# US 5,700,313 A · Ink for ink jet printing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,700,313 A - Document ID: US5700313A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/742,262 - Filed: 1996-10-29 - Granted: 1997-12-23 - Earliest claimed: 1995-03-13 - Assignees: Markem Corporation - Inventors: Richard J. Larson, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5700313A ## CPC - B41M 3/00: Printing processes to produce particular kinds of printed work, e.g. patterns ({printing apparatus or machines of special type or for particular purposes B41F17/00;} special designs or pictures per se B44F; manufacturing printed circuits using printing techniques H05K3/12 {; manufacturing organic semiconductor devices using printing techniques H10K71/13}) - C09D 11/34: Hot-melt inks - B41M: PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING, (correction of typographical errors B41J; processes for applying transfer pictures or the like B44C1/16; fluid media for correction of typographical errors by coating C09D10/00; printing textiles D06P) - 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) ## Abstract A printing process includes printing a liquid ink onto a substrate surface. The ink includes a vehicle and a colorant dissolved in the ink. When the ink solidifies on the substrate the colorant, which is substantially insoluble in the solidified ink, migrates and locks to the surface to provide a substantially permanent readable color to the surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hot melt jet ink printing process, comprising ejecting a liquid ink onto a nonporous surface, said ink adsorbing onto said nonporous surface and solidifying as it cools, said ink comprising a non-polar vehicle and an oil-soluble dye that is substantially soluble in said vehicle when said ink is liquified but is substantially insoluble in said vehicle when said ink has solidified, said oil-soluble dye migrating and locking to said nonporous surface to provide a substantially permanent readable color to said nonporous surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The printing process of claim 1, wherein said surface comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyamide, nitrocellulose, polyester, ionomeric, ethylene vinyl acetate, polyvinyl acetate, polyurethane, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinylidene chloride/acrylonitrile, polystyrene, acrylate, polypropylene, or polyethylene, or mixtures thereof. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The printing process of claim 1, wherein said dye comprises an oil-soluble anthraquinone dye. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The printing process of claim 1, wherein said vehicle comprises a wax. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The printing process of claim 1, wherein said ink comprises an antioxidant. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The printing process of claim 1, wherein said ink melts at a temperature of at least 105.degree. C. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The printing process of claim 1, wherein said ink has a viscosity of at least 5 cps when liquified. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The printing process of claim 1, wherein said vehicle consists essentially of polyethylene. ### Claim 9 A hot melt ink composition that is solid at ambient temperature but melts at an elevated temperature, said hot melt ink composition being suitable for use in ink jet printing, said ink composition comprising a non-polar vehicle and an oil-soluble dye that is substantially soluble in said vehicle at said elevated condition but is relatively insoluble in said vehicle at ambient conditions, wherein said dye, if said ink composition is ejected as droplets onto a polypropylene film with a polyamide surface, migrates and locks to said polypropylene film with a polyamide surface to provide a substantially permanent readable color. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The hot melt ink composition of claim 9, wherein said dye comprises an oil-soluble anthraquininone dye. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The hot melt ink composition of claim 9, wherein said vehicle comprises a wax. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The hot melt ink composition of claim 9, wherein said hot melt ink composition melts at a temperature of at least 105.degree. C. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The hot melt ink composition of claim 9, wherein said vehicle consists essentially of polyethylene. ### Claim 14 A printing process, comprising printing a liquid ink onto a nonporous surface, said liquid ink adsorbing onto said nonporous surface, said ink comprising a non-polar vehicle and an oil-soluble anthraquinone dye, said dye being substantially dissolved in said liquid ink, and solidifying said ink on said nonporous surface, said dye being relatively insoluble in said solidified ink, said dye migrating and locking to said nonporous surface to provide a substantially permanent readable color. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The printing process of claim 14, wherein said surface comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyamide, nitrocellulose, polyester, ionomeric, ethylene vinyl acetate, polyvinyl acetate, polyurethane, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinylidene chloride/acrylonitrile, polystyrene, acrylate, polypropylene, or polyethylene, or mixtures thereof. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The printing process of claim 14, wherein said liquid ink is printed onto said surface using an ink jet printer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The printing process of claim 14, wherein said vehicle consists essentially of polyethylene. ### Claim 18 A method for marking coded characters on a surface of a packaging material used in packaging a product or onto a surface of a product, comprising printing a liquid ink onto said surface in the form of coded characters, said ink comprising a non-polar vehicle and an oil-soluble dye, said dye being substantially dissolved in said liquid ink, adsorbing and solidifying said ink on said surface, said dye being relatively insoluble in said solidified ink, said dye locking to said surface and providing a substantially permanent readable color corresponding to said coded characters on said surface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein said characters comprise a date. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein said characters comprise a manufacturing location. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein said characters provide a lot number. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein said characters comprise a graphic image. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein said characters comprise a product description. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein said packaging surface comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyamide, nitrocellulose, polyester, ionomeric, ethylene vinyl acetate, polyvinyl acetate, polyurethane, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinylidene chloride/acrylonitrile, polystyrene, acrylate, polypropylene, or polyethylene, or mixtures thereof. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein said product comprises a food product. ### Claim 26 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein said vehicle consists essentially of polyethylene.