US7025817B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ink, recording method, recording unit, ink cartridge, and recording apparatus
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 2005-02-07
•
Granted: 2006-04-11
•
Expires: 2025-02-07
Abstract
Abstract An ink-jet ink comprises water, a water-soluble coloring material having a molecular weight of 600 or less as a free acid form, at least two kinds of water-soluble organic solvents, and urea or a derivative thereof. The vapor pressures at 25° C. of the at least two kinds of water-soluble organic solvents are lower than that of water. The water-soluble organic solvents include a water-soluble organic solvent A and a water-soluble organic solvent B. The solubility of the water-soluble coloring material in the water-soluble organic solvent A is higher than its solubility in water, while its solubility in the water-soluble organic solvent B is equal to or lower than its solubility in water. The difference between the solubilities of the water-soluble coloring material in the water-soluble organic solvent A and in the water-soluble organic solvent B is 10% or more. The ink-jet ink does not cause clogging of an ejection portion nor deposition of a coloring material and is capable of providing good print quality even after leaving a printed image for a long term under high temperature and humidity conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 Tsuyoshi Kanke
- 👤 Hiroshi Tomioka
- 👤 Hiroyuki Takuhara
- 👤 Shinichi Tochihara
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 05:48
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09D; C09D11/00; C09D11/30; C09D11/38; B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41M; B41M5/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
An ink, comprising water, a water-soluble coloring material having a molecular weight of 600 or less in a free acid form, at least two kinds of water-soluble organic solvents, and urea or a derivative thereof, wherein the ink satisfies conditions that: (1) the at least two kinds of water-soluble organic solvents show a vapor pressure lower than the vapor pressure of water at 25° C.; (2) when a comparison is made between a solubility of the water-soluble coloring material in each of the water-soluble organic solvents and a solubility of the water-soluble coloring material in water, the water-soluble organic solvents that satisfy the condition (1) include a water-soluble organic solvent A giving the solubility higher than the solubility in water and a water-soluble organic solvent B giving the solubility equal to or lower than the solubility in water; and (3) the solubility difference between the solubility of the water-soluble coloring material in the water-soluble organic solvent A and the solubility of the water-soluble coloring material in the water-soluble organic solvent B is 10% or more; and wherein the water-soluble coloring material is represented by the following general formula (I) in a free acid form: wherein m is an integer of 0 to 2, n is an integer of 0 to 1 where (m+n) is an integer of 1 or more.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
220 words
An ink, comprising water, a water-soluble coloring material having a molecular weight of 600 or less in a free acid form, at least two kinds of water-soluble organic solvents, and urea or a derivative thereof, wherein the ink satisfies conditions that: (1) the at least two kinds of water-soluble organic solvents show a vapor pressure lower than the vapor pressure of water at 25° C.; (2) when a comparison is made between a solubility of the water-soluble coloring material in each of the water-soluble organic solvents and a solubility of the water-soluble coloring material in water, the water-soluble organic solvents that satisfy the condition (1) include a water-soluble organic solvent A giving the solubility higher than the solubility in water and a water-soluble organic solvent B giving the solubility equal to or lower than the solubility in water; and (3) the solubility difference between the solubility of the water-soluble coloring material in the water-soluble organic solvent A and the solubility of the water-soluble coloring material in the water-soluble organic solvent B is 10% or more; and wherein the water-soluble coloring material is represented by the following general formula (I) in a free acid form: wherein m is an integer of 0 to 2, n is an integer of 0 to 1 where (m+n) is an integer of 1 or more.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
An ink according to claim 1 , wherein the total amount of the water-soluble organic solvent A and the water-soluble organic solvent B is 80 mass % or more with respect to the total amount of the water-soluble organic solvent in the ink.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
An ink according to claim 1 , wherein the mixing ratio between the water-soluble organic solvent A and the water-soluble organic solvent B is 4:1 to 1:1 (the water-soluble organic solvent A : the water-soluble soluble organic solvent B) on the mass basis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
An ink-jet recording method, comprising ejecting droplets of ink from an orifice in response to a recording signal, wherein the ink is the ink according to claim 1 .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A recording unit, comprising: an ink containing portion containing the ink according to claim 1 ; and a head portion for ejecting droplets of the ink.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
An ink cartridge, comprising an ink containing portion containing the ink according to claim 1 .
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A recording apparatus, comprising a recording unit that includes: an ink containing portion containing the ink according to claim 1 ; and a head portion for ejecting droplets of the ink.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
An ink according to claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble coloring material is represented by the following formula.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
An ink according to claim 8 , wherein the water-soluble organic solvent A is selected from the group consisting of glycerin, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol and polyethylene glycol.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
An ink according to claim 8 , wherein the water-soluble organic solvent B is selected from the group consisting of 2-pyrrolidone and 1,5-pentanediol.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
An ink according to claim 9 , wherein the water-soluble organic solvent B is selected from the group consisting of 2-pyrrolidone and 1,5-pentanediol.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4723129A
Cited
US4740796A
Cited
US4627875A
Cited
US5256194A
Cited
US5125969A
Cited
US5137570A
Cited
JPH0625573A
Cited
US5395434A
Cited
US5476541A
Cited
US5560770A
Cited
EP0649888A2
Cited
JPH08113739A
Cited
JPH08120204A
Cited
US5972086A
Cited
JPH0995637A
Cited
US5891230A
Cited
US5888286A
Cited
US6086660A
Cited
US6183549B1
Cited
US6652637B1
Cited
JP2002138226A
Cited
JP2003020428A
Cited
US20030051633A1
Cited
US6706102B2
Cited
US20030156175A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2009-04-10 | 2009-10-10 | 2010-04-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-04-10 | 2013-10-10 | 2014-04-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-04-10 | 2017-10-10 | 2018-04-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |