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US5230733A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Polymeric reactive dyes and inks formulated by insolubilizing reactions initiated by loss of water

Assignee: HP Inc
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Filing: 1991-11-01
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Granted: 1993-07-27
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Expires: 2011-11-01
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Abstract

Abstract A water-soluble ink-jet dye for use in ink-jet printing is designed to undergo a reaction, initiated by the loss of water and natural neutralization, as the ink dries on paper, causing the dye to (1) change and lose solubility and (2) bind to the paper. The dye comprises a polymeric chain, to which one or more chromophores are attached. Also attached to the chain are a plurality of hydroxyl or amine groups, up to approximately one-half of which are converted to carboxyl groups. The ink containing the dye is maintained at a basic pH. Upon printing on a print substrate, the dye is neutralized, causing lactone (from hydroxyl groups) or lactam (from amine groups) ring formation. The resulting reacted dye is substantially totally waterfast on the print substrate.

Inventors

  • 👤 Norman E. Pawlowski

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 19:27
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09D; C09D11/00; C09D11/30; C09D11/32; C09D11/328; C09B; C09B69/00; C09B69/10

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim 64 words
A water-soluble dye comprising a polymeric chain with carboxyl groups and either hydroxyl groups or amine groups having the capability to form at least one five- to eight-membered lactone or lactam ring by condensing with the carboxyl groups, but remaining in the ring open form when dissolved in aqueous inks at slightly basic pH, and having at least one chromophore attached to the chain.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 64 words
A water-soluble dye comprising a polymeric chain with carboxyl groups and either hydroxyl groups or amine groups having the capability to form at least one five- to eight-membered lactone or lactam ring by condensing with the carboxyl groups, but remaining in the ring open form when dissolved in aqueous inks at slightly basic pH, and having at least one chromophore attached to the chain.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 20 words
The dye of claim 1 wherein said polymeric chain has a plurality of six- or seven-membered lactone or lactam rings.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 49 words
A dye with a polymeric chain attached thereto, said polymeric chain (a) having at least one chromophore attached thereto and (b) having carboxyl groups and either hydroxyl groups or amine groups attached thereto, which upon neutralization is able to close into either a lactone or a lactam ring, respectively.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 49 words
A dye with a polymeric chain attached thereto, said polymeric chain (a) having at least one chromophore attached thereto and (b) having carboxyl groups and either hydroxyl groups or amine groups attached thereto, which upon neutralization is able to close into either a lactone or a lactam ring, respectively.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 44 words
A polymer having a plurality of dye chromophores attached thereto, said polymer having a plurality of carboxyl groups, and a plurality of either hydroxyl groups or amine groups, which upon neutralization is able to close into either a lactone or a lactam ring, respectively.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 44 words
A polymer having a plurality of dye chromophores attached thereto, said polymer having a plurality of carboxyl groups, and a plurality of either hydroxyl groups or amine groups, which upon neutralization is able to close into either a lactone or a lactam ring, respectively.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 28 words
The polymer of claim 4 wherein said polymer is a polyvinyl polymer or a sorbitol polymer having about 1 to 5 carboxyl groups per dye chromophore attached thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 16 words
The polymer of claim 5 having 2 to 3 carboxyl groups per dye chromophore attached thereto.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 39 words
A polyvinyl alcohol-based polymer having attached thereto at least one dye chromophore, said polymer having at least one carboxyl group and at least one hydroxyl group, which upon neutralization is able to close into at least one lactone ring.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 39 words
A polyvinyl alcohol-based polymer having attached thereto at least one dye chromophore, said polymer having at least one carboxyl group and at least one hydroxyl group, which upon neutralization is able to close into at least one lactone ring.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 17 words
The polymer of claim 7 having about 1 to 5 carboxyl groups per dye chromophore attached thereto.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 16 words
The polymer of claim 8 having 2 to 3 carboxyl groups per dye chromophore attached thereto.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 57 words
An ink for ink-jet printing comprising a vehicle and a water-soluble dye, wherein said dye comprises a polymeric chain (a) having at least one chromophore attached thereto and (b) having carboxyl groups and either hydroxyl groups or amine groups attached thereto, which upon neutralization is able to close into either a lactone or a lactam ring, respectively.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 57 words
An ink for ink-jet printing comprising a vehicle and a water-soluble dye, wherein said dye comprises a polymeric chain (a) having at least one chromophore attached thereto and (b) having carboxyl groups and either hydroxyl groups or amine groups attached thereto, which upon neutralization is able to close into either a lactone or a lactam ring, respectively.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 22 words
The ink of claim 10 wherein said polymeric chain upon closure has a plurality of five- to eight-membered lactone or lactam rings.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 20 words
The ink of claim 10 wherein said polymeric chain upon closure has a plurality of six- or seven-membered lactone rings.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 34 words
The ink of claim 10 comprising at least about 80% water, about 1 to 15% dye, and sufficient buffer to keep said carboxyl groups on said dye in salt form with a basic pH.
Claim 19
Independent Claim 91 words
A method of making a water-soluble dye comprising: (a) providing a polymeric chain having a molecular weight ranging from about 180 to 100,000 and a plurality of hydroxyl or amine groups attached thereto; (b) in either order, converting up to approximately one-half of said hydroxyl or amine groups to carboxyl groups, with said carboxyl and said hydroxyl or amine groups alternating; (c) attaching at least one chromophore to said chain; and (d) removing water to force neighboring carboxyl groups and hydroxyl or amine groups to form lactone or lactam rings, respectively.
Claim 20
Independent Claim 91 words
A method of making a water-soluble dye comprising: (a) providing a polymeric chain having a molecular weight ranging from about 180 to 100,000 and a plurality of hydroxyl or amine groups attached thereto; (b) in either order, converting up to approximately one-half of said hydroxyl or amine groups to carboxyl groups, with said carboxyl and said hydroxyl or amine groups alternating; (c) attaching at least one chromophore to said chain; and (d) removing water to force neighboring carboxyl groups and hydroxyl or amine groups to form lactone or lactam rings, respectively.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said lactone or lactam rings comprise from five- to eight-membered rings.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said lactone or lactam rings comprise six- to seven-membered rings.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said polymeric chain comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol and sorbitol.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said polymeric chain is reacted with chloroacetic acid to replace up to approximately one-half of said hydroxyl groups with carboxymethyl groups.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 42 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said polymeric chain comprises polyvinyl alcohol, said polyvinyl alcohol possibly containing acetate groups, and wherein any such acetate groups are removed by hydrolysis after said conversion of hydroxyl groups to carboxyl groups or said chromophore attachment.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4514487A Cited
US4624985A Cited
US4877680A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1996-07-26 1997-01-25 1997-07-27 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2000-07-26 2001-01-25 2001-07-27 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2004-07-26 2005-01-25 2005-07-27 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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