# US 9,039,135 B2 · Liquid absorbent and printer

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- Number: US 9,039,135 B2
- Document ID: US9039135B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/960,918
- Filed: 2013-08-07
- Published: 2014-02-27
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2012-08-22
- Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation
- Applicants: Seiko Epson Corporation
- Inventors: Ken Kaneko
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039135B2

## CPC

- B01J 20/262: {obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon to carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. obtained by polycondensation (macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving unsaturated carbon-to-carbon bonds per se C08G)}
- B41J 2/16523: {Waste ink transport from caps or spittoons, e.g. by suction (Collecting or collectors of waste ink B41J2/1721)}
- C08L 1/02: Cellulose; Modified cellulose
- C08L 23/02: not modified by chemical after-treatment
- C08L 23/06: Polyethylene
- C08L 67/00: Compositions of polyesters obtained by reactions forming a carboxylic ester link in the main chain (of polyester-amides C08L77/12; of polyester-imides C08L79/08); Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
- C08L 75/04: Polyurethanes
- C08L 77/00: Compositions of polyamides obtained by reactions forming a carboxylic amide link in the main chain (of polyhydrazides C08L79/06; of polyamideimides or polyamide acids C08L79/08); Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
- C08L 101/00: Compositions of unspecified macromolecular compounds
- C08K 3/016: Flame-proofing or flame-retarding additives
- C08K 5/0066: {Flame-proofing or flame-retarding additives}
- C08L 2205/16: Fibres; Fibrils
- B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06)
- C08K: Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients (paints, inks, varnishes, dyes, polishes, adhesives C09)

## Abstract

A liquid absorbent for ink contains a cellulose fiber, a heat-fusible material, and a flame-retardant material. The absorbent satisfies the relation σ1−σ0≦500, where σ0 [μS/cm] is the electric conductivity of the ink and σ1 [μS/cm] is that of a mixture of 5 g of the ink and 1 g of the flame-retardant material.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An ink jet printer comprising:
a print head that prints on a paper using an ink; and
an ink absorbent that absorbs the ink, the ink having an ink conductivity of σ0 [μS/cm],
wherein the ink absorbent comprises a cellulose fiber, a heat-fusible material, and a flame-retardant material; and
the flame-retardant material satisfies a relation of σ1−σ0≦500, where σ1 [μS/cm] is an electric conductivity of a mixture of 5 g of the ink and 1 g of the flame-retardant material.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the liquid absorbent is used to absorb a pigment ink in which pigment particles are dispersed.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the flame-retardant material contains one or two or more selected from the group consisting of melamine polyphosphate, ammonium phosphate, aluminum hydroxide, and phosphazenes.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the cellulose fiber contains a cellulose fiber recycled from waste paper.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the heat-fusible material contains one or two or more selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyolefins, polyamides, and polyurethanes.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the flame-retardant material constitutes 5% by mass to 30% by mass, both inclusive, of the liquid absorbent.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the cellulose fiber constitutes 30% by mass to 90% by mass, both inclusive, of the liquid absorbent.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the heat-fusible material 5% by mass to 40% by mass, both inclusive, of the liquid absorbent.

### Claim 9

An ink jet printer comprising:
an ink cartridge; and
an ink absorbent positioned within the cartridge for absorbing a waste ink, the waste ink having an ink conductivity of σ0 [μS/cm],
wherein the ink absorbent comprises a cellulose fiber, a heat-fusible material, and a flame-retardant material; and
the flame-retardant material satisfies a relation of σ1−σ0≦500, where σ1 [μS/cm] is an electric conductivity of a mixture of 5 g of the waste ink and 1 g of the flame-retardant material.