US4228438A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Video jet printer process with radiation cured ink
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1979-03-14
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Granted: 1980-10-14
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Expires: 1999-03-14
Abstract
Abstract A jet electrostatic printing process is described which uses a unique ink formulation suitable for use on certain dark colored surfaces. This process provides rapid, automatic, non-contact printing with high contrast on dark-colored surfaces. It is particularly suitable for marking cable with dark sheathing such as carbon-doped polyethylene.
Inventors
- 👤 Hargovind N. Vazirani
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:53
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09D; C09D11/00; C09D11/30; C09D11/36; B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J3/00; B41J3/407; B41J3/4073; C09D11/02; C09D11/10; C09D11/101
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
A process for jet video printing on a surface with diluted ink using a jet video printer in which printing takes place by forming a stream of ink droplets, some of which are charged electrically and electrostatically deflected onto the surface being printed, and the diluted ink is cured with radiation after printing CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the diluted ink comprises: a. polar organic solvent in sufficient quantity so that the viscosity of the diluted ink is less than 20 cps in which said polar organic solvent accepts electric charge when ionizing agent is dissolved in said polar organic solvent, said polar organic solvent comprising at least one substance selected from the group consisting of methanol and ethanol, b. radiation-curable prepolymer which on curing yields a polymer with elastic modulus between 2000 and 500,000 psi and elongation at least 10 percent, said prepolymer having a solubility in said polar organic solvent of at least 10 weight percent, c. pigment in which 90 percent by weight of said pigment has agglomerate size less than 40 microns, said pigment present in amounts between 5 and 50 weight percent of the prepolymer, d. ionizing agent which permits the diluted ink to accept electric charge present in amounts up to the weight of prepolymer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
209 words
A process for jet video printing on a surface with diluted ink using a jet video printer in which printing takes place by forming a stream of ink droplets, some of which are charged electrically and electrostatically deflected onto the surface being printed, and the diluted ink is cured with radiation after printing CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the diluted ink comprises: a. polar organic solvent in sufficient quantity so that the viscosity of the diluted ink is less than 20 cps in which said polar organic solvent accepts electric charge when ionizing agent is dissolved in said polar organic solvent, said polar organic solvent comprising at least one substance selected from the group consisting of methanol and ethanol, b. radiation-curable prepolymer which on curing yields a polymer with elastic modulus between 2000 and 500,000 psi and elongation at least 10 percent, said prepolymer having a solubility in said polar organic solvent of at least 10 weight percent, c. pigment in which 90 percent by weight of said pigment has agglomerate size less than 40 microns, said pigment present in amounts between 5 and 50 weight percent of the prepolymer, d. ionizing agent which permits the diluted ink to accept electric charge present in amounts up to the weight of prepolymer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 in which the polar organic solvent is methanol.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 in which the pigment is titanium dioxide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 3 in which the amount of pigment is between 10 and 30 weight percent of prepolymer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 1 in which the prepolymer is the reaction product of at least one epoxy compound and substance containing at least one photopolymerizable group.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 5 in which the substance containing at least one photopolymerizable group is acrylic acid or methacrylic acid or a mixture of both.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 5 in which the epoxy compound comprises a mixture of aromatic and aliphatic diglycidyl ethers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 7 in which the epoxy compounds comprise a mixture of 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether and the diglycidyl ether of monobromo bisphenol A.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 8 in which the prepolymer is made by carrying out a reaction between 40-41 weight percent monobromo bisphenol A, 33-34 weight percent 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether and 26-27 weight percent acrylic acid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The process of claim 9 in which the mixture contains 0.1 to 0.3 phr diethylaminoethanol and 0.1 to 0.3 phr hydroquinone, and the reaction is carried out at temperatures between 100-150 degrees C. until the acid value is less than 1.0.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 in which the prepolymer is a urethane-acrylate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 11 in which the urethane is prepared from a mixture of aromatic and aliphatic diisocyanates.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 12 in which the acrylate is hydroxyethylmethacrylate or hydroxypropylmethacrylate or a mixture of both.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
54 words
The process of claim 1 in which the diluted ink comprises in addition a. nonpolar solvent which leads to a small amount of dissolution of the surface being printed so as to promote greater adherence of the ink to surface being printed, b. antisettling agent, c. silane coupling agent, and d. titanium coupling agent.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
The process of claim 1 in which a. the nonpolar solvent is toluene, b. the antisettling agent is titanium di(octylphosphate)oxyacetate, c. the silane coupling agent has the structural formula ##STR2## and d. the titanium coupling agent is tetra(2,2 diallyloxymethyl-1-buteneoxy) titanium di(di-tridecyl)phosphite.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
71 words
The process of claim 1 in which an undiluted ink consists essentially of a. 100 phr prepolymer, b. 10-30 phr pigment, c. 0-20 phr nonpolar solvent, d. 0-20 phr polar solvent, e. 0-1 phr antisettling agent, f. 0.01-1 phr silane coupling agent, and g. 0-1 phr titanium coupling agent, and said undiluted ink is diluted with polar organic solvent until the viscosity of the diluted ink is less than 20 cps.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 in which the ionizing agent is ammonia.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 in which the diluted ink contains photosensitizer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 18 in which the photosensitizer is either benzoin isobutyl ether or diethoxyacetophenone.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 in which the surface is dark in color.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 in which the surface is cable sheathing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 in which the radiation is ultraviolet radiation.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 1 in which the radiation-curable prepolymer on curing yields a polymer with elastic modulus between 2000 and 50,000 psi and elongation at least 20 percent.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 7 in which the epoxy compounds comprise a mixture of 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether, diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A and glycidyl ether of dibromophenol.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
46 words
The process of claim 24 in which the prepolymer is made by carrying out a reaction between 28-29 weight percent diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A, 12-13 weight percent glycidyl ether of dibromophenol, 33-34 weight percent 1,4 - butanediol diglycidyl ether and 26-27 weight percent acrylic acid.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
48 words
The process of claim 24 in which the prepolymer is made by carrying out a reaction between 10.5 to 12.5 weight percent of glycidyl ether of dibromophenol, 24-28 weight percent of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A, 31-37 weight percent 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether and 26-29 weight percent acrylic acid.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
39 words
The process of claim 24 in which the prepolymer is made by carrying out a reaction between 20-30 weight percent of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A, 40-50 weight percent of 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether and 28-35 weight percent acrylic acid.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 in which 90 percent of the pigment has agglomerate size less than five microns.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 in which 60 percent of the pigment has agglomerate size less than 2.5 microns.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 in which 60 percent of the pigment has agglomerate size less than one micron.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-10-14 | 1984-04-14 | 1984-10-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-10-14 | 1988-04-14 | 1988-10-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-10-14 | 1992-04-14 | 1992-10-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |