Patent US7025817B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US7025817B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Ink, recording method, recording unit, ink cartridge, and recording apparatus
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 2005-02-07
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Granted: 2006-04-11
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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 09:20
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.
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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) | 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 |