US6706105B2 — Aqueous ink, ink-jet recording method, recording …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 130 words

An aqueous ink comprising: a cationic self-dispersing pigment, in which at least one cationic group is bound to the surface of the pigment directly or with another atomic group therebetween; a water-soluble organic solvent; and water, wherein the aqueous ink further comprises an acidic compound including a proton in the structure thereof that can be dissociated due to dissolution into water, said compound having a dissociation stage of the proton with a dissociation constant of less than 1; and wherein the self-dispersing pigment has an anion as a counter ion for the cationic group, the anion being a conjugate base of a weak acid, and the difference between pKa of the dissociation stage of the acidic compound and pKa of a conjugate acid of the anion is 5 or less.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 130 words

An aqueous ink comprising: a cationic self-dispersing pigment, in which at least one cationic group is bound to the surface of the pigment directly or with another atomic group therebetween; a water-soluble organic solvent; and water, wherein the aqueous ink further comprises an acidic compound including a proton in the structure thereof that can be dissociated due to dissolution into water, said compound having a dissociation stage of the proton with a dissociation constant of less than 1; and wherein the self-dispersing pigment has an anion as a counter ion for the cationic group, the anion being a conjugate base of a weak acid, and the difference between pKa of the dissociation stage of the acidic compound and pKa of a conjugate acid of the anion is 5 or less.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 132 words

An aqueous ink comprising: cationic self-dispersing carbon black, in which at least one cationic group is bound to the surface of the carbon black directly or with another atomic group therebetween; a water-soluble organic solvent; and water, wherein the aqueous ink further comprises an acidic compound including a proton in the structure thereof that can be dissociated due to dissolution into water, said compound having a dissociation stage of the proton with a dissociation constant of less than 1; and wherein the self-dispersing carbon black has an anion as a counter ion for the cationic group, the anion being a conjugate base of a weak acid, and the difference between pKa of the dissociation stage of the acidic compound and pKa of a conjugate acid of the anion is 5 or less.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 132 words

An aqueous ink comprising: cationic self-dispersing carbon black, in which at least one cationic group is bound to the surface of the carbon black directly or with another atomic group therebetween; a water-soluble organic solvent; and water, wherein the aqueous ink further comprises an acidic compound including a proton in the structure thereof that can be dissociated due to dissolution into water, said compound having a dissociation stage of the proton with a dissociation constant of less than 1; and wherein the self-dispersing carbon black has an anion as a counter ion for the cationic group, the anion being a conjugate base of a weak acid, and the difference between pKa of the dissociation stage of the acidic compound and pKa of a conjugate acid of the anion is 5 or less.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 40 words

The aqueous ink according to claim 2 , wherein the other atomic group is a straight chain or branched chain alkylene group having 1 to 12 carbons, a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group, or a substituted or unsubstituted naphthylene group.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 60 words

The aqueous ink according to claim 2 , wherein the cationic group is at least one selected from the group consisting of groups represented by the following formulae: —N + H 3 —N + H 3 wherein R represents an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbons, a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted naphthyl group.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 18 words

The aqueous ink according to claim 2 , wherein the ink has a pH of 6 or less.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 25 words

The aqueous ink according to claim 2 , wherein the acidic compound is contained in an amount of 0.1 mol/L or less in the ink.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 25 words

The aqueous ink according to claim 6 , wherein the acidic compound is contained in an amount of 0.05 mol/L or less in the ink.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 29 words

The aqueous ink according to any one of claims 2 , 3 , 4 , or 5 to 7 , wherein the aqueous ink is used for ink-jet recording.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 39 words

An ink-jet recording method comprising a step of performing recording on a recording material by ejecting an ink from an orifice in response to a recording signal, wherein the ink is the aqueous ink according to claim 8 .

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 22 words

The ink-jet recording method according to claim 9 , wherein the ink is ejected by application of thermal energy to the ink.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 22 words

A recording unit comprising: an ink container containing the ink according to claim 8 ; and a head for ejecting the ink.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 25 words

The recording unit according to claim 11 , wherein the head comprises a head that ejects the ink by applying thermal energy to the ink.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 15 words

An ink cartridge comprising an ink container containing the ink according to claim 2 .

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 27 words

An ink-jet recording apparatus comprising a recording unit comprising: an ink container containing an ink according to claim 8 ; and a head for ejecting the ink.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 26 words

The ink-jet recording apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the head comprises a head that ejects the ink by applying thermal energy to the ink.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 28 words

An ink-jet recording apparatus comprising: an ink cartridge comprising an ink container containing the ink according to claim 8 ; and a recording head for ejecting the ink.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 27 words

The ink-jet recording apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the recording head is a head that ejects the ink by applying thermal energy to the ink.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 148 words

An ink set comprising: a first aqueous ink; and a second aqueous ink, wherein the first aqueous ink comprises: cationic self-dispersing carbon black, in which at least one cationic group is bound to the surface of the carbon black directly or with another atomic group therebetween; a water-soluble organic solvent; and water, wherein the first aqueous ink further comprises an acidic compound including a proton in the structure thereof that can be dissociated due to dissolution into water, said compound having a dissociation stage of the proton with a dissociation constant of less than 1; and wherein the self-dispersing carbon black has an anion as a counter ion for the cationic group, the anion being a conjugate base of a weak acid, and the difference between pKa of the dissociation stage of the acidic compound and pKa of a conjugate acid of the anion is 5 or less.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 148 words

An ink set comprising: a first aqueous ink; and a second aqueous ink, wherein the first aqueous ink comprises: cationic self-dispersing carbon black, in which at least one cationic group is bound to the surface of the carbon black directly or with another atomic group therebetween; a water-soluble organic solvent; and water, wherein the first aqueous ink further comprises an acidic compound including a proton in the structure thereof that can be dissociated due to dissolution into water, said compound having a dissociation stage of the proton with a dissociation constant of less than 1; and wherein the self-dispersing carbon black has an anion as a counter ion for the cationic group, the anion being a conjugate base of a weak acid, and the difference between pKa of the dissociation stage of the acidic compound and pKa of a conjugate acid of the anion is 5 or less.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 18 words

The ink set according to claim 18 , wherein the second aqueous ink comprises an anionic coloring material.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 26 words

The ink set according to claim 19 , wherein the anionic coloring material comprises an anionic self-dispersing pigment and an anionic dispersing agent for the pigment.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 17 words

The ink set according to claim 19 , wherein the anionic coloring material comprises an anionic dye.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 19 words

The ink set according to claim 18 , wherein the first and second aqueous inks are for ink-jet recording.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2007-03-16	2007-09-15	2008-03-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2011-03-16	2011-09-15	2012-03-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2015-03-16	2015-09-15	2016-03-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Aqueous ink, ink-jet recording method, recording unit, ink cartridge, ink set, and ink-jet recording apparatus

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag