US4166044A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Binderless thermotropic jet ink
Assignee: Primerica Inc
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Filing: 1978-05-30
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Granted: 1979-08-28
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Expires: 1998-05-30
Abstract
Abstract Binderless ink compositions suitable for use in jet printing operations on polymeric resin surfaces to form images which are highly resistant to abrasion and to steam pasteurization or sterilization conditions by penetration of the colorant into the sub-surface structure of the resin, are provided. The ink compositions are thermotropic, i.e. they change color in the presence of water or steam at elevated temperature and are useful as sterilization or pasteurization indicators. The preferred inks comprise either (1) a colorant which reacts under the sterilization conditions or (2) a combination of colorants one of which is extractible under sterilization conditions; a water and alcohol solvent system; a surfactant; an aliphatic or cyclic ketone, aldehyde, acetal, ether or ester and, optionally, an aliphatic hydrocarbon of 8-12 carbons.
Inventors
- 👤 Raymond L. Germonprez
- 👤 Paul Zimmerman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:08
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09D; C09D11/00; C09D11/50; C09D11/30; C09D11/36; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S252/00; Y10S252/962; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/913
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
A binderless ink composition, suitable for use in ink jet printing operations and capable of bonding to synthetic polymeric resin surfaces by softening and swelling the surface layers of the polymeric resin to allow penetration of the ink, which comprises a solution of: (1) a colorant selected from the group consisting of (a) a reactive thermotropic dye capable of exhibiting a visible color change upon exposure to steam at a temperature of at least about 215° F. and (b) a combination of dyes of different color capable of exhibiting a visible color change upon exposure to water or steam at a temperature of at least about 120° F.; (2) a solvent consisting essentially of from about 10 to about 35 percent of water, from about 6 to about 25 percent of an aliphatic alcohol having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or mixtures thereof and from about 25 to about 75 percent of an organic compound selected from the group consisting of aliphatic and cyclic ketones, amides, acetals, ethers and esters; (3) from about 8 to about 17 percent of a surfactant and (4) from about 0 to about 10 percent of an aliphatic hydrocarbon having from 8 to 12 carbon atoms, the total percentage of the components amounting to 100%.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
210 words
A binderless ink composition, suitable for use in ink jet printing operations and capable of bonding to synthetic polymeric resin surfaces by softening and swelling the surface layers of the polymeric resin to allow penetration of the ink, which comprises a solution of: (1) a colorant selected from the group consisting of (a) a reactive thermotropic dye capable of exhibiting a visible color change upon exposure to steam at a temperature of at least about 215° F. and (b) a combination of dyes of different color capable of exhibiting a visible color change upon exposure to water or steam at a temperature of at least about 120° F.; (2) a solvent consisting essentially of from about 10 to about 35 percent of water, from about 6 to about 25 percent of an aliphatic alcohol having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or mixtures thereof and from about 25 to about 75 percent of an organic compound selected from the group consisting of aliphatic and cyclic ketones, amides, acetals, ethers and esters; (3) from about 8 to about 17 percent of a surfactant and (4) from about 0 to about 10 percent of an aliphatic hydrocarbon having from 8 to 12 carbon atoms, the total percentage of the components amounting to 100%.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
An ink composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein said colorant is a reactive thermotropic dye.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
An ink composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein said colorant is a combination of dyes of different color.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
An ink composition as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein said organic compound is 2-heptanone, said aliphatic alcohol is methanol or mixture thereof with ethanol, said surfactant is sodium lauryl sulfate and said aliphatic hydrocarbon is 1-decene.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
An ink composition as claimed in claim 4, wherein said thermotropic dye is a phenazine dye.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
An ink composition as claimed in claim 4, wherein said combination of dyes is an extractible/nonextractible dye pair.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
81 words
A binderless ink composition, suitable for use in ink jet printing operations and capable of bonding to synthetic polymeric resin surfaces by softening and swelling the surface layers of the polymeric resin to allow penetration of the ink which comprises a solution of 1% of a reaction pehenazine dye capable of exhibiting a color change upon exposure to steam at a temperature of at least about 215° F., 57% 2-heptanone, 12% methanol, 3% 1-decene, 13% sodium lauryl sulfate, and 14% water.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
81 words
A binderless ink composition, suitable for use in ink jet printing operations and capable of bonding to synthetic polymeric resin surfaces by softening and swelling the surface layers of the polymeric resin to allow penetration of the ink which comprises a solution of 1% of a reaction pehenazine dye capable of exhibiting a color change upon exposure to steam at a temperature of at least about 215° F., 57% 2-heptanone, 12% methanol, 3% 1-decene, 13% sodium lauryl sulfate, and 14% water.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
An ink composition as claimed in claim 7 wherein said dye is Janus Blue.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
85 words
A binderless ink composition, suitable for use in ink jet printing operations and capable of bonding to synthetic polymeric resin surfaces by softening and swelling the surface layers of the polymeric resin to allow penetration of the ink which comprises a solution of 1% of a combination of dyes of different color of which one is extractible upon exposure to water or steam at a temperature of at least about 120° F., 57% 2-heptanone, 12% methanol, 3% 1-decene, 13% sodium lauryl sulfate and 14% water.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
85 words
A binderless ink composition, suitable for use in ink jet printing operations and capable of bonding to synthetic polymeric resin surfaces by softening and swelling the surface layers of the polymeric resin to allow penetration of the ink which comprises a solution of 1% of a combination of dyes of different color of which one is extractible upon exposure to water or steam at a temperature of at least about 120° F., 57% 2-heptanone, 12% methanol, 3% 1-decene, 13% sodium lauryl sulfate and 14% water.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
An ink composition as claimed in claim 9 wherein said dye combination is 0.6% Victoria Blue and 0.4% Palacet Yellow.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
218 words
A method of indicating sterilization of articles having synthetic polymeric resin surfaces which comprises applying markings to a surface of said article using a binderless ink composition comprising a solution of: (1) a colorant selected from the group consisting of (a) a reactive thermotropic dye capable of exhibiting a visible color change upon exposure to steam at a temperature of at least about 215° F. and (b) a combination of dyes of different color capable of exhibiting a visible color change upon exposure to water or steam at a temperature of at least about 120° F.; (2) a solvent consisting essentially of from about 10 to about 35 percent of water, from about 6 to about 25 percent of an aliphatic alcohol having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or mixtures thereof and from about 25 to about 75 percent of an organic compound selected from the group consisting of aliphatic and cyclic ketones, amides, acetals, ethers and esters; (3) from about 8 to about 17 percent of a surfactant; (4) from about 0 to about 10 percent of an aliphatic hydrocarbon having 8 to 12 carbon atoms; the total components amounting to 100%, and exposing the marked articles to water or steam at sufficient temperature for a sufficient time to effect a visible color change in said markings.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
218 words
A method of indicating sterilization of articles having synthetic polymeric resin surfaces which comprises applying markings to a surface of said article using a binderless ink composition comprising a solution of: (1) a colorant selected from the group consisting of (a) a reactive thermotropic dye capable of exhibiting a visible color change upon exposure to steam at a temperature of at least about 215° F. and (b) a combination of dyes of different color capable of exhibiting a visible color change upon exposure to water or steam at a temperature of at least about 120° F.; (2) a solvent consisting essentially of from about 10 to about 35 percent of water, from about 6 to about 25 percent of an aliphatic alcohol having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or mixtures thereof and from about 25 to about 75 percent of an organic compound selected from the group consisting of aliphatic and cyclic ketones, amides, acetals, ethers and esters; (3) from about 8 to about 17 percent of a surfactant; (4) from about 0 to about 10 percent of an aliphatic hydrocarbon having 8 to 12 carbon atoms; the total components amounting to 100%, and exposing the marked articles to water or steam at sufficient temperature for a sufficient time to effect a visible color change in said markings.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said articles are polymeric resin coated metal containers.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
37 words
A method as claimed in claims 11 or 12 wherein said organic compound is 1-heptanone, said aliphatic alcohol is methanol, or mixture thereof with ethanol, said surfactant is sodium lauryl sulfate and said aliphatic hydrocarbon is 1-decene.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claims 11, 12 or 13 wherein said markings are applied by jet ink printing of said ink composition.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
190 words
A method of indicating steam sterilization of articles having polymeric resin surfaces which comprises: applying ink jet printed markings to at least one surface of said article employing a binderless ink composition which swells and softens the polymeric resin to allow penetration of the ink, said ink composition comprising a solution of (1) a reactive phenazine dye, (2) a solvent consisting essentially of from about 10 to about 25 percent of water, from about 6 to about 25 percent of an aliphatic alcohol having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or mixtures thereof and from about 25 to about 75 percent of an organic compound selected from the group consisting of 2-butanone, 2-pentanone, 2-hexanone, 2-octanone, 2,4-pentandione, furan, dioxane, ethyl acetate, propyl acetate, butyl acetate, diemthyl acetamide, and mixtures thereof: (3) from about 8 to about 17 percent of a surfactant and (4) from about 0 to about 10 percent of an aliphatic hydrocarbon having from 8 to 12 carbon atoms; and exposing the marked articles to steam at a temperature of at least about 215° F. for a period of time sufficient to effect a visible color change in said markings.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
190 words
A method of indicating steam sterilization of articles having polymeric resin surfaces which comprises: applying ink jet printed markings to at least one surface of said article employing a binderless ink composition which swells and softens the polymeric resin to allow penetration of the ink, said ink composition comprising a solution of (1) a reactive phenazine dye, (2) a solvent consisting essentially of from about 10 to about 25 percent of water, from about 6 to about 25 percent of an aliphatic alcohol having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or mixtures thereof and from about 25 to about 75 percent of an organic compound selected from the group consisting of 2-butanone, 2-pentanone, 2-hexanone, 2-octanone, 2,4-pentandione, furan, dioxane, ethyl acetate, propyl acetate, butyl acetate, diemthyl acetamide, and mixtures thereof: (3) from about 8 to about 17 percent of a surfactant and (4) from about 0 to about 10 percent of an aliphatic hydrocarbon having from 8 to 12 carbon atoms; and exposing the marked articles to steam at a temperature of at least about 215° F. for a period of time sufficient to effect a visible color change in said markings.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as defined in claim 15 wherein said ink composition comprises 1% Janus Blue, 57% 2-heptanone, 12% methanol, 3% 1-decene, 13% sodium lauryl sulfate and 14% water.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
203 words
A method of indicating sterilization of articles having polymeric resin surfaces which comprises: applying ink jet printed markings to at least one surface of said article employing a binderless ink composition which swells and softens the polymeric resin to allow penetration of the ink, said ink composition comprising a solution of (1) a pair of extractible/non-extractible dyes of different color; (2) a solvent consisting essentially of from about 10 to about 25 percent of water, from about 6 to about 25 percent of an aliphatic alcohol having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or mixtures thereof and from about 25 to about 75 percent of an organic compound selected from the group consisting of 2-butanone, 2-pentanone, 2-hexanone, 2-octanone, 2,4-pentandione, furan, dioxane, ethyl acetate, propyl acetate, butyl acetate, dimethyl acetamide, and mixtures thereof; (3) from about 8 to about 17 percent of a surfactant and (4) from about 0 to about 10 percent of an aliphatic hydrocarbon having from 8 to 12 carbon atoms; and exposing the marked articles to water at a temperature of at least about 120° F. for a period of time sufficient to extract said extractible dye from said printed markings and thereby effect a visible color change in said markings.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
203 words
A method of indicating sterilization of articles having polymeric resin surfaces which comprises: applying ink jet printed markings to at least one surface of said article employing a binderless ink composition which swells and softens the polymeric resin to allow penetration of the ink, said ink composition comprising a solution of (1) a pair of extractible/non-extractible dyes of different color; (2) a solvent consisting essentially of from about 10 to about 25 percent of water, from about 6 to about 25 percent of an aliphatic alcohol having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or mixtures thereof and from about 25 to about 75 percent of an organic compound selected from the group consisting of 2-butanone, 2-pentanone, 2-hexanone, 2-octanone, 2,4-pentandione, furan, dioxane, ethyl acetate, propyl acetate, butyl acetate, dimethyl acetamide, and mixtures thereof; (3) from about 8 to about 17 percent of a surfactant and (4) from about 0 to about 10 percent of an aliphatic hydrocarbon having from 8 to 12 carbon atoms; and exposing the marked articles to water at a temperature of at least about 120° F. for a period of time sufficient to extract said extractible dye from said printed markings and thereby effect a visible color change in said markings.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as defined in claim 17 wherein said ink comprises 0.6% Victoria Blue, 0.4% Palacet Yellow, 57% 2-heptanone, 12% methanol, 3% 1-decene, 13% sodium lauryl sulfate and 14% water.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
19 words
A method as claimed in claims 11, 15, or 17 wherein said articles are polymeric resin coated metal containers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-08-27 | 1983-02-26 | 1983-08-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-08-27 | 1987-02-26 | 1987-08-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-08-27 | 1991-02-26 | 1991-08-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |