Compositions: coating or plastic – Coating or plastic compositions – Marking
Reexamination Certificate
2001-10-15
2003-11-18
Klemanski, Helene (Department: 1755)
Compositions: coating or plastic
Coating or plastic compositions
Marking
C106S031600, C106S031640
Reexamination Certificate
active
06648950
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to ink-jet inks. More particularly to odor-releasing ink-jet inks wherein the odor can be released at a desired time and/or location.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Thermal ink jet printers, provide an effective means of propelling ink jet inks onto various media including paper. These printers can accomplish this by using resistive heater elements for heating the ink to a boil, and propelling the ink through an overlying orifice plate. Such printers as typified by the Hewlett-Packard DeskJet™ and Designjet™ printers, are desirable for use for several reasons. For example, thermal ink jet printers have a relatively fast throughput while being relatively inexpensive to run. Additionally, these printers are relatively easy to use, and the ink is easily replaced.
There are several reasons that ink-jet printing has become a popular way of recording images on various media surfaces, particularly paper. Some of these reasons include low printer noise, capability of high-speed recording, and multi-color recording. Additionally, these advantages can be obtained at a relatively low price to consumers. However, though there has been great improvement in ink-jet printing, accompanying this improvement are increased demands by consumers in this area, e.g., higher speeds, higher resolution, full color image formation, increased stability, new applications, etc. In addition to these challenges, there is increased market pressure to provide ink-jet inks for new and creative applications.
Many experimental electro-conductive inks have been and are being produced for various purposes. In order to produce a conductive ink, conductive substances are integrated into the ink system. Pigments and/or dyes can be optionally added if the desire is to visualize the conductive path being created. As a practical matter, in order for an ink to be conductive, the conducting substances should be present in the ink matrix such that the individual particles are large enough and close enough together to functionally allow for current flow. Appropriate substances can include first-grade conductors such as metal and precious metal powder and/or carbon powder. Though metal and precious metal powders generally provide for higher conductivity that carbon powder, they also are more prone to oxidation, corrosion, and in some cases, migration. Precious-metal powders can also be expensive. Conversely, carbon, does not exhibit these problems.
No matter what electro-conductive material is used to create the electro-conductive ink, by selecting the appropriate ink vehicles and/or other components, e.g., polymers, surfactants, etc., easy processing, good adhesion and high mechanical and chemical resistance can be achieved.
In the scented ink area, many different types of inks have been prepared that can emit odors. For example, a printed image known by its common name “scratch and sniff” is one such technology. The basic idea behind scratch and sniff technology is to take the aroma generating chemical and encapsulate it in gelatin or plastic microspheres through a process known generally as microencapsulation. Such gelatin or plastic spheres can be as small as a few microns in diameter. Thus, when the microspheres are mechanically ruptured by scratching, the odor is released.
Other odor-containing inks have also been prepared that contain an odor that is detectable when exposed to a surrounding environment. Such inks have been used in felt-tipped pens wherein the odor is not noticeable to the user until a pen cap is removed from the pen and/or the ink is presented on a substrate. However, the odor of such an ink, once printed on a substrate, does not last for a significant period of time as may be desired by the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It has been recognized by the inventors that it would be desirable to provide inks, particularly for use in ink-jet ink printers, that are both electrically conductive and odor-releasing. Thus, by utilizing such a composition, or composition equivalent, odor can be released from an ink printed on a substrate at a desired time. Additionally, an odor can be preserved over a period of time comparable to the scratch and sniff technologies, without the requirement that mechanical scratching occur to release the odor.
Specifically, the present invention is drawn to odor-releasing inks, particularly ink-jet inks. These odor-releasing inks provide to a user control as to when and how much odor is to be released. Uniquely, the odor-releasing control is either thermal or electromagnetic, rather than by mechanical releasing means. Specifically, an odor-releasing ink can comprise an ink vehicle, an effective amount of an electro-thermal material dispersed within the ink vehicle, and an effective amount of an odor-releasing additive wherein an odor is released from the odor-releasing additive upon activation of the electro-thermal material.
A method of releasing an odor from a printed image can comprise the steps of providing a substrate having printed thereon an image comprising an electro-thermal odor-releasing ink, providing an energy source, and completing a circuit between the electro-thermal odor-releasing ink and the energy source, thereby releasing an odor.
For example, an odor-releasing article can comprise a substrate; and an image adhered to the substrate, wherein the image is electro-thermally conductive, and the image contains or contacts an odor-releasing additive, wherein upon electrical or thermal activation of the image, an odor is released from the odor-releasing additive.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention.
The singular forms “a,” “an,” and, “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “an ink” includes reference to one or more of such inks.
As used herein, “effective amount” refers to the minimal amount of a substance or agent, which is sufficient to achieve a desire effect. For example, an effective amount of an “ink vehicle” is the minimum amount required in order to create ink, which will meet functional performance and characteristic standards.
As used herein, “ink vehicle,” refers to the vehicle in which the odor-releasing additive and the electro-thermal material (and optionally a colorant) is placed to form an ink. Ink vehicles are well known in the art, and a wide variety of ink vehicles may be used with the ink composition of the present invention. Such ink vehicles may include a mixture of a variety of different agents, including without limitation, surfactants, solvents, co-solvents, buffers, biocides, viscosity modifiers, surface-active agents, and water.
“Electro-thermal material” can include any substance within an ink vehicle that acts to provide energy flow through the ink, particularly when the ink has been printed on a substrate. The energy flow, e.g., heat or electrical current, need only be sufficient to effectuate some odor release from an odor-releasing additive.
“Odor-releasing additive” includes any substance that can be added to an ink vehicle or is present as part of a printed image for emitting an odor. Preferably, the odor-releasing additive is bound to, absorbed in, adsorbed on, or contained within a substrate such that the odor is not substantially released from the ink until being subjected to electrical or thermal activation, though this is not required. All that is required is that the odor-releasing
Currans Kevin G.
Lee Brian Craig
Hewlett--Packard Development Company, L.P.
Klemanski Helene
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