US6500248B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Ink composition for ink-jet recording and method of ink-jet recording
Assignee: Seiko Epson Corp
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Filing: 1999-10-15
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Granted: 2002-12-31
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Expires: 2019-10-15
Abstract
Abstract An ink composition for ink jet recording is provided which comprises at least a pigment, a 1,2-alkanediol, glycerin, a polyhydric alcohol derivative and/or an acetylene glycol surfactant, a water-soluble organic solvent, and water, the pigment having been surface treated to render the pigment dispersible and/or dissolvable in water without any dispersant, the 1,2-alkanediol being at least one member selected from the group consisting of 1,2-butanediol, 1,2-pentanediol, and 1,2-hexanediol, the ink composition having a surface tension of not more than 40 mNm-1 at 20° C. This ink composition enables ink jet recording which can provide good print quality and can realize continuous printing.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroko Hayashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 16:14
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09D; C09D11/00; C09D11/30; C09D11/32; C09D11/322
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
An ink composition for ink jet recording, comprising at least a pigment, a 1,2-alkanediol, glycerin, a polyhydric alcohol derivative and/or an acetylene glycol surfactant, a water-soluble organic solvent, and water, said pigment having been surface treated to render the pigment dispersible and/or dissolvable in water without any dispersant, said 1,2-alkanediol being at least one member selected from the group consisting of 1,2-butanediol, 1,2-pentanediol, and 1,2-hexanediol, said ink composition having a surface tension of not more than 40 mNm −1 at 20° C.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
82 words
An ink composition for ink jet recording, comprising at least a pigment, a 1,2-alkanediol, glycerin, a polyhydric alcohol derivative and/or an acetylene glycol surfactant, a water-soluble organic solvent, and water, said pigment having been surface treated to render the pigment dispersible and/or dissolvable in water without any dispersant, said 1,2-alkanediol being at least one member selected from the group consisting of 1,2-butanediol, 1,2-pentanediol, and 1,2-hexanediol, said ink composition having a surface tension of not more than 40 mNm −1 at 20° C.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The ink composition according to claim 1 , wherein the content of the 1,2-alkanediol is 0.5 to 30% by weight based on the ink composition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The ink composition according to claim 1 , wherein the content of glycerin is 0.5 to 30% by weight based on the ink composition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The ink composition according to claim 1 , wherein the surface of said pigment has been oxidized to render the pigment dispersible and/or dissolvable in water without any dispersant.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
The ink composition according to claim 4 , wherein the surface of said pigment has been oxidized so as to attach at least one functional group, selected from the group consisting of carbonyl, carboxyl, hydroxyl, and sulfonic acid groups or salts of said functional groups, to the surface of the pigment, thereby permitting the pigment to be dispersible and/or dissolvable in water without any dispersant.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The ink composition according to claim 1 , wherein the content of the pigment is 0.5 to 10% by weight based on the ink composition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ink composition according to claim 1 , wherein the pigment has an average particle diameter of 50 to 200 nm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The ink composition according to claim 1 , wherein the acetylene glycol surfactant is a compound represented by formula (I): wherein 0≦m+n≦50; and R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 each independently represent an alkyl group.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The ink composition according to claim 1 , which further comprises a water-soluble resin emulsion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ink composition according to claim 9 , wherein the water-soluble emulsion comprises a resin composed mainly of acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The ink composition according to claim 9 , wherein the water-soluble emulsion comprises resin particles having a core/shell structure comprising a core and a shell surrounding the core.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
The ink composition according to claim 11 , wherein the core is formed of an epoxy resin, a urethane resin, an acrylic acid resin and/or a methacrylic acid resin, and the shell is formed of a resin having on its surface carboxyl groups in acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ink composition according to claim 11 , wherein the resin constituting the core has a crosslinked structure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
An ink jet recording method comprising the steps of: ejecting droplets of an ink composition; and depositing the droplets onto a recording medium to perform printing, the ink composition being one according to claim 1 .
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
An ink jet recording method comprising the steps of: ejecting droplets of an ink composition; and depositing the droplets onto a recording medium to perform printing, wherein the ink composition according to claim 1 containing a pigment as the colorant and an ink composition containing a dye as a colorant are used to perform printing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The recording method according to claim 15 , wherein the ink composition containing a dye as the colorant further contains a glycol ether and/or an acetylene glycol surfactant.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The recording method according to claim 15 , wherein the ink composition containing a dye as the colorant further contains a component which functions to coagulate or thicken the ink composition containing a pigment as the colorant.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The recording method according to claim 17 , wherein the component, which functions to coagulate or thicken the ink composition containing a pigment as the colorant, is a cationic material, an organic salt, or an inorganic salt.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
The recording method according to claim 15 , wherein the ink composition containing a pigment as the colorant is a black ink composition, and the ink composition containing a dye as the colorant is a color ink composition.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
The recording method according to claim 15 , wherein the ink composition containing a pigment as the colorant is a black ink composition, and the ink composition containing a dye as the colorant is a black ink composition.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The recording method according to claim 15 , wherein the ink composition containing a dye as the colorant is first printed followed by printing of the ink composition containing a pigment as the colorant.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
An ink set for use in the recording method according to claim 15 , said ink set comprising: the ink composition containing a pigment as the colorant; and ink composition containing a dye as a colorant.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
12 words
A record printed by the recording method according to claim 14 .
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
81 words
An ink jet recording apparatus for practicing the ink jet recording method according to claim 15 , said ink jet recording apparatus comprising: recording medium-carrying means for holding and carrying a recording medium; means for depositing on the recording medium an ink composition containing a pigment as a colorant and an ink composition containing a dye as a colorant to record an image; and ink jet recording means for controlling the means for depositing the ink compositions to record an image.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
12 words
A record printed by the recording apparatus according to claim 24 .
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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) | 2005-12-30 | 2006-07-01 | 2006-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-12-30 | 2010-07-01 | 2010-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-12-30 | 2014-07-01 | 2014-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |