An article for laser marking can comprising: a thermoplastic composition comprising a thermoplastic polymer, an active component comprising at least one of a polymeric unit and an additive, wherein the thermoplastic polymer has a visible transmission of greater than or equal to 80% according to ASTM D1003-00, Procedure A, using D65 illumination, 10 degrees observer, and thickness of 1 mm; and a mark produced by chemical rearrangement of the active component generated by a laser of a first wavelength; wherein the mark exhibits at least one of: (i) a change in optical properties in the region 400 nm to 700 nm when exposed to light having a wavelength less than or equal to 500 nm; and (ii) a change in optical properties in the region of 400 nm to 700 nm when exposed to light having a wavelength greater than or equal to the first wavelength.

A laser marking additive including a bismuth compound and a polyol. The laser marking additive can be directly added to a matrix polymer to prepare a laser markable composition, or the laser marking additive can be added to a polymer to prepare a masterbatch, which can be added to a matrix polymer. Preferred polyols are PEG, and polyols having at least 3 hydroxy groups.

A material of formula (I)

M.sup.1.sub.aM.sup.2.sub.bW.sub.cO.sub.d(P(O).sub.nR.sub.m).sub.e(I)

wherein each of M.sup.1 and M.sup.2 is independently ammonium or a metal cation; a is 0.01 to 0.5; b is 0 to 0.5; c is 1; d is 2.5 to 3; e is 0.01 to 0.75; n is 1, 2 or 3; m is 1, 2 or 3; and R is an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group.

Provided is an articulated robot arm capable of laser printing. The articulated robot arm includes: a communicator for receiving beverage order information; a grip part gripping and moving a cup; an articulation part having one side coupled to the grip part and including a plurality of articulation units; a controller controlling operations of the grip part and the articulation part; and a laser beam irradiation unit provided on at least a partial area of the grip part and irradiating a laser beam to print the beverage order information on the cup.

Software and lasers are used in finishing apparel to produce a desired wear pattern or other design. A technique includes determining a fabric's response to a laser, capturing an initial image of a wear pattern on a garment, and processing the initial image to obtain a working image in grayscale. The working image is further processed to obtain a difference image by comparing each pixel relative to a dark reference. The difference image is converted to a laser values image by using the previously determined fabric response to the laser.

There is provided a medium issuance system which can easily transfer print on an intermediate transfer sheet to a polycarbonate transfer medium. The medium issuance system 50 includes an intermediate transfer sheet supply section 52 for supplying an intermediate transfer sheet 53 to a polycarbonate transfer medium 1, and a hot stamp 55 for heating and pressing the intermediate transfer sheet 53 to transfer print 10A, 10C on the intermediate transfer sheet 53 to the transfer medium 1. The hot stamp 55 heats and presses the intermediate transfer sheet 53 at a temperature of not less than 120 C. and not more than 200 C., and at a pressure of not less than 0.1 kgf/cm.sup.2 and not more than 1000 kgf/cm.sub.2.

Disclosed are fibers which contain identification fibers. The identification fibers can contain a one or more of chemical markers and one or more distinct features, or taggants, which may vary among the fibers or be incorporated throughout all of the fibers. The chemical markers and distinct features can be representative of specific supply chain information. The supply chain information can be used to track the fibers from manufacturing through intermediaries, conversion to final product, and/or the consumer. The disclosed embodiments also relate to the method for making and characterizing the fibers. Characterization of the fibers can include identifying chemical markers and distinct features and correlating the chemical markers and distinct features to manufacturer-specific taggants to determine supply chain information.

A security document having a stack of layers including a matrix of coloured sub-pixels, an opaque layer with a white appearance above the matrix of coloured sub-pixels, the opaque layer with a white appearance having perforations facing sub-pixels of the matrix of coloured sub-pixels such that, when the device is observed from above, a coloured image appears.

Laser-markable dark-colored insulation materials that produce light-color marking with remarkably high contrast and durability, when marked with UV laser, are disclosed. Also disclosed are materials, synthesis, and application of the laser-markable insulation materials, and methods of making the insulation materials.

A tattoo arts practice pad is made by forming an otherwise-blank silicone pad having distributed pigment from a color dye, then lasering imagery onto the pad to result in traceable line images corresponding to areas that discolor the ink, so that discoloration in the shape of the line image on the pigment results without covering silicone with another material and without altering smoothness or silicone-tattoo needle interactions.