US5006172A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Ink-jet inks for the marking of plastics
Assignee: HP Singapore Pte Ltd
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Filing: 1989-08-17
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Granted: 1991-04-09
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Expires: 2009-08-17
Abstract
Abstract New inks for thermal ink-jet printers are formulated by replacing all or a large percentage of the aqueous component in prior art inks with an organic liquid which can adhere to, dissolve, swell, or penetrate a plastic film and also act as a solvent for the dyestuff in the ink. Present in the inks is a small percentage of a jetting agent. With these inks, a wide variety of plastic films can be marked with an ink-jet printer. The printed ink is water-fast, smear resistant, and substantially indelible.
Inventors
- 👤 Ching K. Chieng
- 👤 Charles L. Thierheimer, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 17:16
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09D; C09D11/00; C09D11/30; C09D11/36; B; B41; B41M; B41M5/00; B41M5/50; B41M5/52
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
In a method of printing plastics with a thermal ink-jet printer, said plastic having a given solubility parameter, the improvement consisting of printing an ink onto the surface of said plastic, said ink consisting essentially by weight: (a) from about 1% to about 10% dyestuff; (b) from about 1% to about 25% jetting agent, comprising at least one component selected from the group consisting of water and an organic liquid; (c) the balance being substantially at least one organic solvent which is capable of dissolving, swelling, or penetrating the plastic material and which is a solvent for said dyestuff, said at least one organic solvent also having a given solubility parameter, said solubility parameter of said at least one solvent being comparable to that of said plastic. said printing being performed at a contact angle relative to said plastic surface of about 40° to 70°.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
In a method of printing plastics with a thermal ink-jet printer, said plastic having a given solubility parameter, the improvement consisting of printing an ink onto the surface of said plastic, said ink consisting essentially by weight: (a) from about 1% to about 10% dyestuff; (b) from about 1% to about 25% jetting agent, comprising at least one component selected from the group consisting of water and an organic liquid; (c) the balance being substantially at least one organic solvent which is capable of dissolving, swelling, or penetrating the plastic material and which is a solvent for said dyestuff, said at least one organic solvent also having a given solubility parameter, said solubility parameter of said at least one solvent being comparable to that of said plastic. said printing being performed at a contact angle relative to said plastic surface of about 40° to 70°.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said plastic is polyethylene terephthalate glycol.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said plastic is acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said plastic is polycarbonate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said plastic is polyvinyl chloride.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the plastic is a blend of about 50% polycarbonate and about 50% acryloni-trile-butadiene-styrene.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the plastic is polybutylene terephthalate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said dyestuff comprises about 2 to about 4 wt % of said ink.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said dyestuff comprises about 2.5 wt % of said ink.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said jetting agent is water and constitutes from about 1 to about 10 wt % of said ink.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 10 said jetting agent is water and constitutes from about 4 to about 6 wt % of the ink.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said jetting agent is an organic liquid having a boiling point from about 50° C. to about 200° C.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said jetting agent is an organic solvent having a boiling point from about 50° C. to about 150° C.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said jetting agent is a member selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, isopropanol, ethyl acetate, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, ethoxyethanol, and propylene glycol methyl ether.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said jetting agent is a mixture of water and an organic liquid having a boiling point from about 50° C. to about 200° C.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said ink contains about 5 wt % of an organic liquid which boils from about 50° C. to about 150° C.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said organic solvent is a mixture of two to four components.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said organic solvent is a member selected from the group consisting of alkyl glycols, wherein alkyl has from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, aromatic hydrocarbons, ketones, alkyl pyrrolidones, and lactones.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 11 said ink comprises about 5 wt % Morfast Ink B, about 3 wt % dipropylene glycol, about 87 wt % γ-butyrolactone, and about 5 wt % water.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said ink comprises about 5 wt % Morfast Ink Black B, about 4 wt % phenoxyethanol, about 86 wt % γ-butyrolactone, and about 5 wt % water.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said ink comprises about 5 wt % Morfast Ink Black B, about 80 wt % N-methylpyrrolidone, about 10 wt % N-cyclohexylpyrrolidone, and about 5 wt % water.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said ink comprises about 5 wt % Solvent Black 46, about 80 wt % N-methylpyrrolidone, about 10 wt % N-cyclohexylpyrrolidone, and about 5 wt % water.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said ink comprises about 5 wt % Solvent Black 46, about 75 wt % N-ethylpyrrolidone, about 15 wt % N-cyclohexylpyrrolidone, and about 5 wt % water.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said ink comprises about 5 wt % Morfast Red 102, about 5 wt % ethylene glycol phenyl ether, 77 wt % γ-butyrolactone, about 10 wt % methyl ethyl ketone, and about 3 wt % water.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said ink comprises about 5 wt % of Endorsing Ink, about 5 wt % ethylene glycol phenyl ether, about 77 wt % γ-butyrolactone, about 10 wt % methyl ethyl ketone, and about 3 wt % water.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said ink comprises about 5 wt % Morfast Automate Red B, about 4 wt % ethylene glycol phenyl ether, about 81 wt % γ-butyrolactone, and about 10 wt % isopropyl alcohol.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said dye stuff is water soluble.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said dyestuff is soluble in an organic solvent.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-04-08 | 1994-10-08 | 1995-04-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-04-08 | 1998-10-08 | 1999-04-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-04-08 | 2002-10-08 | 2003-04-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |