Ink containing blue, red or yellow dyes, ink-jet recording method using the ink, and recording unit and apparatus using the ink

An ink jet recording method for performing recording on a recording medium by ejecting a droplet of an ink from an orifice in response to a recording signal, wherein said ink includes an ink containing dyes and a liquid medium for dissolving or dispersing the dyes, said dyes including a first dye selected from the group consisting of C.I. Direct Blue #199 and C.I. Acid Blue #9 and a second dye selected from the group consisting of C.I. Acid Red #52 and the compounds represented by general formula (1):

• ##STR6## where Y is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, a methoxy group, an acetylamino group, and a nitro group, and Y may form a benzene ring together with the carbon atom at the 3 position of the benzene ring B;
• X is selected from the group consisting of an acetyl group, a benzoyl group, a p-toluenesulfonyl group, and 4-chloro-6-hydroxy-1,3,5-triazine-2-yl group;
• and M.sup.1, M.sup.2 and M.sup.3 are bases each selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and ammonium;
• wherein the ratio by weight of the first dye to the second dye is within a range of 5:1 to 2:1.

A recording unit comprising an ink container for containing an ink, and a head portion for ejecting the ink as a droplet, wherein said ink includes an ink containing dyes and a liquid medium for dissolving or dispersing the dyes, said dyes including a first dye selected from the group consisting of C.I. Direct Blue #199 and C.I. Acid Blue #9 and a second dye selected from the group consisting of C.I. Acid Red #52 and the compounds represented by general formula (1):

• ##STR7## where Y is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, a methoxy group, an acetylamino group, and a nitro group, and Y may form a benzene ring together with the carbon atom at the 3 position of the benzene ring B;
• X is selected from the group consisting of an acetyl group, a benzoyl group, a p-toluenesulfonyl group, and 4-chloro-6-hydroxy-1,3,5-triazine-2-yl group;
• and M.sup.1, M.sup.2 and M.sup.3 are bases each selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and ammonium;
• wherein the ratio by weight of the first dye to the second dye is within a range of 5:1 to 2:1.

An ink jet recording apparatus comprising a recording unit including an ink container for containing an ink, and a head portion for ejecting the ink as a droplet, wherein said ink includes an ink containing dyes and a liquid medium for dissolving or dispersing the dyes, said dyes including a first dye selected from the group consisting of C.I. Direct Blue #199 and C.I. Acid Blue #9 and a second dye selected from the group consisting of C.I. Acid Red #52 and the compounds represented by general formula (1):

• ##STR8## where Y is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, a methoxy group, an acetylamino group, and a nitro group, and Y may form a benzene ring together with the carbon atom at the 3 position of the benzene ring B;
• X is selected from the group consisting of an acetyl group, a benzoyl group, a p-toluenesulfonyl group, and 4-chloro-6-hydroxy-1,3,5-triazine-2-yl group;
• and M.sup.1, M.sup.2 and M.sup.3 are bases each selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and ammonium;
• wherein the ratio by weight of the first dye to the second dye is within a range of 5:1 to 2:1.