Process of making aqueous pigmented ink-jet ink with improved machine runnability
AssigneeScitex Digital Printing, Inc.
InventorSharad R. Thakkar
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Abstract
An ink jet ink composition comprises a liquid vehicle, a pigment, and a base for raising the pH of the system. The problem to be addressed for pigmented inks is how to achieve excellent ink redispersibility within a short time period, usually within 1-2 minutes, without any mechanical agitation. With the present invention, dried ink redispersibility/charge plate deposit redispersibility of aqueous pigmented ink is improved by raising the pH of the ink, for example, between 9 and 12. The time required for dried ink redispersibility is then reduced from greater than 10 minutes to an acceptable 1-2 minutes. The present invention results in significant improvement in machine runnability and can, therefore, be used in ink jet printers.
Claims17
An ink jet ink composition for use in a continuous ink jet printing system comprising a liquid vehicle, a pigment, and a base for raising pH to redisperse dried ink film.
A method for formulating modified inks for continuous ink jet printers, the method comprising the steps of:
- mixing a polymeric surfactant, water, and a carbon dispersion to create a carbon dispersion mixture;
- mixing a base with the carbon dispersion mixture to create a base mixture;
- adding a conventional humectant to the base mixture to make an aqueous pigmented ink jet ink.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.