US4636258A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Ink for thermal transfer printing
Assignee: Seiko Epson Corp
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Filing: 1985-08-20
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Granted: 1987-01-13
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Expires: 2005-08-20
Abstract
Abstract An ink composition for thermal transfer printing of about 30 to 50 weight percent of a masterbatch including a pigment or dye uniformly dispersed in a copolymer of at least one of styrene and an alpha -olefin and at least one of a maleic anhydride and a dialkyl maleate and about 50 to 70 weight percent wax or resin is provided. The ink composition is suitable for use as the ink layer of an electrothermal transfer recording sheet.
Inventors
- 👤 Seiichi Hayashi
- 👤 Katsumori Takei
- 👤 Takahiro Usui
- 👤 Yoshitaka Yamaguchi
- 👤 Makoto Taniguchi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 23:47
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41M; B41M5/00; B41M5/26; B41M5/382; B41M5/392; B41M5/395; C; C09; C09D; C09D11/00; C09D11/02; C09D11/10; C09D11/106
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
An ink composition for thermal transfer printing comprising a masterbatch, said masterbatch including between about 65 to 85 parts by weight of a copolymer of at least one of styrene and another α-olefin and at least one of maleic anhydride and a dialkyl maleate, and said masterbatch further including between about 10 to 35 parts by weight of a colorant dispersed in the copolymer, the masterbatch present in an amount between about 30 to 50 weight percent based on the total weight of the composition, the balance of the composition being comprised of wax.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
An ink composition for thermal transfer printing comprising a masterbatch, said masterbatch including between about 65 to 85 parts by weight of a copolymer of at least one of styrene and another α-olefin and at least one of maleic anhydride and a dialkyl maleate, and said masterbatch further including between about 10 to 35 parts by weight of a colorant dispersed in the copolymer, the masterbatch present in an amount between about 30 to 50 weight percent based on the total weight of the composition, the balance of the composition being comprised of wax.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ink composition of claim 1, wherein said copolymer is an α-olefin and maleic anhydride copolymer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ink composition of claim 2, wherein the α-olefin has between about 20 to 60 carbon atoms.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ink composition of claim 2, wherein the molar ratio of maleic anhydride to α-olefin is between 1.0 to 1.5.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The ink composition of claim 2, wherein the copolymer has an average molecular weight between about 2,000 to 30,000.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The ink composition of claim 2, wherein the copolymer has a melting point between about 60° to 90° C.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The ink composition of claim 1, wherein the copolymer is an α-olefin, maleic anhydride and a dimethyl maleate copolymer having the following structural formula: ##STR4## wherein R is an alkyl group of 26 to 58 carbon atoms.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ink composition of claim 7, wherein the α-olefin has between about 28 to 60 carbon atoms.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The ink composition of claim 7, wherein the copolymer has a melting point between about 65° to 75° C.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ink composition of claim 7, wherein the copolymer has a viscosity between about 150 to 250 centipoises at 100° C.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ink composition of claim 1, wherein the copolymer is a styrene and diethyl maleate copolymer having the following structural formula: ##STR5## wherein Et represents ethyl.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ink composition of claim 11, wherein the copolymer has a flow point temperature between about 55° to 70° C.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ink composition of claim 11, wherein the copolymer has a viscosity between about 250 to 450 centipoises at 100° C.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The ink composition of claim 1, wherein the copolymer is an α-olefin and dimethyl maleate copolymer having the following structural formula: ##STR6##
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ink composition of claim 14 wherein the α-olefin has between about 28 to 60 carbon atoms.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The ink composition of claim 14, wherein the copolymer has a melting point between about 60° to 75° C.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ink composition of claim 14, wherein the copolymer has a viscosity between about 30 to 100 centipoises at 100° C.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The ink composition of claim 1, wherein the masterbatch further includes at least one additive which functions as a plasticizer, viscosity regulator, dispersant, cohesive force improver or adhesive.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The ink composition of claim 18, wherein the additives are present in an amount of up to about 5 parts by weight.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ink composition of claim 19, wherein the masterbatch further includes wax in an amount of up to about 5 parts by weight.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The ink composition of claim 1, wherein the wax is selected from the group consisting of paraffin wax, microcrystalline wax, carnauba wax, oxidized wax and mixtures thereof.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The ink of claim 1, further including another resin in an amount between about 5 to 20 weight percent based on the total weight of the composition.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
The ink of claim 22, wherein the resin is selected from the group consisting of of ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene/ethyl acrylate copolymer, polyethylene, polyvinyl butyral, polyamide, polyester and mixtures thereof.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
141 words
A method for preparing an ink composition for thermal transfer printing comprising: preparing a copolymer of at least one of styrene and another α-olefin and at least one of maleic anhydride and a dialkyl maleate; dispersing a colorant in the copolymer in order to form a masterbatch, the copolymer present in the masterbatch in an amount between about 65 to 85 parts by weight and the colorant present in the masterbatch in an amount between about 10 to 30 parts by weight; and adding at least a wax to said masterbatch in order to form the ink composition, said masterbatch present in an amount between 30 to 50 weight percent based on the total weight of the ink composition and said wax present in an amount between 50 to 70 weight percent based on the total weight of the ink composition.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
141 words
A method for preparing an ink composition for thermal transfer printing comprising: preparing a copolymer of at least one of styrene and another α-olefin and at least one of maleic anhydride and a dialkyl maleate; dispersing a colorant in the copolymer in order to form a masterbatch, the copolymer present in the masterbatch in an amount between about 65 to 85 parts by weight and the colorant present in the masterbatch in an amount between about 10 to 30 parts by weight; and adding at least a wax to said masterbatch in order to form the ink composition, said masterbatch present in an amount between 30 to 50 weight percent based on the total weight of the ink composition and said wax present in an amount between 50 to 70 weight percent based on the total weight of the ink composition.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
84 words
An ink composition for thermal transfer printing, comprising about 30 to 50 weight percent of a masterbatch, said masterbatch including between about 65 to 85 parts by weight of a copolymer of at least one of styrene and another α-olefin and at least one of maleic anhydride and a dialkyl maleate, and said masterbatch further including between about 10 to 35 parts by weight of a colorant dispersed in the copolymer; and the remainder of the composition being wax or wax and another resin.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
84 words
An ink composition for thermal transfer printing, comprising about 30 to 50 weight percent of a masterbatch, said masterbatch including between about 65 to 85 parts by weight of a copolymer of at least one of styrene and another α-olefin and at least one of maleic anhydride and a dialkyl maleate, and said masterbatch further including between about 10 to 35 parts by weight of a colorant dispersed in the copolymer; and the remainder of the composition being wax or wax and another resin.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3989644A
Cited
US4178186A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-01-12 | 1990-07-14 | 1991-01-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-01-12 | 1994-07-14 | 1995-01-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-01-12 | 1998-07-14 | 1999-01-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |