US2002187310A1PendingUtilityA1

Compositions and methods for printing on specialty media

32
Priority: May 16, 2001Filed: May 16, 2001Published: Dec 12, 2002
Est. expiryMay 16, 2021(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Alexey S. Kabalnov
Y10S524/906C09D 11/54Y10T428/31855Y10T428/24802B41M 5/0017C09D 11/30C08G 81/021B41J 2/2114
32
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
0
References
0
Claims

Abstract

Compositions and methods for printing on specialty media are disclosed. The methods comprise the steps of providing a fixing fluid, providing a dye- or pigment-based ink-jet ink containing an effective amount of a polyvinyl(alcohol-acetate) species, jetting the fixing fluid onto the specialty media forming a coated substrate, and jetting the ink-jet ink onto the coated substrate. Additionally, a gelled printed image on a substrate is disclosed comprising a fixing fluid containing a fixing agent and an aqueous ink-jet ink containing a polyvinyl(alcohol-acetate) species. In both the method and with respect to the image, the polyvinyl(alcohol-acetate) species used can be a known species, or one of a number of new graft copolymers containing a polyvinyl(alcohol-acetate) polymer as one of the constituents of the copolymer.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for printing on specialty media comprising: 
 a) providing a fixing fluid containing a fixing agent;    b) providing a dye- or pigment-based ink-jet ink containing an effective amount of a polyvinyl(alcohol-acetate) species;    c) jetting the fixing fluid onto a specialty media substrate thereby forming a coated substrate; and    d) jetting the ink-jet ink onto the coated substrate.    
     
     
         2 . A method as in  claim 1  further comprising the step of allowing the polyvinyl(alcohol-acetate) of the ink-jet ink and the fixing agent of the fixing fluid to gel on the substrate.  
     
     
         3 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the fixing agent is selected from the group consisting of borax, boric acid, copper sulfate, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         4 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the fixing fluid comprises components selected from the group consisting of humectants, wetting agents, surfactants, water and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         5 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the dye- or pigment-based ink-jet ink comprises a humectant that does not interfere with gelation.  
     
     
         6 . A method as in  claim 5  wherein the humectant is selected from the group consisting of low molecular weight polyethylene glycol, glycereth- 1, glycereth-7, tetraethylene glycol, urea, tetramethylurea, betaine, betaine hydrochloride, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         7 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the polyvinyl(alcohol-acetate) species is hydrolyzed at from 70% to 100%.  
     
     
         8 . A method as in  claim 7  wherein the polyvinyl(alcohol-acetate) species is hydrolyzed at from 75% to 90%.  
     
     
         9 . A method as in  claim 7  wherein the polyvinyl(alcohol-acetate) species is hydrolyzed at about 88%.  
     
     
         10 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the polyvinyl(alcohol-acetate) species is a graft copolymer of polyvinyl(alcohol-acetate) and a second polymer.  
     
     
         11 . A gelled printed image on a substrate comprising: 
 a) a fixing fluid containing an effective amount of a fixing agent, printed in contact with,    b) an aqueous ink-jet ink comprising: 
 i) a low molecular weight humectant,  
 ii) an effective amount of a polyvinyl(alcohol-acetate) species, and  
 iii) an effective amount of a dye or pigment, such that said fixing agent and said polyvinyl(alcohol-acetate) interact to form a gel on said substrate.  
   
     
     
         12 . An image as in  claim 11  wherein the fixing agent is selected from the group consisting of borax, boric acid, copper sulfate, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         13 . An image as in  claim 11  wherein the fixing fluid comprises components selected from the group consisting of humectants, drying agents, surfactants, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         14 . An image as in  claim 11  wherein the low molecular weight humectant of the ink-jet ink does not substantially interfere with gelation.  
     
     
         15 . An image as in  claim 14  wherein the low molecular weight humectant is selected from the group consisting of low molecular weight polyethylene glycol, glycereth-1, glycereth-7, tetraethylene glycol, urea, tetramethylurea, betaine, betaine hydrochloride, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         16 . An image as in  claim 11  wherein the polyvinyl(alcohol-acetate) is hydrolyzed at from 70% to 100%.  
     
     
         17 . An image as in  claim 16  wherein the polyvinyl(alcohol-acetate) is hydrolyzed at from 75% to 90%.  
     
     
         18 . An image as in  claim 16  wherein the polyvinyl(alcohol-acetate) is hydrolyzed at about 88%.  
     
     
         19 . An image as in  claim 11  wherein the ink-jet ink comprises an effective amount of a surfactant.  
     
     
         20 . An image as in  claim 11  wherein the polyvinyl(alcohol-acetate) species is a graft copolymer of polyvinyl(alcohol-acetate) and a second polymer.  
     
     
         21 . A graft copolymer for ink-jet ink formulations comprising glycerol having from 2 to 3 polyvinyl(alcohol-acetate) chains attached thereto, wherein the polyvinyl(alcohol-acetate) chains have a weight average molecular weight from about 300 to 10,000.  
     
     
         22 . A graft copolymer as in  claim 21  wherein the polyvinyl(alcohol-acetate) is partially hydrolyzed.  
     
     
         23 . A graft copolymer as in  claim 22  wherein the polyvinyl(alcohol-acetate) is about 88% hydrolyzed.  
     
     
         24 . A graft copolymer as in  claim 21  having three polyvinyl(alcohol-acetate) chains etherified to the glycerol.  
     
     
         25 . A graft copolymer as in  claim 21  having two polyvinyl(alcohol-acetate) chains etherified to the glycerol.  
     
     
         26 . A graft copolymer as in  claim 25  further comprising one polyethylene glycol chain etherified to the glycerol.  
     
     
         27 . A graft copolymer for ink-jet ink formulations comprising: 
 a) a polyvinyl(alcohol-acetate) having a weight average molecular weight from about 300 to 10,000; and    b) a polyethylene glycol chain having a weight average molecular weight from about 300 to 10,000, wherein the polyethylene glycol is attached by etherification to from 5% to 30% of the alcohol groups of the polyvinyl(alcohol-acetate).    
     
     
         28 . A graft copolymer as in  claim 27  wherein the polyvinyl(alcohol-acetate) is partially hydrolyzed.  
     
     
         29 . A graft copolymer as in  claim 27  wherein the polyvinyl(alcohol-acetate) is about 88% hydrolyzed.  
     
     
         30 . A graft copolymer for ink-jet ink formulations comprising: 
 a) a low molecular weight styrene-maleic acid ester copolymer having a weight average molecular weight from about 1,000 to 10,000;    b) a polyvinyl(alcohol-acetate) chain attached thereto, wherein the polyvinyl(alcohol-acetate) has a weight average molecular weight from about 1,000 to 10,000.    
     
     
         31 . A graft copolymer as in  claim 30  wherein the polyvinyl(alcohol-acetate) is partially hydrolyzed.  
     
     
         32 . A graft copolymer as in  claim 31  wherein the polyvinyl(alcohol-acetate) is about 88% hydrolyzed.  
     
     
         33 . A graft copolymer as in  claim 30  wherein there is one polyvinyl(alcohol-acetate) unit per each maleic acid unit.

Join the waitlist — get patent alerts

Track US2002187310A1 — get alerts on status changes and closely related new filings.

We store only your email — no account needed. See our privacy policy.