US5580372A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Ink composition for ink-jet printing
Assignee: SICPA Holding SA
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Filing: 1995-06-15
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Granted: 1996-12-03
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Expires: 2015-06-15
Abstract
Abstract This invention concerns an ink composition for thermal ink-jet printing consisting of an aqueous solution, a co-solvent, a dye, a pH regulator, a viscosity modifier, a biocide and a mixture of three non-ionic surface-active agents, one of which is diethylene glycol mono-hexyl ether and the other two are fatty ethoxylate alcohols. This ink composition allows drying times to be reduced to under 2 seconds, gives the printing high water resistance and permits use of the papers known as "recycled" with very good quality printing results, without in any way impairing storage capability, operation and endurance of the printhead.
Inventors
- 👤 Luigina Gino
- 👤 Laura Frera
- 👤 Norma Giordano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 11:09
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09D; C09D11/00; C09D11/30; C09D11/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
An ink composition for ink-jet printing, comprising a system of at least three non-ionic surface-active agents, wherein at least one of said at least three non-ionic surface-active agents is diethylene glycol mono-hexyl ether; and at least two of said at least three non-ionic surface-active agents are selected from the group consisting of fatty ethoxylate alcohols, nonyl phenol ethoxylate alcohols and a mixture thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
63 words
An ink composition for ink-jet printing, comprising a system of at least three non-ionic surface-active agents, wherein at least one of said at least three non-ionic surface-active agents is diethylene glycol mono-hexyl ether; and at least two of said at least three non-ionic surface-active agents are selected from the group consisting of fatty ethoxylate alcohols, nonyl phenol ethoxylate alcohols and a mixture thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The ink composition of claim 1, wherein one of said at least three non-ionic surface-active agents has an HLB of between 16 and 18 on the Griffin Hydrophile-Lypophile Balance scale.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The ink composition of claim 1, wherein two of said at least three non-ionic surface-active agents have an HLB of between 10 and 14 on the Griffin scale.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The ink composition of claim 1, wherein said diethylene glycol mono-hexyl ether is present in the range from about 1 to about 15% by weight.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The ink composition of claim 1, wherein said at least two of said at least three non-ionic surface-active agents are each present in the range from about 0.5 to about 3% by weight.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The ink composition of claim 1, wherein said at least two of said at least three non-ionic surface-active agents are polyethylene glycol dodecyl ether and polyethylene glycol hexadecyl ether.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The ink composition of claim 1, further comprising an aqueous solution, wherein said aqueous solution consists of deionized water and is present in percentages in the range from about 70 to about 90% by weight.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The ink composition of claim 1, further comprising a solvent system, wherein said solvent system is selected from the group consisting of glycols of low molecular weight, and a mixture thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The ink composition of claim 1, further comprising a solvent system, wherein said solvent system is selected from the group consisting of glycol ethers soluble in water, and a mixture thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The ink composition of claim 8 in which the glycols of low molecular weight are ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol 200, pentanediol, hexanediol.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The ink composition of claim 9 in which the glycol ethers soluble in water are methyl-, ethyl-, butyl cellosolve, methyl-, ethyl-, butyl carbitol, glycerol, 2-pyrrolidone, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-pyrrolidone.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ink composition of claim 9, wherein said solvent system is present in the range from about 1 to about 10% by weight.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ink composition of claim 8, wherein said solvent system is diethylene glycol in percentages in the range from about 1 to about 10% by weight.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The ink composition of claim 1, further comprising a dye system, wherein said dye system consists of dyes with a solubility in water of more than 4% by weight.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The ink composition of claim 14, wherein said dyes are present in percentages in the range from about 0.5 to about 4% by weight.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The ink composition of claim 14, wherein said dyes are selected from the group consisting of Food Black 2, C.I. Direct Black 168, azodystuff, disazo dyestuff and a mixture thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The ink composition of claim 1, further comprising a pH regulator system, wherein said regulator system is selected from the group consisting of phosphates, borates, carbonates, sodium acetates, potassium acetates, ammonium acetates and a mixture thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The ink composition of claim 1, further comprising a viscosity modifier system, wherein said modifier system is selected from a group consisting of polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyglycols of high molecular weight, amides and mixture thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The ink composition of claim 1, further comprising a biocide system, wherein said biocide system is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-benzoisothiazolin-3-one, preparation confining glycol semiformales and isothiazolinones and a mixture thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method of preparing an ink in accordance with claim 1, said method comprising the following steps: mix said at least three surface-active agents with small amounts of deionized water, agitate the mixture for a time of between 5 and 30 minutes at a temperature of between 20° and 50° C.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
An ink composition in accordance with claim 1, of the following characteristics: pH of between 7.5 and 8.5, viscosity between 1.2 and 5 mPa×s @25° C., surface tension of between 25 and 38 dyne/cm 25° C.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
A printhead for thermal ink-jet printing, comprising a reservoir containing an ink, wherein the composition of said ink is that of any one of the foregoing claims.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
An ink reservoir for refillable printheads for thermal ink-jet printing, wherein the composition of said ink is that of any one of the claims 1-9.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
61 words
A process suitable for thermal ink-jet printing, comprising the steps of: having available a thermal ink-jet printer; having available a printhead including a reservoir containing an ink, fitted on said printer; depositing on a medium droplets of said ink ejected from said printhead, wherein the composition of said ink is that of any one of the claims 1-9 and from 2-21.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 24, wherein the volume of said droplets ejected from said printhead is between 100 and 200 pl.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 24, wherein the volume of said droplets ejected from said printhead is approximately 160 pl.
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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) | 1999-12-03 | 2000-06-03 | 2000-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-12-03 | 2004-06-03 | 2004-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-12-03 | 2008-06-03 | 2008-12-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |