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US5521138A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Reversible thermosensitive coloring composition, and recording medium using the same

Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
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Filing: 1992-06-23
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Granted: 1996-05-28
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Expires: 2012-06-23
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Abstract

Abstract A reversible thermosensitive coloring composition is composed of an electron-donor coloring compound; an electron-acceptor compound which is capable of producing a colored material with a regularly aggregated structure in the electron-doner coloring compound at a color development initiation temperature to obtain a color development state, and is capable of crystallizing out of the colored material at a decolorization initiation temperature which is lower than the color development initiation temperature; and an organic compound serving as a decolorization-accelerating agent capable of inducing the destruction of the regularly aggregated structure of the colored material to accelerate the decolorization of the composition. A reversible thermosensitive coloring recording medium is composed of a support and a recording layer formed thereon, which contains the above-mentioned reversible thermosensitive coloring composition.

Inventors

  • 👤 Masaru Shimada
  • 👤 Hiroshi Goto
  • 👤 Eiichi Kawamura
  • 👤 Shoji Maruyama
  • 👤 Keishi Kubo
  • 👤 Kyoji Tsutsui

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 19:00
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41M; B41M5/00; B41M5/26; B41M5/30; B41M5/305

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 188 words
A reversible thermosensitive coloring composition comprising: an electron-donor coloring compound, an electron-acceptor compound having a long-chain moiety in the molecule which controls the cohesion between the molecules thereof, said electron-acceptor compound (a) capable of producing a colored material with a regularly aggregated structure in said electron-donor coloring compound with the application of heat thereto to a color development initiation temperature which is above the melting point of the mixture of said electron-donor coloring compound and said electron-acceptor compound to obtain a color development state, and (b) capable of crystallizing out of said colored material when said regularly aggregated structure of said colored material is destroyed with the application of heat thereto to a decolorization initiation temperature which is below said color development initiation temperature to obtain a decolorization state, thereby reversibly providing said color development state and said decolorization state, and an organic compound serving as a decolorization-accelerating agent dispersed in said coloring composition in the form of molecules or minute domains, capable of inducing the destruction of said regularly aggregated structure of said colored material and accelerating the decolorization of said colored material in a decolorization process.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 188 words
A reversible thermosensitive coloring composition comprising: an electron-donor coloring compound, an electron-acceptor compound having a long-chain moiety in the molecule which controls the cohesion between the molecules thereof, said electron-acceptor compound (a) capable of producing a colored material with a regularly aggregated structure in said electron-donor coloring compound with the application of heat thereto to a color development initiation temperature which is above the melting point of the mixture of said electron-donor coloring compound and said electron-acceptor compound to obtain a color development state, and (b) capable of crystallizing out of said colored material when said regularly aggregated structure of said colored material is destroyed with the application of heat thereto to a decolorization initiation temperature which is below said color development initiation temperature to obtain a decolorization state, thereby reversibly providing said color development state and said decolorization state, and an organic compound serving as a decolorization-accelerating agent dispersed in said coloring composition in the form of molecules or minute domains, capable of inducing the destruction of said regularly aggregated structure of said colored material and accelerating the decolorization of said colored material in a decolorization process.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 183 words
A reversible thermosensitive coloring composition comprising: an electron-donor coloring compound, an electron-acceptor compound having a long-chain moiety in the molecule which controls the cohesion between the molecules thereof, said electron-acceptor compound (a) capable of producing a colored material with a regularly aggregated structure in said electron-donor coloring compound with the application of heat thereto to a color development initiation temperature which is above the melting point of the mixture of said electron-donor coloring compound and said electron-acceptor compound to obtain a color development state, and (b) capable of crystallizing out of said colored material when said regularly aggregated structure of said colored material is destroyed with the application of heat thereto to a decolorization initiation temperature which is below said color development initiation temperature to obtain a decolorization state, thereby reversibly providing said color development state and said decolorization state, and an organic compound serving as a decolorization-accelerating agent dispersed in said coloring composition in the form of minute domains, which is capable of melting first to induce the destruction of said regularly aggregated structure of said colored material in a decolorization process.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 183 words
A reversible thermosensitive coloring composition comprising: an electron-donor coloring compound, an electron-acceptor compound having a long-chain moiety in the molecule which controls the cohesion between the molecules thereof, said electron-acceptor compound (a) capable of producing a colored material with a regularly aggregated structure in said electron-donor coloring compound with the application of heat thereto to a color development initiation temperature which is above the melting point of the mixture of said electron-donor coloring compound and said electron-acceptor compound to obtain a color development state, and (b) capable of crystallizing out of said colored material when said regularly aggregated structure of said colored material is destroyed with the application of heat thereto to a decolorization initiation temperature which is below said color development initiation temperature to obtain a decolorization state, thereby reversibly providing said color development state and said decolorization state, and an organic compound serving as a decolorization-accelerating agent dispersed in said coloring composition in the form of minute domains, which is capable of melting first to induce the destruction of said regularly aggregated structure of said colored material in a decolorization process.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 199 words
A reversible thermosensitive coloring composition comprising: an electron-donor coloring compound, an electron-acceptor compound having a long-chain moiety in the molecule which controls the cohesion between the molecules thereof, said electron-acceptor compound (a) capable of producing a colored material with a regularly aggregated structure in said electron-donor coloring compound with the application of heat thereto to a color development initiation temperature which is above the melting point of the mixture of said electron-donor coloring compound and said electron-acceptor compound to obtain a color development state, and (b) capable of crystallizing out of said colored material when said regularly aggregated structure of said colored material is destroyed with the application of heat thereto to a decolorization initiation temperature which is below said color development initiation temperature to obtain a decolorization state, thereby reversibly providing said color development state and said decolorization state, and an organic compound serving as a decolorization-accelerating agent dispersed in said coloring composition in the form of minute domains, which is capable of serving as nuclei for the crystallization of said electron-acceptor compound when said regularly aggregated structure of said colored material is destroyed and said electron-acceptor compound crystallizes out of said colored material in a decolorization process.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 199 words
A reversible thermosensitive coloring composition comprising: an electron-donor coloring compound, an electron-acceptor compound having a long-chain moiety in the molecule which controls the cohesion between the molecules thereof, said electron-acceptor compound (a) capable of producing a colored material with a regularly aggregated structure in said electron-donor coloring compound with the application of heat thereto to a color development initiation temperature which is above the melting point of the mixture of said electron-donor coloring compound and said electron-acceptor compound to obtain a color development state, and (b) capable of crystallizing out of said colored material when said regularly aggregated structure of said colored material is destroyed with the application of heat thereto to a decolorization initiation temperature which is below said color development initiation temperature to obtain a decolorization state, thereby reversibly providing said color development state and said decolorization state, and an organic compound serving as a decolorization-accelerating agent dispersed in said coloring composition in the form of minute domains, which is capable of serving as nuclei for the crystallization of said electron-acceptor compound when said regularly aggregated structure of said colored material is destroyed and said electron-acceptor compound crystallizes out of said colored material in a decolorization process.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 207 words
A reversible thermosensitive coloring recording medium comprising a support and a reversible thermosensitive recording layer formed thereon, comprising a reversible thermosensitive coloring composition which comprises: an electron-donor coloring compound, an electron-acceptor compound having a long-chain moiety in the molecule which controls the cohesion between the molecules thereof, said electron-acceptor compound (a) capable of producing a colored material with a regularly aggregated structure in said electron-donor coloring compound with the application of heat thereto to a color development initiation temperature which is above the melting point of the mixture of said electron-donor coloring compound and said electron-acceptor compound to obtain a color development state, and (b) capable of crystallizing out of said colored material when said regularly aggregated structure of said colored material is destroyed with the application of heat thereto to a decolorization initiation temperature which is below said color development initiation temperature to obtain a decolorization state, thereby reversibly providing said color development state and said decolorization state, and an organic compound serving as a decolorization-accelerating agent dispersed in said coloring composition in the form of molecules or minute domains, capable of inducing the destruction of said regularly aggregated structure of said colored material and accelerating the decolorization of said colored material in a decolorization process.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 207 words
A reversible thermosensitive coloring recording medium comprising a support and a reversible thermosensitive recording layer formed thereon, comprising a reversible thermosensitive coloring composition which comprises: an electron-donor coloring compound, an electron-acceptor compound having a long-chain moiety in the molecule which controls the cohesion between the molecules thereof, said electron-acceptor compound (a) capable of producing a colored material with a regularly aggregated structure in said electron-donor coloring compound with the application of heat thereto to a color development initiation temperature which is above the melting point of the mixture of said electron-donor coloring compound and said electron-acceptor compound to obtain a color development state, and (b) capable of crystallizing out of said colored material when said regularly aggregated structure of said colored material is destroyed with the application of heat thereto to a decolorization initiation temperature which is below said color development initiation temperature to obtain a decolorization state, thereby reversibly providing said color development state and said decolorization state, and an organic compound serving as a decolorization-accelerating agent dispersed in said coloring composition in the form of molecules or minute domains, capable of inducing the destruction of said regularly aggregated structure of said colored material and accelerating the decolorization of said colored material in a decolorization process.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 201 words
A reversible thermosensitive coloring recording medium comprising a support and a reversible thermosensitive recording layer formed thereon, comprising a reversible thermosensitive coloring composition comprising: an electron-donor coloring compound, an electron-acceptor compound having a long-chain moiety in the molecule which controls the cohesion between the molecules thereof, said electron-acceptor compound (a) capable of producing a colored material with a regularly aggregated structure in said electron-donor coloring compound with the application of heat thereto to a color development initiation temperature which is above the melting point of the mixture of said electron-donor coloring compound and said electron-acceptor compound to obtain a color development state, and (b) capable of crystallizing out of said colored material when said regularly aggregated structure of said colored material is destroyed with the application of heat thereto to a decolorization initiation temperature which is below said color development initiation temperature to obtain a decolorization state, thereby reversibly providing said color development state and said decolorization state, and an organic compound serving as a decolorization-accelerating agent dispersed in said coloring composition in the form of minute domains, which is capable of melting first to induce the destruction of said regularly aggregated structure of said colored material in a decolorization process.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 201 words
A reversible thermosensitive coloring recording medium comprising a support and a reversible thermosensitive recording layer formed thereon, comprising a reversible thermosensitive coloring composition comprising: an electron-donor coloring compound, an electron-acceptor compound having a long-chain moiety in the molecule which controls the cohesion between the molecules thereof, said electron-acceptor compound (a) capable of producing a colored material with a regularly aggregated structure in said electron-donor coloring compound with the application of heat thereto to a color development initiation temperature which is above the melting point of the mixture of said electron-donor coloring compound and said electron-acceptor compound to obtain a color development state, and (b) capable of crystallizing out of said colored material when said regularly aggregated structure of said colored material is destroyed with the application of heat thereto to a decolorization initiation temperature which is below said color development initiation temperature to obtain a decolorization state, thereby reversibly providing said color development state and said decolorization state, and an organic compound serving as a decolorization-accelerating agent dispersed in said coloring composition in the form of minute domains, which is capable of melting first to induce the destruction of said regularly aggregated structure of said colored material in a decolorization process.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 217 words
A reversible thermosensitive coloring recording medium comprising a support and a reversible thermosensitive recording layer formed thereon, comprising a reversible thermosensitive coloring composition comprising: an electron-donor coloring compound, an electron-acceptor compound having a long-chain moiety in the molecule which controls the cohesion between the molecules thereof, said electron-acceptor compound (a) capable of producing a colored material with a regularly aggregated structure in said electron-donor coloring compound with the application of heat thereto to a color development initiation temperature which is above the melting point of the mixture of said electron-donor coloring compound and said electron-acceptor compound to obtain a color development state, and (b) capable of crystallizing out of said colored material when said regularly aggregated structure of said colored material is destroyed with the application of heat thereto to a decolorization initiation temperature which is below said color development initiation temperature to obtain a decolorization state, thereby reversibly providing said color development state and said decolorization state, and an organic compound serving as a decolorization-accelerating agent dispersed in said coloring composition in the form of minute domains, which is capable of serving as nuclei for the crystallization of said electron-acceptor compound when said regularly aggregated structure of said colored material is destroyed and said electron-acceptor compound crystallizes out of said colored material in a decolorization process.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 217 words
A reversible thermosensitive coloring recording medium comprising a support and a reversible thermosensitive recording layer formed thereon, comprising a reversible thermosensitive coloring composition comprising: an electron-donor coloring compound, an electron-acceptor compound having a long-chain moiety in the molecule which controls the cohesion between the molecules thereof, said electron-acceptor compound (a) capable of producing a colored material with a regularly aggregated structure in said electron-donor coloring compound with the application of heat thereto to a color development initiation temperature which is above the melting point of the mixture of said electron-donor coloring compound and said electron-acceptor compound to obtain a color development state, and (b) capable of crystallizing out of said colored material when said regularly aggregated structure of said colored material is destroyed with the application of heat thereto to a decolorization initiation temperature which is below said color development initiation temperature to obtain a decolorization state, thereby reversibly providing said color development state and said decolorization state, and an organic compound serving as a decolorization-accelerating agent dispersed in said coloring composition in the form of minute domains, which is capable of serving as nuclei for the crystallization of said electron-acceptor compound when said regularly aggregated structure of said colored material is destroyed and said electron-acceptor compound crystallizes out of said colored material in a decolorization process.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

FR2503729A1 Cited
US4423116A Cited
FR2538309A1 Cited
FR2591534A1 Cited
US4917948A Cited
EP0492628A1 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-05-28 1999-11-27 2000-05-28 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-05-28 2003-11-27 2004-05-28 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-05-28 2007-11-27 2008-05-28 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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