US6547381B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ink, image recording process, ink cartridge, recording unit, ink set, crust-preventing method and image forming apparatus
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 2001-06-18
•
Granted: 2003-04-15
•
Expires: 2021-06-18
Abstract
Abstract An ink comprises a coloring material and an aqueous medium wherein the coloring material contains a self-dispersing type carbon black, in which self-dispersing carbon black a hydrophilic group combines with the surface of a carbon black directly or through another atomic group, and which ink contains potassium ion in an amount of 0.6% or more of the weight of the carbon black.
Inventors
- 👤 Tomonari Watanabe
- 👤 Shinya Mishina
- 👤 Koichi Osumi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 17:02
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09D; C09D11/00; C09D11/30; C09D11/32; C09D11/324; B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/135; B41J2/14; B41J2/14016; B41J2/14032; B41J2/1404; B41J2/1433; C09D11/40; B41J2002/14387; B41J2002/14403; B41J2002/14475
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
An ink for ink-jet recording, comprising a coloring material and an aqueous medium, wherein the coloring material comprises a self-dispersing carbon black, including a hydrophilic group bound to the surface thereof directly or through another atomic group, the ink further comprising potassium ions in an amount of 0.6 wt % or more based on the weight of the self-dispersing carbon black, wherein the density of said hydrophilic group is at least 1.8 μmol/m 2 .
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
75 words
An ink for ink-jet recording, comprising a coloring material and an aqueous medium, wherein the coloring material comprises a self-dispersing carbon black, including a hydrophilic group bound to the surface thereof directly or through another atomic group, the ink further comprising potassium ions in an amount of 0.6 wt % or more based on the weight of the self-dispersing carbon black, wherein the density of said hydrophilic group is at least 1.8 μmol/m 2 .
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The ink according to claim 1 , wherein said hydrophilic group is selected from the group consisting of —COOM, —SO 3 M, —PO 3 HM and —PO 3 M 2 , wherein M is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkali metal, ammonium and organic ammonium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The ink according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein said potassium ions are present as counter ions to said hydrophilic group.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ink according to claim 1 , wherein said potassium ions are derived from potassium hydroxide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ink according to claim 1 , wherein pH of the ink is in the range of from 7 to 10.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ink according to claim 1 , wherein the ink contains monovalent cations of from 0.05 mol/L to 1 mol/L.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The ink according to claim 6 , wherein said monovalent cation comprises potassium ions and at least one selected from the group consisting of alkali metal ions, ammonium ions and organic ammonium ions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ink according to claim 6 , wherein the ink contains monovalent cations of from 0.1 mol/L to 0.5 mol/L.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
An image recording process comprising the steps of applying energy to the ink of claim 1 , and ejecting the ink from a recording head towards a recording medium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The image recording process according to claim 9 , wherein the recording head is capable of ejecting the ink in an amount of 40 ng per dot or less.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The image recording process according to claim 9 , wherein the recording head has an ink flow path having a site where flow resistance of the ink is greatly changed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The image recording process according to claim 9 , wherein said energy is thermal energy.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The image recording process according to claim 12 , wherein said thermal energy is applied by a heater in an ink flow path.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The image recording process according to claim 13 , wherein said heater is situated opposite to an ejection opening for the ink.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The image recording process according to claim 13 , wherein the recording head has a site where the direction of a main flow of the ink changes at an angle of at least 90°.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The image recording process according to claim 9 , wherein said energy is mechanical energy.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The image recording process according to any one of claims 9 to 16 , wherein said recording medium is a plain paper.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
A recording unit, comprising an ink container containing the ink of claim 1 and a recording head for ejecting the ink in the form of ink droplets by applying energy to the ink.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The recording unit according to claim 18 , wherein said recording head is capable of ejecting the ink in amount of 40 ng per dot or less.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The recording unit according to claim 18 , wherein said recording head has an ink flow path having a site where flow resistance of the ink is greatly changed.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The recording unit according to claim 18 , wherein said energy is thermal energy.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The recording unit according to claim 21 , wherein said thermal energy is applied by a heater arranged in an ink flow path.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The recording unit according to claim 22 , wherein said heater is situated opposite to an ejection opening for the ink.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
The recording unit according to claim 22 , wherein said recording head has a site where the direction of a main flow of the ink changes at an angle of at least 90°.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
An ink cartridge, comprising an ink container containing the ink of claim 1 .
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
38 words
An image recording apparatus, comprising a recording unit having an ink container containing the ink of claim 1 and a recording head for ejecting the ink in the form of ink droplets by applying energy to the ink.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
39 words
An image recording apparatus, comprising an ink cartridge equipped with a container containing the ink of claim 1 , and a recording head for ejecting the ink in the form of ink droplets by applying energy to the ink.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
The image recording apparatus according to claim 27 , which comprises an ink feed portion for feeding the ink contained in said ink cartridge to said recording head.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
The image recording apparatus according to claim 26 , wherein said recording head is capable of ejecting the ink in an amount of 40 ng per dot or less.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
The image recording apparatus according to claim 26 , wherein said recording head has an ink flow path having a site where flow resistance of the ink is greatly changed.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
The image recording apparatus according to claim 26 , wherein said energy is thermal energy.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
24 words
The image recording apparatus according to claim 31 , wherein said thermal energy is applied by a heater arranged in an ink flow path.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
22 words
The image recording apparatus according to claim 32 , wherein said heater is situated opposite to an ejection opening for the ink.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
34 words
The image recording apparatus according to claim 32 , wherein said recording head has a site where the direction of a main flow of the ink changes at an angle of at least 90°.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of lessening crusting on a recording head comprising ejecting the ink of claim 1 from the recording head by applying energy to the ink.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
37 words
An ink set, comprising in combination an ink comprising a coloring material selected from the group consisting of respective coloring materials for cyan, magenta, yellow, red, green and blue colors, and the ink of claim 1 .
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method of lessening crusting on an ink-jet recording head equipped with an ink-ejection opening at a position opposite to an ink ejecting pressure-generating element in an ink-jet recording process comprising the step of ejecting the ink of claim 1 by means of the recording head.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method of lessening crusting on an ink-jet recording head which has an ink flow path having a site where flow resistance of a liquid is greatly changed in an ink-jet recording process comprising the step of ejecting the ink of claim 1 by means of the recording head.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of lessening crusting according to claim 38 , wherein the site where the flow resistance of the liquid is greatly changed is a portion changing the direction of the main flow of the liquid at an angle of at least 90°.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method of improving intermittent ejection stability in an ink-jet recording process comprising the step of repeating a process of applying energy to the ink of claim 1 to eject the ink from a recording head by an ink-jet system at a prescribed time interval.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method of improving an intermittent ejection stability in an ink-jet recording process comprising the step of ejecting the ink of claim 1 plural times at a prescribed interval using a recording head which ejects the ink in a direction opposite to an ink ejecting pressure-generating element.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method of improving an intermittent ejection stability in an ink-jet recording process comprising the step of ejecting the ink of claim 1 plural times at a prescribed time interval using an ink-jet recording head having an ink flow path having a site where flow resistance of a liquid is greatly changed.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of improving an intermittent ejection stability according to claim 42 , wherein the site where the flow resistance of the liquid is greatly changed is a portion changing the direction of the main flow of the liquid at an angle of at least 90°.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
162 words
An image recording apparatus, comprising an ink container containing ink and a recording head for ejecting the ink in the form of ink droplets, the recording head provided with an ejection-energy-generating element for applying ejection-energy to the ink, the ink comprising a coloring material and an aqueous medium wherein the coloring material comprises a self-dispersing carbon black, including a hydrophilic group bound to the surface thereof directly or through another atomic group, and wherein the ink comprises potassium ions in an amount of 0.6 wt % or more based on the weight of the self-dispersing carbon black, and the recording head includes at least one site selected from the group consisting of: (i) a site where the direction of a main flow of the ink changes at an angle of at least 90°, the site being located upstream of the ejection-energy generating element; and (ii) a site where the width of a main flow of the ink is 20 μm or less.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
162 words
An image recording apparatus, comprising an ink container containing ink and a recording head for ejecting the ink in the form of ink droplets, the recording head provided with an ejection-energy-generating element for applying ejection-energy to the ink, the ink comprising a coloring material and an aqueous medium wherein the coloring material comprises a self-dispersing carbon black, including a hydrophilic group bound to the surface thereof directly or through another atomic group, and wherein the ink comprises potassium ions in an amount of 0.6 wt % or more based on the weight of the self-dispersing carbon black, and the recording head includes at least one site selected from the group consisting of: (i) a site where the direction of a main flow of the ink changes at an angle of at least 90°, the site being located upstream of the ejection-energy generating element; and (ii) a site where the width of a main flow of the ink is 20 μm or less.
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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) | 2006-04-14 | 2006-10-14 | 2007-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-04-14 | 2010-10-14 | 2011-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-04-14 | 2014-10-14 | 2015-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |