfer to the photosensitive surface of the card 11. The stub 12 then may be detached and given to the customer as his record of the transaction. The waxy coating 20 will not rub off of the stub 12, being transferrable only under the concentrated writing instrument.

Following its detachment from the stub 12, the machine-processable card 1-1 is retained by the vendor and is photographically developed at a convenient time. Development of the image may be accomplished by inserting the card 11 into an exposure machine which subjects the photosensitive surface of the card to concentrated ultraviolet radiation. This causes the photosensitive pa-rt of the card 11 to. turn dark in those areas thereof which are not protected by the transferred absorbing wax 2%, FIG. 1. The photographic image of the handwriting on the stub 12 will appear light against a dark background, thereby providing a photographic negative of the handwritten information. It is contemplated that an exposure apparatus for developing these records will be available at each point of sale, but if desired, the sales transaction records can be forwarded from the various points of sale to a central'point for development. Intervenirn exposure of the cards to daylight will not have any harmful effect inasmuch as the transferred absorbing wax will protect the photosensitive surface of the card in those areas where the image is to appear.

The card 11 is rendered sensitive to ultraviolet radiation in at least that much of its surface area which lies pressure of a' between the fold line 10 and the line 25, FIG. 1, to which V the customers signature 23, FIG. 4, will be transferred photographically during the recording process. The area of the stub 12 which is coated by the absorber 20 will be r at least equal insize to the area between the lines It and 25 on the card 11. The area of the card 11 lying between the lines 25 and 15, FIG. 1, may be adapted to' receive an authenticating impression directly. from em: bossures on a customers credit plate tno t shown), which credit plate also may control to some extent the punching of information into the remainder of the card 11 between the line 15 and the end 16. Onthe other hand, one may tion of the stub 12 when the latter is folded, so that an impression is made from the credit plate through the absorber 20 onto the card :11 to define an image thereon when the record is developed.

The disclosed record card has the advantage that it does not require a carbon transfer sheet or spot carbonizing, as does the conventional manifold set. It utilizes transfer agents that will not produce dark, unsightly smudges on hands, clothing or papers. The waxy absorber 20 is not electrically conductive, so it cannot interfere with the use of the card 11 in a machine having electrical sensing means. The presence of the slight waxy deposit on thecard 11 does not impede its passage through a machine. The photographic image can be developed dry on the card 11 at any convenient time after the stub 12 is opened up or detached from the card. When in a blank, folded condition, the photosensitive area of the card is protected from unwanted exposure by both the oardstock and the transfer coating 20, which are barriers to actinic rays.

The terms written and writing, as employed herein, are intended to embrace not only handwriting but any other formof writing, such as typewriting, which would entail the application of sufficient pressure to the stub 12 for effecting a transfer of the short-wave radiation-absorbing substance'20 to'the photosensitive surface of the card 11.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A record document for receiving written information and providing a photographic copy thereof comprising a first record portion having an area thereof sensitized with a substance that assumes a given color upon exposure to actinic rays in a certain wavelength range, and a second record portion for receiving written impressions and adapted to overlie the sensitized area of said first record portion during a writing operation, said second record portion having on the side thereof nearest said sensitized area a coating of substantially colorless and nonsmudging pressure-sensitive transfer material capable of absorbing said actinic rays while transmitting light in the visible spectrum outside of said wavelength range, whereby a carbonless transfer of information may be affected from said second record portion to said first record portion.

2. A record document for receiving written information and providing a photographic copy thereof comprising a first record portion having an area thereof sensitized with a substance that assumes a given color upon exposure to actinic rays in a certain wavelength range, and a second record portion for receiving written impressions and adapted to overlie the sensitized area of said first record portion during a Writing operation, said second record utilize a credit card in the form'of a light stencil to obtain a photographic image of the authenticating data in the area between the lines 25 and 15, FIG. 1, in which case the entire area between lines 10 and 15 is made photosensitive. As a third possibility, one may coat the entire inside area of the stub 12 between line 16 and the end 14 withthe absorber 20and let an embossed authenticating portion of the credit plate overlap theend porportion having on the side'thereof nearest said sensitized area a coating of substantially colorless material comprising a wax or plastic base containing ultraviolet radiationabsorbing crystals capable of absorbing said actinic rays and adapted to be transferred under writing pressure to said first record portion, exposure of said first record portion resulting in a light image of said written impressions against a dark background.

3. A record card comprising'a body portion so constituted that machine-processable data representations can be recorded therein and also having a light-sensitive area in which a photographic image of written data can be developed, anda detachable stub portion normally folded over the light-sensitive area of said body portion, said stub portion having a writing surface on its outer side and having on its inner side a coating of pressure-sensitive transfer-material comprising a wax or plastic base containing ultraviolet radiation-absorbing crystals which length range and is insensitive to visible light outside of is capable of absorbing actinic rays to protect those porsaid wavelength range, and said transfer material is capations of said light-sensitive area where said transfer rnable of absorbing radiation in said given wavelength range. terial is deposited during a writing operation, exposure of said light sensitive area resulting in a light image of said 5 References Clted 111 the file of thls P written data against a dark background to thereby pro- UNITED TA AT S vide a photographic negative of said written data.

4. A record card as defined in claim 3 wherein said 233 "S a light-sensitive area contains a substance that changes 2,747,996 Edgerton et'aL May 29, 1956 color only when exposed to radiation in a given wave- 10

Claims (1)

1. A RECORD DOCUMENT FOR RECEIVING WRITTEN INFORMATION AND PROVIDING A PHOTOGRAPHIC COPY THEREOF COMPRISING A FIRST RECORD PORTION HAVING AN AREA THEREOF SENSITIZED WITH A SUBSTANCE THAT ASSUMES A GIVEN COLOR UPON EXPOSURE TO ACTINIC RAYS IN A CERTAIN WAVELENGTH RANGE, AND A SECOND RECORD PORTION FOR RECEIVING WRITTEN IMPRESSIONS AND ADAPTED TO OVERLIE THE SENSITIZED AREA OF SAID FIRST RECORD PORTION DURING A WRITING OPERATION, SAID SECOND RECORD PORTION HAVING ON THE SIDE THEREOF NEAREST SAID SENSITIZED AREA A COATING OF SUBSTANTIALLY COLORLESS AND NONSMUDGING PRESSURE-SENSITIVE TRANSFER MATERIAL CAPABLE OF ABSORBING SAID ACTINIC RAYS WHILE TRANSMITTING LIGHT IN THE VISIBLE SPECTRUM OUTSIDE OF SAID WAVELENGTH RANGE, WHEREBY A CARBONLESS TRANSFER OF INFORMATION MAY BE AFFECTED FROM SAID SECOND RECORD PORTION TO SAID FIRST RECORD PORTION.

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