Multi-viscosity printer ink

Abstract

A printing ink for use within multiple ambient temperatures which comprises a mixture of two or more inks having different viscosities at a given temperature. Thus, one or more lower viscosity inks having, for example, a viscosity in the range of about 300 cps to about 900 cps is mixed with one or more higher viscosity inks having, for example, a viscosity range of about 1100 cps to about 1800 cps to provide a multi-viscosity ink mixture useful over a wide temperature range. A print ribbon which carries the multi-viscosity ink mixture and, the combination of an impact printer incorporating said print ribbon are provided. A method for printing with an ink mixture to compensate for varying ambient temperatures includes the steps of mixing together two or more inks each having a different viscosity at the same given temperature to form an ink mixture; and, printing with said ink mixture on a medium to be printed upon.

1 . A printing ink for use in multiple temperatures comprising: 
 a mixture of two or more inks each ink having a different viscosity at the same given temperature.    
     
     
         2 . The printing ink as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 one or more inks having a lower viscosity at a pre-determined temperature mixed with one or more inks having a viscosity at said pre-determined temperature which is higher than said one or more inks having a lower viscosity.  
 
     
     
         3 . The printing ink as claimed in  claim 2  further comprising: 
 said one or more inks having a lower viscosity in said mixture comprises from about 30% to about 70% by volume of said mixture; and,  
 said one or more inks having a higher viscosity in said mixture comprises from about 70% to about 30% by volume of said mixture.  
 
     
     
         4 . The printing ink as claimed in  claim 1  wherein: 
 said one or more inks having a lower viscosity comprises a single ink having a lower viscosity which comprises at least about 30% by volume with the balance by volume comprising said one or more inks having a higher viscosity.  
 
     
     
         5 . The printing ink as claimed in  claim 1  wherein: 
 said one or more inks having a higher viscosity comprises a single ink having a higher viscosity which comprises at least about 30% by volume with the balance by volume comprising said one or more lower viscosity inks.  
 
     
     
         6 . The printing ink as claimed in  claim 1  wherein: 
 said mixture comprises one lower viscosity ink and one higher viscosity ink.  
 
     
     
         7 . The printing ink as claimed in  claim 1  wherein: 
 said one or more lower viscosity inks has a viscosity in the range of about 300 to about 900 cps; and,  
 said one or more higher viscosity inks has a viscosity in the range of about 1100 to about 1800 cps.  
 
     
     
         8 . The printing ink as claimed in  claim 1  wherein: 
 said one or more lower viscosity inks comprises from about 30% to about 70% by volume of said mixture;  
 said one or more higher viscosity inks comprises from about 30% to about 70% by volume of said mixture;  
 the viscosity of said one or more lower viscosity inks is within the range of about 300 cps to about 900 cps; and,  
 the viscosity of said one or more higher viscosity inks is within the range of about 1100 cps to about 1800 cps.  
 
     
     
         9 . The printing ink as claimed in  claim 1  wherein: 
 said one or more lower viscosity inks comprises about 50% by volume of said mixture; and,  
 said one or more higher viscosity inks comprises about 50% by volume of said mixture.  
 
     
     
         10 . The printing ink as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a print ribbon on which said printing ink is carried.  
 
     
     
         11 . The printing ink as claimed in  claim 10  further comprising: 
 an impact printer incorporating said ribbon with said ink;  
 a series of hammers with tips for impacting said ribbon;  
 a permanent magnet for retaining said hammers; and,  
 an electrical drive for overcoming the retention of said hammers and causing said printing tips to impact said ribbon and print on an underlying medium.  
 
     
     
         12 . A printing system comprising: 
 an impact printer having printing tips supported on a plurality of hammers on a hammerbank;    at least one permanent magnet for retaining said hammers;    an electrically driven coil for overcoming the permanent magnetism retaining said hammers;    a printer ribbon placed for impact by said printing tips against a medium to be printed upon; and,    an ink mixture disposed on said ribbon comprising a mixture of two or more inks each ink having a different viscosity at a given temperature.    
     
     
         13 . The printing system as claimed in  claim 12  further comprising: 
 a mask with openings for said printer tips;  
 a platen for supporting the medium to be printed upon; and,  
 wherein said hammers form a hammerbank of a line printer.  
 
     
     
         14 . The printing system as claimed in  claim 12  further comprising: 
 said ink mixture comprises one or more inks having a lower viscosity at a pre-determined temperature mixed with one or more inks having a viscosity at said pre-determined temperature which is higher than said one or more inks having a lower viscosity.  
 
     
     
         15 . The printing system as claimed in  claim 12  further comprising: 
 said one or more inks has a lower viscosity at a pre-determined temperature which comprises from about 30% to about 70% by volume of said mixture; and,  
 said one or more inks has a higher viscosity at said pre-determined temperature which comprises from about 30% to about 70% by volume of said mixture.  
 
     
     
         16 . The printing system as claimed in  claim 15  wherein: 
 said one or more inks of said mixture having a lower viscosity has a viscosity in the range of about 300 cps to about 900 cps;  
 said one or more inks of said mixture having a higher viscosity has a viscosity in the range of about 1100 cps to about 1800 cps; and,  
 said one or more lower viscosity inks and one or more higher viscosity inks each comprise about 50% by volume of said ink mixture.  
 
     
     
         17 . A print ribbon with ink for an impact printer comprising: 
 a print ribbon formed of an absorbent material which retains ink in its interstices; and,    an ink mixture disposed on said ribbon comprising two or more inks each ink having a different viscosity at the same given temperature.    
     
     
         18 . The print ribbon with ink as claimed in  claim 17  further comprising: 
 one or more inks having a lower viscosity within the range of about 300 cps to about 900 cps at 25° C.; and,  
 one or more inks having a higher viscosity is within the range of about 1100 cps to about 1800 cps at 25° C.  
 
     
     
         19 . The print ribbon with ink as claimed in  claim 18  wherein: 
 said one or more inks having a lower viscosity comprises from about 30% to about 70% by volume of said ink mixture; and,  
 said one or more inks having a higher viscosity comprises from about 30% to about 70% by volume of said ink mixture.  
 
     
     
         20 . A method for printing with an ink mixture to compensate for varying ambient temperatures comprising: 
 mixing together two or more inks each having a different viscosity at the same given temperature to form an ink mixture; and,    printing with said mixture on a medium to be printed upon.    
     
     
         21 . The method as claimed in  claim 20  further comprising: 
 mixing together one or more inks having a lower viscosity at a predetermined temperature with one or more inks having a higher viscosity at the same predetermined temperature to form an ink mixture;  
 disposing said ink mixture on a print ribbon;  
 striking said print ribbon with printing elements to impact said ribbon and dispose said ink mixture on said medium.  
 
     
     
         22 . The method as claimed in  claim 21  further comprising: 
 passing said print ribbon between two spools across said printing elements formed of printing tips.  
 
     
     
         23 . The method as claimed in  claim 21  wherein: 
 said one or more inks of said ink mixture having a lower viscosity has a viscosity in the range of about 300 cps to about 900 cps; and,  
 said one or more inks having a higher viscosity has a viscosity in the range of about 1100 cps to about 1800 cps.  
 
     
     
         24 . The method as claimed in  claim 21  wherein: 
 said one or more inks having a lower viscosity comprises from about 30% to about 70% by volume of said ink mixture; and  
 said one or mor inks having a higher viscosity comprises from about 30% to about 70% by volume of said ink mixture.  
 
     
     
         25 . A method of printing in varying ambient temperatures comprising: 
 providing a printer having a plurality of hammers with printing tips on a hammerbank;    providing a permanent magnet for retaining said hammers;    releasing said hammers with electric magnetism to overcome the force of said permanent magnet; and,    passing a print ribbon having an ink formed of a mixture of two or more different viscosity inks across said hammer tips for printing on a media.    
     
     
         26 . The method as claimed in  claim 25  further comprising: 
 masking said print ribbon with a printing mask having openings receiving said printing tips.  
 
     
     
         27 . The method as claimed in  claim 25  further comprising: 
 forming said ink mixture from said one or more lower viscosity inks having a viscosity in the range of about 300 cps to about 900 cps at 25° C.; and,  
 said one or more higher viscosity inks having a range of about 1100 cps to about 1800 cps at 25° C.  
 
     
     
         28 . The method as claimed in  claim 25  further comprising: 
 forming said ink mixture with two different single viscosity inks, each ink comprising from about 30% to about 70% by volume.