Analog printer including ink supply containing IR-absorbing phthalocyanine dye

• US 8,002,192 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2010
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BASF SE
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, Vonwiller, Simone Charlotte, Starling, Scott Matthew, Ridley, Damon Donald
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAIL, ALLYSON NEEL
• Application Number:
  US12/941,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20110048259A1
• Time in Patent Office: 288 Days
• Field of Search: 235/491, 235/462.01, 235/488, 347/104
• US Class Current: 235/491
• CPC Class Codes: C07D 487/22 in which the condensed system contains four or more hetero rings
• CPC Class Codes: C09B 47/0678 having-COOH or -SO3H radicals or derivatives thereof directly linked to the skeleton
• CPC Class Codes: C09B 69/02 Dyestuff salts, e.g. salts of acid dyes with basic dyes for Na, K or NH4+ salts or for chlorides, sulfates or chlorozincates, see the relevant dye groups
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 11/037 characterised by the pigment

Abstract

A printing module for an analog printer. The printing module includes an ink supply, a printing plate and an ink applicator for disposing ink from the ink supply onto the plate. The ink contains an IR-absorbing phthalocyanine dye formulated in a solvent-based or oil-based ink vehicle. The phthalocyanine dye has sulfonate groups, wherein a counterion of each sulfonate group is a phosphonium cation. Each phosphonium cation is of formula: P⁺(R^m)(Rⁿ)(R^s)(R^t); each of R^m, Rⁿ, R^s and R^t is independently selected from the group consisting of: C_1-30 alkyl, C_5-12 aryl and C_5-30 arylalkyl; and at least one of R^m, Rⁿ, R^s and R^t includes more than 4 carbon atoms.

Claims

1. A printing module for an analog printer, said printing module comprising an ink supply, a printing plate and means for disposing ink from said ink supply onto said plate, wherein said ink comprises an IR-absorbing phthalocyanine dye formulated in a solvent-based or oil-based ink vehicle, said phthalocyanine dye comprising one or more sulfonate groups, wherein a counterion of at least one sulfonate group is a phosphonium cation, and wherein:

the or each phosphonium cation is of formula;

P⁺(R^m)(Rⁿ)(R^s)(R^t);

each of R^m, Rⁿ, R^s and R^t is independently selected from the group consisting of;

C_1-30 alkyl, C_5-12 aryl and C_5-30 arylalkyl; and

at least one of R^m, Rⁿ, R^s and R^t comprises more than 4 carbon atoms.

2. The printing module of claim 1, wherein said phthalocyanine dye comprises a plurality of sulfonate groups.

3. The printing module of claim 2, wherein said phthalocyanine dye comprises a corresponding plurality of phosphonium counterions.

4. The printing module of claim 1, wherein said phthalocyanine dye is a naphthalocyanine.

5. The printing module of claim 4, wherein said naphthalocyanine is of formula (I):

6. The printing module of claim 5, wherein at least three of R^m, Rⁿ, R^s and R^t comprise more than 4 carbon atoms.

7. The printing module of claim 6, wherein at least three of R^m, Rⁿ, R^s and R^t are independently selected from a C_6-30 alkyl group.

8. The printing module of claim 5, wherein R¹ and R² are both hydrogen.

9. The printing module of claim 1, wherein M is Ga(OH).

10. An analog printer comprising the printing module according to claim 1.

11. The analog printer of claim 10, which is an offset printer.