Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Fluid or fluid source handling means
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-18
2001-05-01
Barlow, John (Department: 2853)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Ink jet
Fluid or fluid source handling means
24, 24
Reexamination Certificate
active
06224202
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
Reference is made to commonly-assigned copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/216,531, filed Dec. 18, 1998, entitled “Ink Jet Printing Process”, of Gallo et al; and
Copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/215,711, filed Dec. 18, 1998, entitled “Ink Jet Printing Process”, of Romano, Jr., et al, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,170,944; and
Copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/216,558 filed Dec. 18, 1998, entitled “Ink Jet Printing Process”, of Romano, Jr., et al, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,142,621; and
Copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/216,149 filed Dec. 18, 1998, entitled “Ink Jet Composition”, of Romano, Jr., et al, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,156,110; and
Copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/216,653, filed Dec. 18, 1998, entitled “Ink Jet Printing Process”, of Kovacs et al; and
Copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/216,288 filed Dec. 18, 1998, entitled “Ink Jet Printing Process”, of Kovacs et al; and
Copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/216,350, filed filed Dec. 18, 1998, entitled “Ink Jet Printing Process”, of Kovacs et al; and
Copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/216,147 filed Dec. 18, 1998, entitled “Ink Jet Ink Composition”, of Kovacs et al; now U.S. Pat. No. 6,139,611; and
Copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/216,304 filed Dec. 18, 1998, entitled “Ink Jet Printing Method”, of Kovacs et al, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,137,514.
Copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/083,875, filed May 22, 1998, entitled “Inkjet Images on PVA Overcoated with Hardener Solution”, of Erdtmann et al.; and
Copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/083,605 filed May 22, 1998, entitled “Ink Jet Prints Overcoated with Hardener”, of Erdtmann et al., the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an ink jet printing method using a certain ink jet ink composition which provides an image having improved water-fastness.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Ink jet printing is a non-impact method for producing images by the deposition of ink droplets in a pixel-by-pixel manner to an image-recording element in response to digital signals. There are various methods which may be utilized to control the deposition of ink droplets on the image-recording element to yield the desired image. In one process, known as continuous ink jet, a continuous stream of droplets is charged and deflected in an imagewise manner onto the surface of the image-recording element, while unimaged droplets are caught and returned to an ink sump. In another process, known as drop-on-demand ink jet, individual ink droplets are projected as needed onto the image-recording element to form the desired image. Common methods of controlling the projection of ink droplets in drop-on-demand printing include piezoelectric transducers and thermal bubble formation. Ink jet printers have found broad applications across markets ranging from industrial labeling to short run printing to desktop document and pictorial imaging.
The inks used in the various ink jet printers can be classified as either dye-based or pigment-based. A dye is a colorant, which is dissolved in the carrier medium. A pigment is a colorant that is insoluble in the carrier medium, but is dispersed or suspended in the form of small particles, often stabilized against flocculation and settling by the use of dispersing agents. The carrier medium can be a liquid or a solid at room temperature. Commonly used carrier media include water, mixtures of water and organic co-solvents and organic solvents, such as hydrocarbons, esters, ketones, etc.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
JP 10-219157 relates to an ink jet ink comprising an aqueous medium, a colorant and a very small amount of glutaraldehyde as a biocide.
There is a problem with using this ink, however, in that when it is printed on an image-recording element, the resultant image has poor water-fastness.
It is an object of this invention to provide a method for using an ink jet ink composition which when printed on an image-recording element will provide an image having an improved water-fastness. It is another object of this invention to provide a method for using an ink jet composition which employs an anionic, water-soluble dye.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other objects are achieved in accordance with this invention which relates to an ink jet printing process for improving the water-fastness of an ink jet image comprising the steps of:
A) providing an ink jet printer that is responsive to digital data signals;
B) loading the printer with an image-recording element comprising a support having thereon an ink-receptive layer comprising a cross-linkable polymer;
C) loading the printer with an ink jet ink composition comprising water, an anionic, water-soluble dye and from about 0.1 to about 10% by weight of a hardener; and
D) printing on the image-recording element using the ink jet ink composition in response to the digital data signals.
Use of the invention enables an ink jet image to be obtained on an image-recording element which will have improved water-fastness.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Any hardener can be used in the composition employed in the method of the invention provided it will cross-link a cross-linkable polymer employed in the recording element onto which the ink composition is printed. Hardeners may be used in the ink composition of the invention in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 10% by weight, preferably from about 0.25 to about 2% by weight.
Examples of hardeners that can be employed in the composition used in the method of the invention of the invention fall into several different classes such as the following (including mixtures thereof):
a) formaldehyde and compounds that contain two or more aldehyde functional groups such as the homologous series of dialdehydes ranging from glyoxal to adipaldehyde including succinaldehyde and glutaraldehyde; diglycolaldehyde; aromatic dialdehydes, etc.;
b) blocked hardeners (substances usually derived from the active hardener that release the active compound under appropriate conditions) such as substances that contain blocked aldehyde functional groups, such as tetrahydro-4-hydroxy-5-methyl-2(1H)-pyrimidinone polymers, polymers of the type having a glyoxal polyol reaction product consisting of 1 anhydroglucose unit: 2 glyoxal units, dimethoxylethanal-melamine non-formaldehyde resins, 2,3-dihydroxy-1,4-dioxane, blocked dialdehydes and N-methylol compounds obtained from the condensation of formaldehyde with various aliphatic or cyclic amides, ureas, and nitrogen heterocycles;
c) active olefinic compounds having two or more olefinic bonds, especially unsubstituted vinyl groups, activated by adjacent electron withdrawing groups, such as divinyl ketone; resorcinol bis(vinylsulfonate); 4,6-bis(vinylsulfonyl)-m-xylene; bis(vinylsulfonylalkyl)ethers and amines; 1,3,5-tris(vinylsulfonyl)hexahydro-s-triazine; diacrylamide; 1,3-bis(acryloyl)urea; N,N′-bismaleimides; bisisomaleimides; bis(2-acetoxyethyl)ketone; 1,3,5-triacryloylhexahydro-s-triazine; and blocked active olefins of the type bis(2-acetoxyethyl)ketone and 3,8-dioxodecane-1,10-bis(pyridinium perchlorate)bis(vinyl sulfonylmethane), bis(vinyl sulfonylmethyl ether), and the like;
d) compounds that contain two or more amino groups such as ethylene diamine; and
e) inorganic salts such as aluminum sulfate; potassium and ammonium alums of aluminum; ammonium zirconium carbonate; chromium salts such as chromium sulfate and chromium alum; and salts of titanium dioxide, zirconium dioxide, etc.
Specific examples of hardeners useful in the composition employed in the method of the invention of the invention include the following:
Hardener 1: aluminum sulfate
Hardener 2: bis(vinyl sulfonylmethane) (Eastman Kodak Company)
Hardener 3: 2,3-dihydroxy-1,4-dioxane (Aldrich Chemical Co.)
Hardener 4: ethylene diamine
Hardener 5: glyoxal
Hardener 6: bis(vinyl sulfonylmethyl ether) (Eastman Kodak Company)
Hardener 7: glutaraldehyde
Hardener 8: a glyoxal polyol reaction product
Gallo Elizabeth A.
Romano, Jr. Charles E.
Barlow John
Cole Harold E.
Eastman Kodak Company
Shah Manish S.
LandOfFree
Ink jet printing method does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Ink jet printing method, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Ink jet printing method will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2439767