US6540329B1
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Image recording method, method for improving quality of multicolor image, image recording apparatus, ink set, recording unit, image forming method, method for improving image quality, and method for forming monotone image
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 2000-09-15
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Granted: 2003-04-01
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Expires: 2020-09-15
Abstract
Abstract A method of recording a multi-color image containing a plurality of image regions formed by applying an black ink and a color ink to overlap each other in different orders, where the black ink contains a salt, an aqueous medium and a pigment dispersed in the aqueous medium by the action of an ionic group, and the color ink contains a dye. Otherwise, the black ink contains a salt, an aqueous medium and a pigment dispersed in the aqueous medium by the action of an ionic group, and the color ink is reactive with the black ink. This method enables to obtain high quality images free from density unevenness or excellent in uniform feeling.
Inventors
- 👤 Takumi Kaneko
- 👤 Nobuyuki Matsumoto
- 👤 Masao Kato
- 👤 Daisaku Ide
- 👤 Koichi Osumi
- 👤 Yoichi Takada
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 12:50
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09D; C09D11/00; C09D11/30; C09D11/32; C09D11/324; C09D11/38; C09D11/40; B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/21; B41J2/2107; B41M; B41M5/00; B41M5/0011; B41M5/0017; B41M5/0023; B41M7/00; B41M7/0018
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 96
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of recording on a recording medium a multi-color image including a first image region and a second image region with a black ink and a color ink, comprising the steps of: (i) forming the first image region by applying the black ink, and then applying the color ink so as to overlap each other; and (ii) forming the second image region by applying the color ink, and then applying the black ink so as to overlap each other; wherein the black ink contains a salt selected from the group consisting of (M1) 2 SO 4 , CH 3 COO(M1), Ph—COO(M1), (M1)NO 3 , (M1)Cl, (M1)Br, (M1)I, (M1) 2 SO 3 and (M1) 2 CO 3 where M1 is selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal, ammonium or an organo-ammonium, an aqueous medium and a pigment dispersed in the aqueous medium by the action of an ionic group, and the color ink contains a dye.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of recording on a recording medium a multi-color image including a first image region and a second image region with a black ink and a color ink, comprising the steps of: (i) forming the first image region by applying the black ink, and then applying the color ink so as to overlap each other; and (ii) forming the second image region by applying the color ink, and then applying the black ink so as to overlap each other; wherein the black ink contains a salt selected from the group consisting of (M1) 2 SO 4 , CH 3 COO(M1), Ph—COO(M1), (M1)NO 3 , (M1)Cl, (M1)Br, (M1)I, (M1) 2 SO 3 and (M1) 2 CO 3 where M1 is selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal, ammonium or an organo-ammonium, an aqueous medium and a pigment dispersed in the aqueous medium by the action of an ionic group, and the color ink contains a dye.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the black ink has a Ka value by the Bristow method of less than 1.5 ml·m −2 ·msec −½ and the color ink has a Ka value by the Bristow method of 5 ml·m −2 ·msec −½ or more.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method according to claim 2 , wherein the black ink has a Ka value by the Bristow method of 0.2 ml·m −2 ·msec −½ or more and less than 1.5 ml·m −2 ·msec −½ .
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the pigment of the black ink is a carbon black, and the carbon black has at least one kind of hydrophilic group, as the ionic group, attached on its surface directly or via an atomic group.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the pigment of the black ink is a carbon black and the black ink further contains a dispersing agent having the ionic group.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method according to claim 4 or 5 , wherein the carbon black is present in the black ink in such a concentration that an image of a prescribed optical density is formed when the black ink alone is provided to a recording medium by an ink jet method, but no recorded image of the prescribed optical density can be obtained when the black ink contains no salt.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the dye of the color ink is an acid dye or a direct dye.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the color ink contains a component which destabilizes the dispersion stability of the pigment of the black ink when the color ink and the black ink are mixed, the component being a dye, an additive, or a dye and an additive.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 8 , wherein the black ink contains an anionic group as the ionic group, and the color ink contains polyvalent metal salts as the additive.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method according to claim 9 , wherein the polyvalent metal salt comprises at least one polyvalent metal cation selected from the group consisting of Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , Cu 2+ , Co 2+ , Ni 2+ , Fe 2+ , La 3+ , Nd 3+ , Y 3+ and Al 3+ .
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 9 or 10 , wherein the color ink contains the polyvalent metal salt at 0.1 to 15% by weight of a total weight of the color ink.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 8 , wherein the black ink contains an anionic group as the ionic group, and the color ink contains a dye having a cationic group as the dye.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 12 , wherein the color ink contains the dye having the cationic group at 0.1 to 10% by weight of a total weight of the color ink.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 8 , wherein the black ink contains a cationic group as the ionic group, and the color ink contains a dye having an anionic group as the dye.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 14 , wherein the color ink contains the dye having the anionic group at 0.1 to 10% by weight of a total weight of the color ink.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 8 , wherein the pigment of the black ink exists stably at a pH of 3 to 7 and the pH of the color ink is 7 to 10.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 8 , wherein the pigment of the black ink exists stably at a pH of 7 to 11 and the pH of the color ink is 3 to 6.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of improving quality of a multi-color image including a first image region and a second image region, by using an ink-jet recording head separately containing a black ink and a color ink, comprising the steps of: (i) forming the first image region by applying the black ink, and then applying the color ink so as to overlap each other; and (ii) forming the second image region by applying the color ink, and then applying the black ink so as to overlap each other; wherein the black ink contains a salt selected from the group consisting of (M1) 2 SO 4 , CH 3 COO(M1), Ph—COO(M1), (M1)NO 3 , (M1)Cl, (M1)Br, (M1)I, (M1) 2 SO 3 and (M1) 2 CO 3 where M1 is selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal, ammonium or an organo-ammonium, an aqueous medium and a pigment dispersed in the aqueous medium by the action of an ionic group, and the color ink contains a dye.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of improving quality of a multi-color image including a first image region and a second image region, by using an ink-jet recording head separately containing a black ink and a color ink, comprising the steps of: (i) forming the first image region by applying the black ink, and then applying the color ink so as to overlap each other; and (ii) forming the second image region by applying the color ink, and then applying the black ink so as to overlap each other; wherein the black ink contains a salt selected from the group consisting of (M1) 2 SO 4 , CH 3 COO(M1), Ph—COO(M1), (M1)NO 3 , (M1)Cl, (M1)Br, (M1)I, (M1) 2 SO 3 and (M1) 2 CO 3 where M1 is selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal, ammonium or an organo-ammonium, an aqueous medium and a pigment dispersed in the aqueous medium by the action of an ionic group, and the color ink contains a dye.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method according to claim 18 , wherein the black ink has a Ka value by the Bristow method of less than 1.5 ml·m −2 ·msec −½ and the color ink has a Ka value by the Bristow method of 5 ml·m −2 ·msec −½ or more.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method according to claim 19 , wherein the black ink has a Ka value by the Bristow method of 0.2 ml·m −2 ·msec −½ or more and less than 1.5 ml·m −2 ·msec −½ .
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method according to claim 18 , wherein the pigment of the black ink is a carbon black, and the carbon black has at least one kind of hydrophilic group, as the ionic group, attached on its surface directly or via an atomic group.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method according to claim 21 , wherein the carbon black is present in the black ink in such a concentration that an image of a prescribed optical density is formed when the black ink alone is provided to a recording medium by an ink jet method, but no recorded image of the prescribed optical density can be obtained when the black ink contains no salt.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 18 , wherein the dye of the color ink is an acid dye or a direct dye.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method according to claim 18 , wherein the color ink contains a component which destabilizes the dispersion stability of the pigment of the black ink when the color ink and the black ink are mixed, the component being a dye, an additive, or a dye and an additive.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 24 , wherein the black ink contains an anionic group as the ionic group, and the color ink contains a polyvalent metal salt as the additive.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method according to claim 25 , wherein the polyvalent metal salt comprises at least one polyvalent metal cation selected from the group consisting of Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , Cu 2+ , Co 2+ , Ni 2+ , Fe 2+ , La 3+ , Nd 3+ , Y 3 + and Al 3+ .
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 25 or 26 , wherein the color ink contains the polyvalent metal salt at 0.1 to 15% by weight of a total weight of the color ink.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 25 , wherein the black ink contains a cationic group as the ionic group, and the color ink contains a dye having an anionic group as the dye.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 28 , wherein the color ink contains the dye having the anionic group at 0.1 to 10% by weight of a total weight of the color ink.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 24 , wherein the black ink contains an anionic group as the ionic group, and the color ink contains a dye having a cationic group as the dye.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 30 , wherein the color ink contains the dye having the cationic group at 0.1 to 10% by weight of a total weight of the color ink.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 24 , wherein the pigment of the black ink exists stably at a pH of 3 to 7 and the pH of the color ink is 8 to 11.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 24 , wherein the pigment of the black ink exists stably at a pH of 7 to 11 and the pH of the color ink is 3 to 6.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
123 words
An image recording apparatus comprising: (i) an ink jet recording head from which a black ink and a color ink are discharged separately to a recording medium; and (ii) means for carrying a recording medium to a position where the recording head carries out recording; wherein the black ink contains a salt selected from the group consisting of (M1) 2 SO 4 , CH 3 COO(M1), Ph—COO(M1), (M1)NO 3 , (M1)Cl, (M1)Br, (M1)I, (M1) 2 SO 3 and (M1) 2 CO 3 where M1 is selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal, ammonium or an organo-ammonium, an aqueous medium and a pigment dispersed in the aqueous medium by the action of an ionic group, and the color ink contains a dye.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
123 words
An image recording apparatus comprising: (i) an ink jet recording head from which a black ink and a color ink are discharged separately to a recording medium; and (ii) means for carrying a recording medium to a position where the recording head carries out recording; wherein the black ink contains a salt selected from the group consisting of (M1) 2 SO 4 , CH 3 COO(M1), Ph—COO(M1), (M1)NO 3 , (M1)Cl, (M1)Br, (M1)I, (M1) 2 SO 3 and (M1) 2 CO 3 where M1 is selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal, ammonium or an organo-ammonium, an aqueous medium and a pigment dispersed in the aqueous medium by the action of an ionic group, and the color ink contains a dye.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
22 words
The image recording apparatus according to claim 34 , wherein the means (ii) comprises a paper delivery roller driven by a motor.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
69 words
The image recording apparatus according to claim 35 , further comprising a means for moving the recording head to-and-fro in a direction perpendicular to the direction of carrying the recording medium, wherein the moving means comprises a carriage, a guide shaft and a belt driven by a motor, the carriage engaging with the guide shaft in a slidable manner, a part of the carriage being connected to the belt.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus according to claim 34 , wherein the black ink has a Ka value by the Bristow method of less than 1.5 ml·m −2 ·msec −½ and the color ink has a Ka value by the Bristow method of 5 ml·m −2 ·msec −½ or more.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus according to claim 34 , wherein the black ink has a Ka value by the Bristow method of 0.2 ml·m −2 ·msec −½ or more and less than 1.5 ml·m −2 ·msec −½ .
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus according to claim 34 , wherein the pigment of the black ink is a carbon black, and the carbon black has at least one kind of hydrophilic group, as the ionic group, attached on its surface directly or via an atomic group.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus according to claim 39 , wherein the carbon black is present in the black ink in such a concentration that an image of a prescribed optical density is formed when the black ink alone is provided to a recording medium by an ink jet method, but no recorded image of the prescribed optical density can be obtained when the black ink contains no salt.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus according to claim 34 , wherein the dye of the color ink is an acid dye or a direct dye.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus according to claim 34 , wherein the color ink contains a component which destabilizes the dispersion stability of the pigment of the black ink when the color ink and the black ink are mixed, the component being a dye, an additive, or a dye and an additive.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus according to claim 42 , wherein the black ink contains an anionic group as the ionic group, and the color ink contains a polyvalent metal salts as the additive.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus according to claim 43 , wherein the polyvalent metal salt comprises at least one polyvalent metal cation selected from the group consisting of Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , Cu 2+ , Co 2+ , Ni 2+ , Fe 2+ , La 3+ , Nd 3+ , Y 3+ and Al 3+ .
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus according to claim 43 or 44 , wherein the color ink contains the polyvalent metal salt at 0.1 to 15% by weight of a total weight of the color ink.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus according to claim 42 , wherein the black ink contains an anionic group as the ionic group, and the color ink contains a dye having a cationic group as the dye.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus according to claim 46 , wherein the color ink contains the dye having the cationic group at 0.1 to 10% by weight of a total weight of the color ink.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus according to claim 42 , wherein the black ink contains a cationic group as the ionic group, and the color ink contains a dye having an anionic group as the dye.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus according to claim 48 , wherein the color ink contains the dye having the anionic group at 0.1 to 10% by weight of a total weight of the color ink.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus according to claim 42 , wherein the pigment of the black ink exists stably at a pH of 3 to 7 and the pH of the color ink is 8 to 11.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus according to claim 42 , wherein the pigment of the black ink exists stably at a pH of 7 to 11 and the pH of the color ink is 3 to 6.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
124 words
An ink set comprising a black ink and a color ink, wherein the black ink contains a salt selected from the group consisting of (M1) 2 SO 4 , CH 3 COO(M1), Ph—COO(M1), (M1)NO 3 , (M1)Cl, (M1)Br, (M1)I, (M1) 2 SO 3 and (M1) 2 CO 3 where M1 is selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal, ammonium or an organo-ammonium, an aqueous medium and a pigment dispersed in the aqueous medium by the action of an ionic group, and the color ink contains a component which destabilizes the dispersion stability of the pigment of the black ink when the color ink and the black ink are mixed, the component being a dye, an additive, or a dye and an additive.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
124 words
An ink set comprising a black ink and a color ink, wherein the black ink contains a salt selected from the group consisting of (M1) 2 SO 4 , CH 3 COO(M1), Ph—COO(M1), (M1)NO 3 , (M1)Cl, (M1)Br, (M1)I, (M1) 2 SO 3 and (M1) 2 CO 3 where M1 is selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal, ammonium or an organo-ammonium, an aqueous medium and a pigment dispersed in the aqueous medium by the action of an ionic group, and the color ink contains a component which destabilizes the dispersion stability of the pigment of the black ink when the color ink and the black ink are mixed, the component being a dye, an additive, or a dye and an additive.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
48 words
The ink set according to claim 52 , wherein the black ink has a Ka value by the Bristow method of less than 1.5 ml·m −2 ·msec −½ and the color ink has a Ka value by the Bristow method of 5 ml·m −2 ·msec −½ or more.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
37 words
The ink set according to claim 52 , wherein the black ink has a Ka value by the Bristow method of 0.2 ml·m −2 ·msec −½ or more and less than 1.5 ml·m −2 ·msec −½ .
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
45 words
The ink set according to claim 52 , wherein the pigment of the black ink is a carbon black, and the carbon black has at least one kind of hydrophilic group, as the ionic group, attached on its surface directly or via an atomic group.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
67 words
The ink set according to claim 55 , wherein the carbon black is present in the black ink in such a concentration that an image of a prescribed optical density is formed when the black ink alone is provided to a recording medium by an ink jet method, but no recorded image of the prescribed optical density can be obtained when the black ink contains no salt.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ink set according to claim 52 , wherein the dye of the color ink is an acid dye or a direct dye.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
32 words
The ink set according to claim 52 , wherein the black ink contains an anionic group as the ionic group, and the color ink contains a polyvalent metal salts as the additive.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
56 words
The ink set according to claim 58 , wherein the polyvalent metal salt comprises at least one polyvalent metal cation selected from the group consisting of Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , Cu 2+ , Co 2+ , Ni 2+ , Fe 2+ , La 3+ , Nd 3+ , Y 3+ and Al 3+ .
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
33 words
The ink set according to claim 58 or 59 , wherein the color ink contains the polyvalent metal salt at 0.1 to 15% by weight of a total weight of the color ink.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
34 words
The ink set according to claim 60 , wherein the black ink contains an anionic group as the ionic group, and the color ink contains a dye having a cationic group as the dye.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
33 words
The ink set according to claim 61 , wherein the color ink contains the dye having the cationic group at 0.1 to 10% by weight of a total weight of the color ink.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
34 words
The ink set according to claim 52 , wherein the black ink contains a cationic group as the ionic group, and the color ink contains a dye having an anionic group as the dye.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
33 words
The ink set according to claim 63 , wherein the color ink contains the dye having the anionic group at 0.1 to 10% by weight of a total weight of the color ink.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
35 words
The ink set according to claim 52 , wherein the pigment of the black ink exists stably at a pH of 3 to 7 and the pH of the color ink is 8 to 11.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
35 words
The ink set according to claim 52 , wherein the pigment of the black ink exists stably at a pH of 7 to 11 and the pH of the color ink is 3 to 6.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method for forming a monotone image with an ink set according to claim 52 .
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
154 words
A recording unit comprising a black ink holding part which holds an black ink, a color ink holding part which holds a color ink and an ink-jet head from which the black ink and the color ink are ejected respectively, wherein the black ink contains a salt selected from the group consisting of (M1) 2 SO 4 , CH 3 COO(M1), Ph—COO(M1), (M1)NO 3 , (M1)Cl, (M1)Br, (M1)I, (M1 ) 2 SO 3 and (M1) 2 CO 3 where M1 is selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal, ammonium or an organo-ammonium, an aqueous medium and a pigment dispersed in the aqueous medium by the action of an ionic group, and the color ink contains a component which destabilizes the dispersion stability of the pigment of the black ink when the color ink and the black ink are mixed, the component being a dye, an additive, or a dye and an additive.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
154 words
A recording unit comprising a black ink holding part which holds an black ink, a color ink holding part which holds a color ink and an ink-jet head from which the black ink and the color ink are ejected respectively, wherein the black ink contains a salt selected from the group consisting of (M1) 2 SO 4 , CH 3 COO(M1), Ph—COO(M1), (M1)NO 3 , (M1)Cl, (M1)Br, (M1)I, (M1 ) 2 SO 3 and (M1) 2 CO 3 where M1 is selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal, ammonium or an organo-ammonium, an aqueous medium and a pigment dispersed in the aqueous medium by the action of an ionic group, and the color ink contains a component which destabilizes the dispersion stability of the pigment of the black ink when the color ink and the black ink are mixed, the component being a dye, an additive, or a dye and an additive.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
48 words
The recording unit according to claim 68 , wherein the black ink has a Ka value by the Bristow method of less than 1.5 ml·m −2 ·msec −½ and the color ink has a Ka value by the Bristow method of 5 ml·m −2 ·msec −½ or more.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
39 words
The recording unit according to claim 68 or 69 , wherein the black ink has a Ka value by the Bristow method of 0.2 ml·m −2 ·msec −½ or more and less than 1.5 ml·m −2 ·msec −½ .
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
45 words
The recording unit according to claim 68 , wherein the pigment of the black ink is a carbon black, and the carbon black has at least one kind of hydrophilic group, as the ionic group, attached on its surface directly or via an atomic group.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
67 words
The recording unit according to claim 71 , wherein the carbon black is present in the black ink in such a concentration that an image of a prescribed optical density is formed when the black ink alone is provided to a recording medium by an ink jet method, but no recorded image of the prescribed optical density can be obtained when the black ink contains no salt.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
23 words
The recording unit according to claim 68 , wherein the dye of the color ink is an acid dye or a direct dye.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
32 words
The recording unit according to claim 68 , wherein the black ink contains an anionic group as the ionic group, and the color ink contains a polyvalent metal salts as the additive.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
56 words
The recording unit according to claim 74 , wherein the polyvalent metal salt comprises at least one polyvalent metal cation selected from the group consisting of Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , Cu 2+ , Co 2+ , Ni 2+ , Fe 2+ , La 3+ , Nd 3+ , Y 3+ and Al 3+ .
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
33 words
The recording unit according to claim 74 or 75 , wherein the color ink contains the polyvalent metal salt at 0.1 to 15% by weight of a total weight of the color ink.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
34 words
The recording unit according to claim 68 , wherein the black ink contains an anionic group as the ionic group, and the color ink contains a dye having a cationic group as the dye.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
33 words
The recording unit according to claim 77 , wherein the color ink contains the dye having the cationic group at 0.1 to 10% by weight of a total weight of the color ink.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
34 words
The recording unit according to claim 68 , wherein the black ink contains a cationic group as the ionic group, and the color ink contains a dye having an anionic group as the dye.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
33 words
The recording unit according to claim 79 , wherein the color ink contains the dye having the anionic group at 0.1 to 10% by weight of a total weight of the color ink.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
35 words
The recording unit according to claim 68 , wherein the pigment of the black ink exists stably at a pH of 3 to 7 and the pH of the color ink is 8 to 11.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
35 words
The recording unit according to claim 68 , wherein the pigment of the black ink exists stably at a pH of 7 to 11 and the pH of the color ink is 3 to 6.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
21 words
The recording unit according to claim 68 , wherein the ink jet head discharges the ink by applying thermal energy thereto.
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
21 words
The recording unit according to claim 68 , wherein the ink jet head discharges the ink by applying mechanical energy thereto.
Claim 90
Independent Claim
170 words
A method of forming on a recording medium an image including a first image region and a second image region, comprising the steps of: (i) forming the first image region by applying a black ink, and (ii) forming the second image region by applying the black ink and a color ink so as to overlap each other; wherein the black ink contains a salt selected from the group consisting of (M1) 2 SO 4 , CH 3 COO(M1), Ph—COO(M1), (M1)NO 3 , (M1)Cl, (M1)Br, (M1)I, (M1) 2 SO 3 and (M1) 2 CO 3 where M1 is selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal, ammonium or an organo-ammonium, an aqueous medium, and a pigment dispersed in the aqueous medium by the action of an ionic group, and the color ink contains a component which destabilizes the dispersion stability of the pigment of the black ink when the color ink and the black ink are mixed, the component being a dye, an additive, or a dye and an additive.
Claim 91
Independent Claim
170 words
A method of forming on a recording medium an image including a first image region and a second image region, comprising the steps of: (i) forming the first image region by applying a black ink, and (ii) forming the second image region by applying the black ink and a color ink so as to overlap each other; wherein the black ink contains a salt selected from the group consisting of (M1) 2 SO 4 , CH 3 COO(M1), Ph—COO(M1), (M1)NO 3 , (M1)Cl, (M1)Br, (M1)I, (M1) 2 SO 3 and (M1) 2 CO 3 where M1 is selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal, ammonium or an organo-ammonium, an aqueous medium, and a pigment dispersed in the aqueous medium by the action of an ionic group, and the color ink contains a component which destabilizes the dispersion stability of the pigment of the black ink when the color ink and the black ink are mixed, the component being a dye, an additive, or a dye and an additive.
Claim 92
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method according to claim 85 , wherein the additive is a salt of a multivalent metal cation selected from the group consisting of Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , Cu 2+ , Co 2+ , Ni 2+ , Fe 2+ , La 3+ , Nd 3+ , Y 3 + and Al 3+ .
Claim 93
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 85 or 86 , wherein the black ink has a Ka value by the Bristow method of 0.2 ml·m −2 ·msec −½ or more and less than 1.5 ml·m −2 ·msec −½ .
Claim 94
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method according to claim 85 , wherein the black ink has a Ka value by the Bristow method of less than 1.5 ml·m −2 ·msec −½ and the color ink has a Ka value by the Bristow method of 5 ml·m −2 ·msec −½ or more.
Claim 95
Independent Claim
176 words
A method for improving quality of an image including a first black image region and a second black image region, comprising the steps of: (i) forming the first black image region by applying a black ink to a recording medium, and (ii) forming the second black image region by applying the black ink and a color ink so as to overlap each other; wherein the black ink contains a salt selected from the group consisting of (M1) 2 SO 4 , CH 3 COO(M1), Ph—COO(M1), (M1)NO 3 , (M1)Cl, (M1)Br, (M1)I, (M1) 2 SO 3 and (M1) 2 CO 3 where M1 is selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal, ammonium or an organo-ammonium, an aqueous medium, and a pigment dispersed in the aqueous medium by the action of an ionic group, and the color ink contains a component which destabilizes the dispersion stability of the pigment of the black ink when the color ink and the black ink are mixed, the component being a dye, an additive, or a dye and an additive.
Claim 96
Independent Claim
176 words
A method for improving quality of an image including a first black image region and a second black image region, comprising the steps of: (i) forming the first black image region by applying a black ink to a recording medium, and (ii) forming the second black image region by applying the black ink and a color ink so as to overlap each other; wherein the black ink contains a salt selected from the group consisting of (M1) 2 SO 4 , CH 3 COO(M1), Ph—COO(M1), (M1)NO 3 , (M1)Cl, (M1)Br, (M1)I, (M1) 2 SO 3 and (M1) 2 CO 3 where M1 is selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal, ammonium or an organo-ammonium, an aqueous medium, and a pigment dispersed in the aqueous medium by the action of an ionic group, and the color ink contains a component which destabilizes the dispersion stability of the pigment of the black ink when the color ink and the black ink are mixed, the component being a dye, an additive, or a dye and an additive.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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