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US5226957A
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Solubilization of water-insoluble dyes via microemulsions for bleedless, non-threading, high print quality inks for thermal ink-jet printers
Assignee: HP Inc
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Filing: 1992-03-17
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Granted: 1993-07-13
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Expires: 2012-03-17
Abstract
Abstract Water-insoluble dyes are formulated in a microemulsion-based ink, which have true waterfastness, are non-threading, and are bleed-alleviated. The ink-jet inks have a formula comprising: (a) about 0.05 to 0.75 wt % of a high molecular weight colloid; (b) about 0.1 to 40 wt % of at least two surfactants, comprising at least one surfactant and at least one co-surfactant; (c) about 0.5 to 20 wt % of at least one co-solvent; (d) about 0.1 to 5 wt % of at least one water-insoluble dye; (e) about 0.1 to 20 wt % of an oil; and (f) the balance water. The inks of the invention form a stable microemulsion, which results in bleed alleviation, excellent line definition without threading, and excellent print quality.
Inventors
- 👤 Palitha Wickramanayake
- 👤 John R. Moffatt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 18:58
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09D; C09D11/00; C09D11/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A microemulsion-based thermal ink-jet ink containing a water-insoluble dye comprising: (a) about 0.05 to 0.75 wt % of a high molecular weight colloid; (b) about 0.1 to 40 wt % of at least two surfactants, comprising at least one surfactant and at least one co-surfactant; (c) about 0.5 to 20 wt % of at least one co-solvent; (d) about 0.1 to 5 wt % of at least one water-insoluble dye; (e) about 0.1 to 20 wt % of an oil; and (f) the balance water.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
A microemulsion-based thermal ink-jet ink containing a water-insoluble dye comprising: (a) about 0.05 to 0.75 wt % of a high molecular weight colloid; (b) about 0.1 to 40 wt % of at least two surfactants, comprising at least one surfactant and at least one co-surfactant; (c) about 0.5 to 20 wt % of at least one co-solvent; (d) about 0.1 to 5 wt % of at least one water-insoluble dye; (e) about 0.1 to 20 wt % of an oil; and (f) the balance water.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The thermal ink-jet ink of claim 1 wherein said high molecular weight colloid is selected from the group consisting of salts of alginic acid, mannomuronic acid, carrageenan, guar and xanthan gums, dextran, chitin, chitosan, and carboxymethylcellulose.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The thermal ink-jet ink of claim 2 wherein said high molecular weight colloid consists essentially of sodium alginate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The thermal ink-jet ink of claim 1 wherein said at least one surfactant is an amine oxide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The thermal ink-jet ink of claim 4 wherein said amine oxide is selected from the group consisting of N,N-dimethyl-N-(Z-9-octadecenyl)-N-amineoxide,N,N-dimethyl-N-dodecyl amine oxide, N,N-dimethyl-N-tetradecyl amine oxide, N,N-dimethyl-N-hexadecyl amine oxide, and N,N-dimethyl-N-octadecyl amine oxide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The thermal ink-jet ink of claim 1 wherein said at least one co-surfactant is selected from the group consisting of glycol esters, mono and di glycol ethers, diethylene glycol ethers, long chain alcohols, and acetylenic polyethylene oxides.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
The thermal ink-jet ink of claim 6 wherein said glycol ester comprises propylene glycol laurate; said mono and di glycol ethers are selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, diethylene glycol ethers, propylene glycol ether, dipropylene glycol ether, and triethylene glycol ether; and said long chain alcohols are selected from the group consisting of butyl alcohol, pentyl alcohol, and homologous alcohols.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The thermal ink-jet ink of claim 1 wherein at least one co-solvent is selected from the group consisting of glycols, diols, sulfolane, esters, ketones, lactones, lactams, and glycerols and their derivatives.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
68 words
The thermal ink-jet ink of claim 8 wherein said glycols are selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, and derivatives thereof; said diols are selected from the group consisting of butanediol, pentanediol, hexanediol, and homologous diols; said lactone comprises γ-butyrolactone; and said lactams are selected from the group consisting of N-pyrrolidone, 2-pyrrolidone, and N-(2-hydroxyethyl) pyrrolidone.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The thermal ink-jet ink of claim 9 wherein said co-solvent consists essentially of about 4 to 15 wt % pentanediol.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The thermal ink-jet ink of claim 1 wherein said water-insoluble dye is selected from the group consisting of water-insoluble solvent dyes, vat dyes, and mordant dyes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
The thermal ink-jet ink of claim 1 wherein said oil is selected from the group consisting of non-toxic aromatics, straight and simple branched hydrocarbons having from about 8 to 22 carbon atoms, alkenes having up to three carbon-carbon double bonds, and mono and di glycol ethers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The thermal ink-jet ink of claim 12 wherein said non-toxic aromatics are selected from the group consisting of toluene, xylenes, naphthalene, naphthalene sulfonates, substituted naphthalene sulfonates, phenanthrene, and anthracene.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
The thermal ink-jet ink of claim 1 consisting essentially of about 4 to 15 wt % 1,5-pentanediol; about 0.05 to 0.75 wt % sodium alginate; 0.1 to 10 wt % of N,N-dimethyl-N-(Z-9-octadecenyl)-N-amine oxide and an acetylenic polyethylene oxide; said water-insoluble dye; about 0.5 to 10 wt % toluene; and the balance water.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
The thermal ink-jet ink of claim 14 consisting essentially of about 8 wt % 1,5-pentanediol; about 0.25 wt % sodium alginate; about 1 wt % N,N-dimethyl-N-(Z-9-octadecenyl)-N-amine oxide; about 2 wt % of an acetylenic polyethylene oxide; about 1 wt % toluene; about 0.2 wt % water-insoluble vat dye; and the balance water.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of preparing a waterfast, microemulsion-based thermal ink-jet ink containing a water-insoluble dye comprising: (a) preparing a stable aqueous phase by combining the following: (1) about 0.05 to 0.75 wt % of a high molecular weight colloid, (2) about 0.1 to 40 wt % of at least two surfactants, comprising at least one surfactant and at least one co-surfactant, (3) about 0.5 to 20 wt % of at least one co-solvent, and (4) the balance water; (b) adding to said stable aqueous phase the following to form a mixture: (5) about 0.1 to 5 wt % of at least one water-insoluble dye, and (6) about 0.1 to 20 wt % of an oil; and (c) homogenizing said mixture to form a microemulsion.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of preparing a waterfast, microemulsion-based thermal ink-jet ink containing a water-insoluble dye comprising: (a) preparing a stable aqueous phase by combining the following: (1) about 0.05 to 0.75 wt % of a high molecular weight colloid, (2) about 0.1 to 40 wt % of at least two surfactants, comprising at least one surfactant and at least one co-surfactant, (3) about 0.5 to 20 wt % of at least one co-solvent, and (4) the balance water; (b) adding to said stable aqueous phase the following to form a mixture: (5) about 0.1 to 5 wt % of at least one water-insoluble dye, and (6) about 0.1 to 20 wt % of an oil; and (c) homogenizing said mixture to form a microemulsion.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said high molecular weight colloid is selected from the group consisting of salts of alginic acid, mannomuronic acid, carrageenan, guar and xanthan gums, dextran, chitin, chitosan, and carboxymethylcellulose.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said high molecular weight colloid consists essentially of sodium alginate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said at least one surfactant is an amine oxide.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said amine oxide is selected from the group consisting of N,N-dimethyl-N-(Z-9-octadecenyl)-N-amine oxide, N,N-dimethyl-N-dodecyl amine oxide, N,N-dimethyl-N-tetradecyl amine oxide, N,N-dimethyl-N-hexadecyl amine oxide, and N,N-dimethyl-N-octadecyl amine oxide.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said at least one co-surfactant is selected from the group consisting of glycol esters, mono and di glycol ethers, diethylene glycol ethers, long chain alcohols, and acetylenic polyethylene oxides.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said glycol ester comprises propylene glycol laurate; said mono and di glycol ethers are selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, diethylene glycol ethers, propylene glycol ether, dipropylene glycol ether, and triethylene glycol ether; and said long chain alcohols are selected from the group consisting of butyl alcohol, pentyl alcohol, and homologous alcohols.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 16 wherein at least one co-solvent is selected from the group consisting of glycols, diols, sulfolane, esters, ketones, lactones, lactams, and glycerols and their derivatives.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said glycols are selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, and derivatives thereof; said diols are selected from the group consisting of butanediol, pentanediol, hexanediol, and homologous diols; said lactone comprises γ-butyrolactone; and said lactams are selected from the group consisting of N-pyrrolidone, 2-pyrrolidone, and N-(2-hydroxyethyl) pyrrolidone.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 24 wherein said co-solvent consists essentially of about 4 to 15 wt % pentanediol.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said water-insoluble dye is selected from the group consisting of water-insoluble solvent dyes, vat dyes, and mordant dyes.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said oil is selected from the group consisting of non-toxic aromatics, straight and simple branched hydrocarbons having from about 8 to 22 carbon atoms, alkenes having up to three carbon-carbon double bonds, and mono and di glycol ethers.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said non-toxic aromatics are selected from the group consisting of toluene, xylenes, naphthalene, naphthalene sulfonates, substituted naphthalene sulfonates, phenanthrene, and anthracene.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said stable aqueous phase consists essentially of about 4 to 15 wt % 1,5-pentanediol; about 0.05 to 0.75 wt % sodium alginate; 0.1 to 10 wt % of N,N-dimethyl-N-(Z-9-octadecenyl)-N-amine oxide and an acetylenic polyethylene oxide; and the balance water and wherein said oil consists essentially of about 0.5 to 10 wt % toluene.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 29 wherein said stable aqueous phase consists essentially of about 8 wt % 1,5-pentanediol, about 0.25 wt % sodium alginate, about 1 wt % N,N-dimethyl-N-(Z-9-octadecenyl)-N-amine oxide, about 2 wt % of an acetylenic polyethylene oxide, and the balance water; wherein said water-insoluble dye consists essentially of about 0.2 wt % of a vat dye; and wherein said oil consists essentially of about 1 wt % toluene.
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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) | 1996-07-12 | 1997-01-11 | 1997-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-07-12 | 2001-01-11 | 2001-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-07-12 | 2005-01-11 | 2005-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |