Recording ink, ink cartridge, ink record, inkjet recording apparatus, and inkjet recording method

• US 7,699,457 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2005
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Nagai, Kiyofumi, Inoue, Tomohiro, Gotoh, Akihiko, Habashi, Hisashi, Namba, Michihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah; Manish S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Martin; Laura E
• Application Number:
  US11/575,169
• Publication Number:
  US 20080070008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,680 Days
• Field of Search: 347/100, 347/95, 106/31.13
• US Class Current: 347/100
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14274 of stacked structure type, deformed by compression/extension and disposed on a diaphragm
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14419 Manifold
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 11/38 characterised by non-macromolecular additives other than solvents, pigments or dyes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]

Abstract

The recording ink having a water, a water-soluble organic solvent, a colorant, and at least one fluorochemical surfactant selected from the following Structural Formulae (1) to (3). Structural Formula (1): where, Rf is a fluorine-containing group; and m, n, and p are integers in the Structural Formula (1). Structural Formula (2): where, Rf is a fluorine-containing group; X is a cationic group; Y is an anionic group; and q is an integer in the Structural Formula (2). Structural Formula (3): where, Rf is a fluorine-containing group; X is a cationic group; Y is an anionic group; and q is an integer in the Structural Formula (3).

Claims

1. A recording ink comprising:

water,

a water-soluble organic solvent,

a colorant, and

at least one fluorochemical surfactant selected from the following Structural Formulae (1) to (3);

2. The recording ink according to claim 1, wherein Rf in the Structural Formulae (1) to (3) is a perfluoroalkyl group.

3. The recording ink according to claim 1, wherein the fluorochemical surfactant is at least one selected from the following Structural Formulae (1-1) to (3-1):

4. The recording ink according to claim 1, wherein the content of at least one fluorochemical surfactant selected from the Structural Formulae (1) to (3) is 0.01% by mass to 10% by mass.

5. The recording ink according to claim 1, wherein the colorant is at least one of pigments, dyes, and coloring fine-particles.

6. The recording ink according to claim 5, wherein the pigment comprises at least one hydrophilic group on the surface, and is at least one of water-dispersible and water-soluble in the absence of dispersant.

7. The recording ink according to claim 1, wherein the water-soluble organic solvent is at least one selected from glycerin, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, tripropylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol, 2,3-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,6-hexanediol, 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol, polyethylene glycol, 1,2,4-butanetriol, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, thiodiglycol, 2-pyrrolidone, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and N-hydroxyethyl-2-pyrrolidone.

8. The recording ink according to claim 1, comprising at least one selected from cyan ink, magenta ink, yellow ink, and black ink.

9. An ink cartridge comprising a container containing a recording ink,

wherein the recording ink comprises at least water, a water-soluble organic solvent, a colorant, and at least one fluorochemical surfactant selected from the following Structural Formulae (1) to (3):

10. An inkjet recording apparatus comprising:

an ink drops discharging unit configured to discharge a recording ink drop to form an image by applying an impulse to a recording ink,

wherein the recording ink comprises at least water, a water-soluble organic solvent, a colorant, and at least one fluorochemical surfactant selected from the following Structural Formulae (1) to (3);

17. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the impulse is at least one selected from heat, pressure, vibration, and light.

11. An inkjet recording apparatus comprising:

an ink drops discharging unit configured to discharge a recording ink drop to form an image by applying an impulse to a recording ink,

wherein the ink drops discharging unit comprises a nozzle head portion having a silicone resin-containing ink-repellent layer on the ink discharging surface, and

wherein the ink used in the inkjet recording apparatus comprises at least water, a colorant, a fluorochemical surfactant, and an aminopropanediol compound;

wherein the fluorochemical surfactant is at least one selected from the following Structural Formulae (A), (1, (2) and (3);

CF₃CF₂(CF₂CF₂)_j—

CH₂CH₂O(CH₂CH₂O)_kH 

 

Structural Formula (A)

where, j is an integer of 6 to 8; and

k is an integer of 26 or more in the Structural Formula (A);

12. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the aminopropanediol compound is 2-amino-2-ethyl-1,3-propanediol.

13. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the content of the aminopropanediol compound in the ink is 0.01% by mass to 10% by mass.

14. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the content of the fluorochemical surfactant in the ink is 0.05% by mass to 20% by mass.

15. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the colorant is at least one of pigments, dyes, and coloring fine-particles.

16. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the pigment comprises at least one hydrophilic group on the surface, and is at least one of water-dispersible and water-soluble in the absence of dispersant.

23. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the impulse is at least one selected from heat, pressure, vibration, and light.

18. An inkjet recording method comprising:

discharging a recording ink drop to form an image by applying an impulse to a recording ink,

wherein the recording ink comprises at least water, a water-soluble organic solvent, a colorant, and at least one fluorochemical surfactant selected from the following Structural Formulae (1) to (3);

21. The inkjet recording method according to claim 18, wherein the impulse is at least one selected from heat, pressure, vibration, and light.

19. An inkjet recording method comprising:

discharging a recording ink drop to form an image by applying an impulse to a recording ink,

wherein the ink discharging is performed by using a nozzle head portion having a silicone resin-containing ink-repellent layer on the ink discharging surface, and

wherein the ink comprises at least water, a colorant, a fluorochemical surfactant, and an aminopropanediol compound;

wherein the fluorochemical surfactant is at least one selected from the following Structural Formulae (A), (1), (2) and (3);

CF₃CF₂(CF₂CF₂)_j—

CH₂CH₂O(CH₂CH₂O)_kH 

 

Structural Formula (A)

where, j is an integer of 6 to 8; and

k is an integer of 26 or more in the Structural Formula (A);

20. The inkjet recording method according to claim 19, wherein the aminopropanediol compound is 2-amino-2-ethyl-1,3-propanediol.

24. The inkjet recording method according to claim 19, wherein the impulse is at least one selected from heat, pressure, vibration, and light.

22. An ink record comprising:

an image formed using a recording ink,

wherein the recording ink comprises at least water, a water-soluble organic solvent, a colorant, and at least one fluorochemical surfactant selected from the following Structural Formulae (1) to (3);