Methods and systems for identifying ink

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods for tagging an ink with a detectable marker and methods for identifying an ink. The tagged ink includes a colorant visible under visible light and a detectable marker capable of fluorescing when subjected to infrared light. A method for identifying an ink includes obtaining a sample of an unidentified ink, subjecting the sample to infrared light such that a detectable marker, if present, fluoresces, and determining whether any fluorescence emitted from the sample corresponds to fluorescence from a tagged ink. A system for identifying an unidentified ink is also disclosed.

1 . A method for identifying an ink, the method comprising: 
 obtaining a sample of an unidentified ink;    subjecting the sample of the unidentified ink to infrared light capable of causing a detectable marker, if present, in the sample of the unidentified ink to fluoresce; and    determining whether fluorescence emitted from the sample of the unidentified ink, if any, corresponds to fluorescence of an authentic ink known to include the detectable marker.    
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising subjecting the sample of the unidentified ink to a separation procedure capable of separating the detectable marker, if present, from a component of the unidentified ink.  
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein subjecting the sample of the unidentified ink to the separation procedure comprises: 
 mixing the ink sample with a solvent; and    subjecting the ink sample and the solvent to chromatography.    
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the authentic ink comprises a colorant.  
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the authentic ink comprises between about 10 ppm and about 10000 ppm of the detectable marker.  
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the detectable marker comprises an infrared fluorescing agent.  
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the detectable marker comprises TINOLUX BBS.  
   
   
       8 . A method for tagging an ink, the method comprising: 
 providing an ink comprising a colorant visible under visible light; and    mixing the ink with a detectable marker capable of fluorescing when subjected to infrared light, such that the detectable marker is present in the ink at a concentration of between about 10 ppm and about 10000 ppm.    
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the detectable marker comprises a metal phthalocyanine.  
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the detectable marker comprises TINOLUX BBS.  
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the detectable marker is present in the ink at a concentration of between about 50 ppm and about 100 ppm.  
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the colorant is a dye or a pigment.  
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising mixing the ink with at least one isotope of an element.  
   
   
       14 . A method for deterring the incidence of ink counterfeiting, the method comprising: 
 adding a detectable marker capable of fluorescing when subjected to infrared light to an ink, thus producing an authentic ink;    obtaining an ink sample;    exposing at least part of the ink sample to infrared light; and    determining whether the ink sample includes the detectable marker.    
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising subjecting the ink sample to a separation procedure capable of separating the detectable marker, if present, from a component of the ink sample.  
   
   
       16 . The method. according to  claim 15 , wherein subjecting the ink sample to the separation procedure comprises: 
 mixing the ink sample with a solvent; and    subjecting the ink sample and the solvent to chromatography.    
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the chromatography comprises thin layer chromatography.  
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the detectable marker comprises an infrared fluorescing agent.  
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein a concentration of the detectable marker in the authentic ink is between about 10 ppm and about 10000 ppm.  
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the concentration of the detectable marker in the authentic ink is between about 50 ppm and about 100 ppm.  
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the detectable marker comprises TINOLUX BBS.  
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein determining whether the ink sample includes the detectable marker comprises comparing fluorescence of the ink sample to fluorescence of the authentic ink.  
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the ink comprises a visible colorant.  
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising adding at least one isotope of an element the ink, thus producing the authentic ink.  
   
   
       25 . An ink composition, comprising: 
 a colorant visible under visible light; and    a means for fluorescing when subjected to infrared light;    wherein the means for fluorescing is present in the ink composition at a concentration of between about 10 ppm and about 10000 ppm.    
   
   
       26 . The ink composition of  claim 25 , wherein the infrared fluorescing agent comprises a metal phthalocyanine.  
   
   
       27 . The ink composition of  claim 26 , wherein the infrared fluorescing agent comprises TINOLUX BBS.  
   
   
       28 . The ink composition of  claim 25 , wherein the means for fluorescing is present at a concentration of between about 50 ppm and about 100 ppm.  
   
   
       29 . The ink composition of  claim 25 , wherein the colorant is a dye or a pigment.  
   
   
       30 . The ink composition of  claim 25 , further comprising at least one isotope of an element.  
   
   
       31 . A system for identifying an unidentified ink, comprising: 
 a separation means for separating a detectable marker, if present, from a component of the unidentified ink;    a light source for producing infrared light; and    an infrared viewer for detecting fluorescence generated by the detectable marker, if present, when subjected to the infrared light.    
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the separation means comprises a solvent and a thin layer chromatography plate.  
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the infrared viewer comprises a single chip black and white camera.  
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the system is configured to be portable.