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US6536891B2
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Aqueous pigment-based ink set
Assignee: Seiko Epson Corp
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Filing: 2001-11-21
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Granted: 2003-03-25
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Expires: 2021-11-21
Abstract
Abstract An ink set including at least two aqueous ink compositions each containing a dispersed pigment and a surfactant, the ink compositions including an ink composition having the lowest lightness and an ink composition having the highest lightness; wherein (1) the ink composition having the lowest lightness has a higher surface tension than those of other ink compositions; wherein (2) the ink composition having the highest lightness has a lower surface tension than those of other ink compositions; and wherein (3) the dispersed pigment contained in the ink composition having the lowest lightness and the dispersed pigment contained in the ink composition having the highest lightness are (3a) both anionic dispersed pigments or (3b) both cationic dispersed pigments, and the surfactants to be contained in the ink composition having the lowest lightness and in the ink composition having the highest lightness are specifically defined for each of cases (3a) and (3b).
Inventors
- 👤 Takashi Oyanagi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 06:41
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09D; C09D11/00; C09D11/30; C09D11/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
226 words
An ink set comprising at least two aqueous ink compositions each containing a dispersed pigment and a surfactant, said ink compositions including an ink composition having the lowest lightness and an ink composition having the highest lightness; wherein (1) said ink composition having the lowest lightness has a higher surface tension than those of other ink compositions; wherein (2) said ink composition having the highest lightness has a lower surface tension than those of other ink compositions; and wherein (3) the dispersed pigment contained in said ink composition having the lowest lightness and the dispersed pigment contained in said ink composition having the highest lightness are (3a) both anionic dispersed pigments or (3b) both cationic dispersed pigments, when condition (3a) is satisfied, (3a-i) said ink composition having the lowest lightness contains an anionic surfactant, and said ink composition having the highest lightness contains an amphoteric surfactant, or (3a-ii) said ink composition having the lowest lightness contains an amphoteric surfactant, and said ink composition having the highest lightness contains an anionic surfactant, and when condition (3b) is satisfied, (3b-i) said ink composition having the lowest lightness contains a cationic surfactant, and said ink composition having the highest lightness contains an amphoteric surfactant, or (3b-ii) said ink composition having the lowest lightness contains an amphoteric surfactant, and said ink composition having the highest lightness contains a cationic surfactant.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
226 words
An ink set comprising at least two aqueous ink compositions each containing a dispersed pigment and a surfactant, said ink compositions including an ink composition having the lowest lightness and an ink composition having the highest lightness; wherein (1) said ink composition having the lowest lightness has a higher surface tension than those of other ink compositions; wherein (2) said ink composition having the highest lightness has a lower surface tension than those of other ink compositions; and wherein (3) the dispersed pigment contained in said ink composition having the lowest lightness and the dispersed pigment contained in said ink composition having the highest lightness are (3a) both anionic dispersed pigments or (3b) both cationic dispersed pigments, when condition (3a) is satisfied, (3a-i) said ink composition having the lowest lightness contains an anionic surfactant, and said ink composition having the highest lightness contains an amphoteric surfactant, or (3a-ii) said ink composition having the lowest lightness contains an amphoteric surfactant, and said ink composition having the highest lightness contains an anionic surfactant, and when condition (3b) is satisfied, (3b-i) said ink composition having the lowest lightness contains a cationic surfactant, and said ink composition having the highest lightness contains an amphoteric surfactant, or (3b-ii) said ink composition having the lowest lightness contains an amphoteric surfactant, and said ink composition having the highest lightness contains a cationic surfactant.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ink set according to claim 1 , wherein said ink composition having the lowest lightness is a black ink composition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ink set according to claim 1 , wherein said ink composition having the highest lightness is a yellow ink composition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The ink set according to claim 1 , wherein said dispersed pigment in said ink composition having the lowest lightness and said dispersed pigment in said ink composition having the highest lightness are both anionic dispersed pigments.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ink set according to claim 1 , wherein said anionic surfactant has a sulfonic acid group.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ink set according to claim 1 , wherein said amphoteric surfactant has a sulfonic acid group.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The ink set according to claim 1 , wherein the ink compositions, other than said ink composition having the highest lightness and said ink composition having the lowest lightness, each contain a nonionic surfactant.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The ink set according to claim 1 , wherein said ink composition having the highest lightness has a surface tension of 20 mN/m or higher, and said ink composition having the lowest lightness has a surface tension of 50 mN/m or lower.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The ink set according to claim 1 , comprising a yellow aqueous ink composition, a cyan aqueous ink composition, a magenta aqueous ink composition, and a black aqueous ink composition.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
The ink set according to claim 9 , wherein said yellow, cyan, magenta and black aqueous ink compositions have surface tensions satisfying the following relational expressions (1) and (2): γ k>γc>γy (1) γ k>γm>γy (2) wherein γy, γc, γm and γk represent surface tensions of said yellow, cyan, magenta and black aqueous ink compositions, respectively.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The ink set according to claim 10 , further satisfying the following relational expressions (3) and (4): 20 mN/m≦γy (3) γ k≦ 50 mN/m (4).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
260 words
An ink set consisting of a plurality of pigment-based aqueous ink compositions each containing a dispersed pigment and a surfactant, each of the pigment-based ink compositions having a different lightness with a first of said ink compositions having the lowest lightness and a second of said ink compositions having the highest lightness; wherein (1) said first ink composition having the lowest lightness has a higher surface tension than any other ink composition in the ink set; wherein (2) said second ink composition having the highest lightness has a lower surface tension than any other ink composition in the ink set; and wherein (3) the dispersed pigment contained in said first ink composition having the lowest lightness and the dispersed pigment contained in said second ink composition having the highest lightness are (3a) both anionic dispersed pigments or (3b) both cationic dispersed pigments, wherein, when condition (3a) is satisfied, (3a-i) said first ink composition having the lowest lightness contains an anionic surfactant, and said second composition having the highest lightness contains an amphoteric surfactant, or (3a-ii) said first ink composition having the lowest lightness contains an amphoteric surfactant, and said second ink composition having the highest lightness contains an anionic surfactant, and wherein, when condition (3b) is satisfied, (3b-i) said first ink composition having the lowest lightness contains a cationic surfactant, and said second ink composition having the highest lightness contains an amphoteric surfactant, or (3b-ii) said first ink composition having the lowest lightness contains an amphoteric surfactant, and said second ink composition having the highest lightness contains a cationic surfactant.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
260 words
An ink set consisting of a plurality of pigment-based aqueous ink compositions each containing a dispersed pigment and a surfactant, each of the pigment-based ink compositions having a different lightness with a first of said ink compositions having the lowest lightness and a second of said ink compositions having the highest lightness; wherein (1) said first ink composition having the lowest lightness has a higher surface tension than any other ink composition in the ink set; wherein (2) said second ink composition having the highest lightness has a lower surface tension than any other ink composition in the ink set; and wherein (3) the dispersed pigment contained in said first ink composition having the lowest lightness and the dispersed pigment contained in said second ink composition having the highest lightness are (3a) both anionic dispersed pigments or (3b) both cationic dispersed pigments, wherein, when condition (3a) is satisfied, (3a-i) said first ink composition having the lowest lightness contains an anionic surfactant, and said second composition having the highest lightness contains an amphoteric surfactant, or (3a-ii) said first ink composition having the lowest lightness contains an amphoteric surfactant, and said second ink composition having the highest lightness contains an anionic surfactant, and wherein, when condition (3b) is satisfied, (3b-i) said first ink composition having the lowest lightness contains a cationic surfactant, and said second ink composition having the highest lightness contains an amphoteric surfactant, or (3b-ii) said first ink composition having the lowest lightness contains an amphoteric surfactant, and said second ink composition having the highest lightness contains a cationic surfactant.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The ink set according to claim 12 , wherein said first ink composition having the lowest lightness is a black ink composition.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The ink set according to claim 13 , wherein said second ink composition having the highest lightness is a yellow ink composition.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The ink set according to claim 12 , wherein the dispersed pigment in said first ink composition having the lowest lightness and the dispersed pigment in said second ink composition having the highest lightness are both anionic dispersed pigments.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ink set according to claim 12 , wherein said anionic surfactant has a sulfonic acid group.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ink set according to claim 12 , wherein said amphoteric surfactant has a sulfonic acid group.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
The ink set according to claim 12 , wherein the plurality of pigment-based ink compositions comprises other ink compositions containing a nonionic surfactant, wherein said first ink composition having the highest lightness and said second ink composition having the lowest lightness do not contain a nonionic surfactant.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
The ink set according to claim 12 , wherein said second ink composition having the highest lightness has a surface tension of 20 mN/in or higher, and said first ink composition having the lowest lightness has a surface tension of 50 mN/in or lower.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The ink set according to claim 12 , comprising a yellow aqueous ink composition, a cyan aqueous ink composition, a magenta aqueous ink composition, and a black aqueous ink composition.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-03-24 | 2006-09-23 | 2007-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-03-24 | 2010-09-23 | 2011-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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