# US 2013/0278689 A1 · Continuous inkjet printing method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0278689 A1 - Document ID: US20130278689A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/449,745 - Filed: 2012-04-18 - Published: 2013-10-24 - Earliest claimed: 2012-04-18 - Assignees: Eastman Kodak Company - Inventors: Allan Francis Sowinski; Simon C. Haseler; Robert Link; Rajesh Vinodrai Mehta; Todd Russell Griffin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130278689A1 ## CPC - C09D 11/10: based on artificial resins - B41J 2/105: for binary-valued deflection - C09D 11/322: Pigment inks - C09D 11/324: containing carbon black - B41J 2002/031: {Gas flow deflection} - C09D: COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR (cosmetics A61K; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general, B05D; staining wood B27K5/02; glazes or vitreous enamels C03C; natural resins, French polish, drying-oils, driers, turpentine, per se, C09F; polishing compositions other than French polish, ski waxes C09G; adhesives or use of materials as adhesives C09J; materials for sealing or packing joints or covers C09K3/10; materials for stopping leaks C09K3/12; processes for the electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings C25D) - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS ## Abstract A method of printing an image with a continuous inkjet printer system employing bimodal drop size generation with pigmented inkjet ink compositions comprising a polymer additive, wherein the liquid ink is an aqueous inkjet ink comprises dispersed pigment colorant particles having a mean particle size of less than 150 nanometers and at least about 0.1 wt % of polymer additive distinct from any polymer dispersant used to disperse the pigment particles, and recirculating liquid ink supplied to the nozzle if the printer system from a liquid ink source is in-line filtered with a filter selected to be effective at retaining particles having particle sizes equal to and greater than 0.6 micrometers from the liquid ink and to pass the dispersed pigment particles. The invention enables high quality drop control in a continuous inkjet printing system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of printing an image with a continuous inkjet printer system comprising: providing a jetting module including a nozzle in fluid communication with a liquid ink source; causing liquid ink to be jetted through the nozzle; causing liquid ink drops of at least two different sizes to be formed from the ink that is jetted through the nozzle; providing a catcher including a liquid drop contact face, using a deflection mechanism to deflect liquid ink drops of one size onto the liquid drop contact face of the catcher; and allowing liquid ink drops of another size to pass by the catcher and deposit onto a print media; and causing liquid drops that contact the liquid drop contact face to be recirculated to the liquid ink source; wherein the liquid ink is an aqueous inkjet ink comprising dispersed pigment colorant particles having a mean particle size of less than 150 nanometers and at least about 0.1 wt % of polymer additive distinct from any polymer dispersant used to disperse the pigment particles, and the liquid ink supplied to the nozzle from the liquid ink source is in-line filtered with a filter selected to be effective at retaining particles having particle sizes equal to and greater than 0.6 micrometers from the liquid ink and to pass the dispersed pigment particles. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of printing an image of claim 1 wherein the liquid ink comprises at least about 0.5 wt % of polymer additive distinct from any polymer dispersant used to disperse the pigment particles. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of printing an image of claim 1 wherein the liquid ink comprises at least about 1 wt % of polymer additive distinct from any polymer dispersant used to disperse the pigment particles. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of printing an image of claim 1 wherein the liquid ink is comprised of less than about 10 wt % of humectant and co-solvent. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of printing an image of claim 1 wherein the liquid ink supplied to the nozzle from the liquid ink source is in-line filtered with a filter having an effective pore size rating of 0.6 micrometer or smaller, and ratio of the effective orifice diameter of the nozzle to the effective pore size rating of the filter is greater than 10. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of printing an image of claim 1, wherein the liquid ink comprises dispersed black pigment particles. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The inkjet method of printing an image of claim 6 wherein the black pigment particles have a median volume-weighted particle size of less than about 100 nm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of printing an image of claim 1 wherein the liquid ink supplied to the nozzle from the liquid ink source is in-line filtered with a filter selected to be effective at retaining particles having particle sizes equal to and greater than 0.5 micrometers from the liquid ink and to pass the dispersed pigment particles. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of printing an image of claim 1 wherein the liquid ink supplied to the nozzle from the liquid ink source is in-line filtered with a filter selected to be effective at retaining particles having particle sizes equal to and greater than 0.45 micrometers from the liquid ink and to pass the dispersed pigment particles. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of printing an image of claim 1 wherein the liquid ink supplied to the nozzle from the liquid ink source is in-line filtered with a filter having an effective pore size rating of from 0.2 to 0.6 micrometer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of printing an image of claim 1 wherein the liquid ink supplied to the nozzle from the liquid ink source is in-line filtered with a filter having an effective pore size rating of from 0.2 to 0.5 micrometer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of printing an image of claim 1 wherein the liquid ink supplied to the nozzle from the liquid ink source is in-line filtered with a filter having an effective pore size rating of from 0.2 to 0.45 micrometer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of printing an image of claim 1 wherein the nozzle has an effective orifice diameter of greater than or equal to 8 micrometers. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of printing an image of claim 1 wherein the nozzle has an effective orifice diameter of greater than or equal to 9 micrometers. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of printing an image of claim 1 wherein smaller liquid drops are deflected a greater distance to contact the liquid drop contact face, and larger liquid drops are deflected a smaller distance to avoid contacting the liquid drop contact face and pass by the catcher to deposit onto the print media. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of printing an image of claim 15 wherein the deflection mechanism comprises a gas flow drop deflection mechanism. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of printing an image of claim 1, wherein the polymer additive comprises water-dispersible polymer particles. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of printing an image of claim 17, wherein the polymer additive comprises a dispersed polyurethane latex polymer. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of printing an image of claim 18, wherein the dispersed polyurethane latex polymer is present at 1 wt % or greater. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method of printing an image of claim 1, wherein the polymer additive comprises an acrylic polymer or copolymer.