US4268368A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electrophoretical method for selectively reinking resistive ribbon thermal transfer printing ribbons
Assignee: IBM Information Products Corp
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Filing: 1980-03-24
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Granted: 1981-05-19
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Expires: 2000-03-24
Abstract
Abstract A method is described for selectively reinking a resistive ribbon thermal transfer printing ribbon, comprising: (1) positioning a used resistive ribbon thermal transfer printing ribbon in a colloidal dispersion of electrophoretically depositable ink prepared (a) heating a water-insoluble polymeric binder having a melting point in the range of 85 DEG C. to 100 DEG C. until the polymeric binder has been melted to a liquid state, (b) adding and blending a pigment into the melted polymeric binder, (c) adding and blending a heated dilute, aqueous solution of a carboxylic acid to the composition formed in (b), and (d) adding and blending a colloid charge-forming compound to the composition formed in (c), to form an aqueous dispersion of a pigment-containing polymeric colloid, (e) cooling the dispersion formed in (d); and (2) passing an electric current through said colloidal dispersion, with an electrically conductive layer of said ribbon serving as one electrode, to electrophoretically deposit the pigment-containing polymeric colloid on areas of said ribbon that have been depleted of ink, to form a ink layer of uniform thickness.
Inventors
- 👤 Ari Aviram
- 👤 Keith S. Pennington
- 👤 Lawrence Kuhn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 23:55
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41M; B41M5/00; B41M5/26; B41M5/382; B41M5/3825; B41J; B41J31/00; B41J31/14; C; C25; C25D; C25D13/00; C25D13/12; C25D13/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A method for selectively reinking a resistive ribbon thermal transfer printing ribbon, comprising: (1) positioning a used resistive ribbon thermal transfer printing ribbon in a colloidal dispersion of electrophoretically depositable ink, prepared by (a) heating a water-insoluble polymeric binder having a melting point in the range of 85° C. to 100° C. until the polymeric binder has been melted to a liquid state, (b) adding and blending a pigment into the melted polymeric binder, (c) adding and mixing a heated dilute aqueous solution of a carboxylic acid to the composition formed in (b), to adjust the pH and (d) adding and blending a colloid charge-forming compound to the pH adjusted composition formed in (c), to form an aqueous dispersion of electrically-charged pigment-containing polymeric colloid, (e) cooling the colloidal dispersion formed in (d); and (2) passing an electric current through said colloidal dispersion, with an electrically conductive layer of said ribbon serving as one electrode, to electrophoretically deposit the pigment-containing polymeric colloid on areas of said ribbon that have been depleted of ink, to form an ink layer of uniform thickness.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
180 words
A method for selectively reinking a resistive ribbon thermal transfer printing ribbon, comprising: (1) positioning a used resistive ribbon thermal transfer printing ribbon in a colloidal dispersion of electrophoretically depositable ink, prepared by (a) heating a water-insoluble polymeric binder having a melting point in the range of 85° C. to 100° C. until the polymeric binder has been melted to a liquid state, (b) adding and blending a pigment into the melted polymeric binder, (c) adding and mixing a heated dilute aqueous solution of a carboxylic acid to the composition formed in (b), to adjust the pH and (d) adding and blending a colloid charge-forming compound to the pH adjusted composition formed in (c), to form an aqueous dispersion of electrically-charged pigment-containing polymeric colloid, (e) cooling the colloidal dispersion formed in (d); and (2) passing an electric current through said colloidal dispersion, with an electrically conductive layer of said ribbon serving as one electrode, to electrophoretically deposit the pigment-containing polymeric colloid on areas of said ribbon that have been depleted of ink, to form an ink layer of uniform thickness.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method for selectively reinking a thermal transfer ribbon as in claim 1 wherein said charge-forming compound is an aliphatic amine which forms a positively-charged colloid, and said electrically conductive layer comprises a metal film serving as a cathode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method for selectively reinking a thermal transfer ribbon as in claim 2 wherein the aliphatic amine has from 12 to 30 carbon atoms.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method for selectively reinking a thermal transfer ribbon as in claim 3 wherein the aliphatic amine is N, N-dimethyl octadecylamine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method for selectively reinking a thermal transfer ribbon as in claim 1 or 2 wherein said pigment is a finely powdered solid pigment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method for selectively reinking a thermal transfer ribbon as in claim 3 wherein said pigment is carbon black.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method for selectively reinking a thermal transfer ribbon as in claim 1 or 2 wherein said polymeric binder is a polyamide or a polyacrylic.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method for selectively reinking a thermal transfer ribbon as in claim 1 or 2 wherein the carboxylic acid has from one to four carbon atoms.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method for selectively reinking a thermal transfer ribbon as in claim 6 wherein the carboxylic acid is acetic acid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method for selectively reinking a thermal transfer ribbon as in claim 1 or 2 wherein said ribbon is continuously moved through the colloidal dispersion during step (2).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3539489A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-05-18 | 1984-11-17 | 1985-05-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-05-18 | 1988-11-17 | 1989-05-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-05-18 | 1992-11-17 | 1993-05-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |