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US5084099A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Phase change ink colorants and phase change inks produced therefrom

Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1991-06-17
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Granted: 1992-01-28
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Expires: 2011-06-17
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Abstract

Abstract This invention relates to modified phase change ink compatible colorants which comprise a phase change ink soluble complex of(a) a tertiary alkyl primary amine and (b) dye chromophores, i.e., materials that absorb light in the visible wavelength region to produce color having at least one pendant acid functional group in the free acid form (not the salt of that acid). These modified colorants are extremely useful in producing phase change inks when combined with a phase change ink carrier, even though the unmodified dye chromophores have limited solubility in the phase change ink carrier. Thin films of uniform thickness of the subject phase change ink compositions which employ the modified phase change ink colorants exhibit a high degree of lightness and chroma. The primary amine-dye chromphore complexes are soluble in the phase change ink carrier and exhibit excellent thermal stability.

Inventors

  • 👤 C. Wayne Jaeger
  • 👤 Curtis F. Sheley

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 14:45
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09D; C09D11/00; C09D11/30; C09D11/34; C09D11/32; C09D11/328

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim 126 words
A modified phase change ink composition comprising a modified phase change ink colorant in combination with a phase change ink carrier, said modified phase change ink colorant composition comprising the reaction product of (a) a tertiary alkyl primary amine and (b) dye chromophores having at least one pendant functional free acid group in the acid form, the dye chromophores, prior to the reaction with the tertiary primary amine, having a low degree of solubility in said phase change ink carrier, said phase change ink carrier being in a solid phase at ambient temperature and in a liquid phase at an elevated operating temperature, and thin films of uniform thickness of said modified phase change ink composition having a high degree of lightness, chroma and thermal stability.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 126 words
A modified phase change ink composition comprising a modified phase change ink colorant in combination with a phase change ink carrier, said modified phase change ink colorant composition comprising the reaction product of (a) a tertiary alkyl primary amine and (b) dye chromophores having at least one pendant functional free acid group in the acid form, the dye chromophores, prior to the reaction with the tertiary primary amine, having a low degree of solubility in said phase change ink carrier, said phase change ink carrier being in a solid phase at ambient temperature and in a liquid phase at an elevated operating temperature, and thin films of uniform thickness of said modified phase change ink composition having a high degree of lightness, chroma and thermal stability.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 27 words
The modified phase change ink colorant of claim 1, wherein said dye chromophores, prior to the reaction with the tertiary primary amine, comprise a C.I. Acid dye.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 28 words
The modified phase change ink colorant of claim 1, wherein said dye chromophores, prior to the reaction with the tertiary primary amine, comprises C.I. Acid Red 52 dye.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 27 words
The modified phase change ink colorant of claim 1, wherein said dye chromophores, prior to the reaction with the tertiary primary amine, comprises a C.I. Direct dye.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 22 words
The modified phase change ink colorant of claim 1, wherein said dye chromophores comprise a free acid derivative of a xanthene dye.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 22 words
The modified phase change ink colorant of claim 1, wherein said dye chromophores comprise a composition represented by the structural formula: ##STR3##
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 24 words
The modified phase change ink colorant of claim 1, wherein said tertiary alkyl primary amine comprises a composition represented by the structural formula: ##STR4##
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 28 words
The modified phase change ink colorant of claim 1, wherein said tertiary alkyl primary amine comprises alkyl groups having a total of from 12 to 22 carbon atoms.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 30 words
The modified phase change ink colorant composition of claim 1, which comprises a solvent soluble magenta dye which exhibits an intense, saturated color and a high degree of thermal stability.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 46 words
The modified phase change ink colorant composition of claim 1, wherein the C* ab value, of a substantially uniform thin film of about 20 micron thickness, of a subtractive primary yellow color phase change ink composition produced from said colorant composition, is at least about 40.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 46 words
The modified phase change ink colorant composition of claim 1, wherein the C* ab value, of a substantially uniform thin film of about 20 micron thickness, of a subtractive primary magenta color phase change ink composition produced from said colorant composition, is at least about 60.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 47 words
The modified phase change ink colorant composition of claim 1, wherein the C* ab value, of a substantially uniform thin film of about 20 micron thickness, of a subtractive primary cyan color modified phase change ink composition produced from said colorant composition, is at least about 25.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 46 words
The modified phase change ink colorant composition of claim 1, wherein the L* value, of a substantially uniform thin film of about 20 micron thickness, of a black color of a phase change ink composition produced from said colorant composition, is not more than about 30.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 24 words
The modified phase change ink colorant composition of claim 1, wherein thin films of uniform thickness of said ink composition are rectilinearly light transmissive.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 132 words
A process for producing a modified phase change ink composition which comprises combining a modified phase change ink colorant composition and a phase change ink carrier, said modified phase change ink colorant composition comprising the reaction product of (a) a tertiary alkyl primary amine and (b) dye chromophores having at least one pendant functional free acid group in the acid form, the modified dye chromophores prior to the reaction with the tertiary primary amine, having a low degree of solubility in said phase change ink carrier, said phase change ink carrier being in a solid phase at ambient temperature and in a liquid phase at an elevated operating temperature, and thin films of uniform thickness of said modified phase change ink composition having a high degree of lightness, chroma and thermal stability.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 132 words
A process for producing a modified phase change ink composition which comprises combining a modified phase change ink colorant composition and a phase change ink carrier, said modified phase change ink colorant composition comprising the reaction product of (a) a tertiary alkyl primary amine and (b) dye chromophores having at least one pendant functional free acid group in the acid form, the modified dye chromophores prior to the reaction with the tertiary primary amine, having a low degree of solubility in said phase change ink carrier, said phase change ink carrier being in a solid phase at ambient temperature and in a liquid phase at an elevated operating temperature, and thin films of uniform thickness of said modified phase change ink composition having a high degree of lightness, chroma and thermal stability.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 23 words
The process of claim 15, wherein said dye chromophores, prior to the reaction with the tertiary primary amine, comprise a C.I. Acid dye.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 24 words
The process of claim 15, wherein said dye chromophores, prior to the reaction with the tertiary primary amine, comprises C.I. Acid Red 52 dye.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 23 words
The process of claim 15, wherein said dye chromophores, prior to the reaction with the tertiary primary amine, comprises a C.I. Direct dye.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 18 words
The process of claim 15, wherein said dye chromophores comprise a free acid derivative of a xanthene dye.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 18 words
The process of claim 15, wherein said dye chromophores comprise a composition represented by the structural formula: ##STR5##
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 20 words
The process of claim 15, wherein said tertiary alkyl primary amine comprises a composition represented by the structural formula: ##STR6##
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 41 words
The process of claim 15, wherein the C* ab value, of a substantially uniform thin film of about 20 micron thickness, of a subtractive primary yellow color phase change ink composition produced from said colorant composition, is at least about 40.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 41 words
The process of claim 15, wherein the C* ab value, of a substantially uniform thin film of about 20 micron thickness, of a subtractive primary magenta color phase change ink composition produced from said colorant composition, is at least about 60.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 42 words
The process of claim 15, wherein the C* ab value, of a substantially uniform thin film of about 20 micron thickness, of a subtractive primary cyan color modified phase change ink composition produced from said colorant composition, is at least about 25.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 41 words
The process of claim 15, wherein the L* value, of a substantially uniform thin film of about 20 micron thickness, of a black color of a phase change ink composition produced from said colorant composition, is not more than about 35.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 19 words
The process of claim 15, wherein thin films of uniform thickness of said ink composition being rectilinearly light transmissive.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3994872A Cited
US4133695A Cited
US4664715A Cited
US4786327A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1995-01-27 1995-07-29 1996-01-28 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-01-27 1999-07-29 2000-01-28 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-01-27 2003-07-29 2004-01-28 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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