Eastman-kodak Company

The Procter Gamble Company

Douglas E Bugner

Peter S Alexandrovich

Allan Francis Sowinski

David Daniel Putnam

Lawrence P DeMejo

William Mey

Robert A Guistina

Barbara Boland Lussier

Domenic Santilli

Wayne Cook

James Hunter Anderson

Mark Edward Irving

Alexandra DiLauro Bermel

Todd Russell Griffin

Thomas Joseph Dannhauser

David Joseph Oldfield

Teh-Ming Kung

Lori J Shaw-Klein

William J Staudenmayer

Gregory E Missell

Jeanne Ellen Kaeding

Dennis R Kamp

Elizabeth McInerney

Brian L Lindstrom

Michael Joseph Piatt

James Alan Katerberg

Charles E Romano, Jr

Thomas W Martin

Louis J Sorriero

Thomas D Pawlik

Louis J Rossi

Terry Anthony Wozniak

David E Decker

Clarissa Maldonado

Alfred J Amell

Steven J Spinelli

Sharon R Girolmo

G Gary Fulmer

Sherry L Marlowe

David S Hays

Donald Saul Rimai

Charles Chester Anderson

Dinesh Tyagi

Xin Wen

John C Wilson

Hwei-Ling Yau

Dennis E Smith

Michel Frantz Molaire

Wayne Thomas Ferrar

John W May

Richard C Sutton

Rodney Ray Bucks

Ralph H Young

David Erdtmann

Michael R Detty

Borden H Mills

William A Light

Neil F Haley

William T Gruenbaum

Brian Gray Price

Hal E Wright

Richard C VanHanehem

Douglas Edward Garman

Paul E Woodgate

Steven M Bonser

Marie B O'Regan

James R Bennett

George P Kasper

Paul D VanderValk

William James Mueller

Mary A Krenceski

George G Fulmer

Hsin C Kan

Alfred John Amell

Kevin J Swallow

Lawrence P De Mejo

Audry A Malcolm

An aqueous composition can be used for pre-treating a substrate prior to inkjet printing to provide a white opaque background for inkjet-printed images. This aqueous composition includes: (a) one or more water-soluble salts of a multivalent metal cation at 5-30 weight %; (b) a nonionic or cationic water-soluble or water-dispersible polymeric binder material at 5-30 weight %; and (c) surface-treated visible light-scattering particles having a D(median) particle size of at least 0.04 &#x3bc;m and up to and including 2 &#x3bc;m in an amount of 5-60 weight % based on the total aqueous composition weight. The pre-treated substrate is useful as an inkjet receiving medium that can be readily inkjet-printed particularly with anionically-stabilized aqueous pigment-based inks.

Inkjet printed articles and method of making

An ink set has two or more aqueous pigment-based inks, each of which has 75-95 weight %, a) one or more pigment colorants, and b) one or more water-miscible humectants that are present in a total amount of at least 1 weight % and up to and including 20 weight %, and consist essentially of compounds, each of which has a carbon atom to oxygen atom ratio of at least 1.0:1.0 and only two hydroxy groups. The weight % amounts of water and the b) water-miscible humectants are based on the total weight of each aqueous pigment-based ink. The aqueous pigment-based inks in the ink set can be used individual or in combination to provide monochrome or polychrome inkjet-printed images on various ink-receptive media and using various inkjet printing equipment and methods.

Ink set for inkjet printing

A flexible inkjet-printed article is prepared by: A') providing an ink receptive medium having a substrate and an aqueous-based ink-receptive layer. This layer has: (a) a water-soluble salt of a multivalent metal cation; (b) one or both of a polyvinyl alcohol and a polyvinyl amine (or a copolymer derived from a vinyl alcohol and a vinyl amine) at 0.5-30 weight %; and optionally, (c) a crosslinking agent and (d) silica particles. At least one aqueous pigment-based ink is deposited directly on the aqueous-based ink-receptive layer, each having: a) an anionically-stabilized pigment colorant; and b) a water-miscible humectant at 1-20 weight %, each having a carbon to oxygen atom ratio of &#x2265;1.0:1.0 and only two hydroxy groups. After drying, a functional layer with adhesive composition is formed on the inkjet-printed image and a flexible material is laminated to the functional layer, to form a flexible inkjet printed article.

Method of preparing laminated article

Absorbent articles having components bearing graphics printed using particular inkjet ink compositions and fluid sets are disclosed. The aqueous inkjet ink compositions may include a composition consisting of one or more compounds represented by the following Structure I:HO&#x2014;CH2-CH2-R&#x2003;&#x2003; (I)wherein R may be a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted phenoxy group. Printed regions of components of the articles may bear deposits of dried ink including constituents of the disclosed compositions, that include the one or more Structure I compound(s). The presence of the Structure I compounds in the printed regions may have an effect of inhibiting bacterial growth thereon.

Absorbent article with graphics printed in preservative-free ink, and methods of manufacture thereof

Aqueous inkjet ink compositions are useful in inkjet printing processes and can be used individually or as part of an inkjet ink set. Each aqueous inkjet ink composition has a dynamic viscosity of 5 centipoise (5 mPa-sec) or less at 25&#xb0; C., and consists essentially of: (a) a polymer-dispersed pigment colorant at 0.9-6 weight %; (b) a composition consisting of compounds represented by the following Structure (I):HO&#x2014;CH&#x2014;CH&#x2014;R&#x2003;&#x2003; (I)wherein R is a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted phenoxy group, at 0.5-2 weight %; (c) a water-soluble humectant, co-solvent, or both, at than or equal to 20 weight %. Each polymer-dispersed pigment colorant has a 50percentile particle diameter of less than 70 nm and a 95percentile particle diameter of less than 150 nm, as measured using a dynamic light scattering particle size analyzer.

Aqueous inkjet ink and ink sets

Absorbent articles having components bearing graphics printed using particular inkjet ink compositions and fluid sets are disclosed. The aqueous inkjet ink compositions may have a dynamic viscosity &#x2264;5 centipoise (5 mPa-sec) at 25&#xb0; C., and include: (a) a polymer-dispersed pigment colorant at 0.9-6 weight %; (b) a composition consisting of one or more compounds represented by the following Structure (I):HO&#x2014;CH&#x2014;CH&#x2014;R&#x2003;&#x2003;(I)wherein R may be a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted phenoxy group, at 0.5-2 weight %; and (c) a water-soluble humectant, co-solvents, or both, at 20 weight %. Each colorant may have a 50th percentile particle diameter &#x2264;70 nm and a 95th percentile particle diameter &#x2264;150 nm. Replenishment or maintenance fluids containing a Structure (I) compound may also be used. Methods for printing using the aqueous inkjet ink compositions and the fluid sets are also disclosed.

Inkjet printing is carried out to provide monochrome or polychrome inkjet-printed images. An ink-receptive medium is provided with a substrate with an aqueous-based ink-receptive layer disposed thereon. The aqueous-based ink-receptive layer has: (a) one or more water-soluble salts of a multivalent metal cation in an amount of 0.6-49 weight %; (b) one or both of a polyvinyl alcohol and a polyvinyl amine (or a copolymer of a vinyl alcohol and vinyl amine) in a total amount of 0.5-30 weight %; and optionally, (c) a crosslinking agent and (d) silica particles. One or more aqueous pigment-based inks are inkjet printed onto this aqueous-based ink-receptive layer, each ink comprising: a) one or more anionically-stabilized pigment colorants; b) one or more water-miscible humectants that are present in a total amount of 1-20 weight % and each having a carbon atom to oxygen atom ratio of at least 1.0:1.0 and only two hydroxy groups.

Method for inkjet printing

An inkjet-printed article has an ink receptive medium with a substrate and an aqueous-based ink-receptive layer disposed thereon. The aqueous-based ink-receptive layer includes: (a) a water-soluble salt of a multivalent metal cation at 0.6-49 weight %; (b) one or both of a polyvinyl alcohol and a polyvinyl amine (or a copolymer derived from a vinyl alcohol and a vinyl amine) at 0.5-30 weight %; and optionally, (c) a crosslinking agent or (d) silica particles. The article also has an inkjet-printed image disposed on the aqueous-based ink-receptive layer, provided from one or more aqueous pigment-based inks, each of which has a) an anionically-stabilized pigment colorant; b) one or more water-miscible humectants at a total amount of 1-20 weight %, each of which has a carbon atom to oxygen atom ratio of at least 1.0:1.0 and only two hydroxy groups.

Article prepared by inkjet printing

A flexible inkjet printed article includes an ink receptive medium comprising a substrate and an aqueous-based ink-receptive layer. The aqueous-based ink-receptive layer has: (a) a water-soluble salt of a multivalent metal cation; (b) one or more of a polyvinyl alcohol and a polyvinyl amine (or a copolymer derived from a vinyl alcohol and a vinyl amine) at 0.5-30 weight %; and optionally, (c) a crosslinking agent or (d) silica particles. An inkjet-printed image is disposed on the ink-receptive layer, provided from one or more aqueous pigment-based inks, each having: a) one or more anionically-stabilized pigment colorants; b) one or more water-miscible humectants at 1-20 weight %, each of which has a carbon atom to oxygen atom ratio of at least 1.0:1.0 and only two hydroxy groups. A functional layer comprising an adhesive composition disposed on the inkjet-printed image; and a flexible polymeric film or paper adhered to the functional layer.

Laminated article

Substrates can be inkjet printed using an aqueous inkjet ink composition having a dynamic viscosity of 5 centipoise (5 mPa-sec) or less at 25&#xb0; C., and consisting essentially of: (a) a polymer-dispersed pigment colorant at 0.9-6 weight %; (b) a composition consisting of one or more compounds represented by the following Structure (I):HO&#x2014;CH&#x2014;CH&#x2014;R&#x2003;&#x2003;(I)wherein R is a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted phenoxy group, at 0.5-2 weight %; and (c) a water-soluble humectant, co-solvents, or both, at 20 weight %. Each polymer-dispersed pigment colorant has a 50percentile particle diameter of less than 70 nm and a 95percentile particle diameter of less than 150 nm, measured using a dynamic light scattering particle size analyzer. Replenishment or maintenance fluids containing a Structure (I) compound can also be used during the inkjet printing process.

Methods of inkjet printing

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a multi-layered structure includes:

Multilayered structure with water-impermeable substrate

A method for printing an image with authentication features, including: printing a media treatment material onto a print medium in accordance with a pattern of predefined authentication features, and printing one or more visible printing materials onto the print medium in accordance with an image pattern, thereby providing a printed visible image. The media treatment material alters an interaction between the visible printing materials and the print medium so that characteristics of the interaction, such as printing material penetration characteristics, are different in image regions where the media treatment material was printed than in image regions where the media treatment material was not printed. The difference in the characteristics of the interaction between the one or more visible printing materials and the print medium causes the pattern of authentication features to be detectable.

Image authentication using material penetration characteristics

A method for improving durability of aqueous ink deposited on a substrate having multivalent metal salt present at the surface of the substrate is disclosed. The method includes depositing aqueous ink on the surface of the substrate, wherein the aqueous ink is an anionically stabilized pigment ink, drying the substrate to substantially remove the water from the deposited aqueous ink, applying substantially pure water and heat to the dried substrate with deposited aqueous ink, and removing the applied water and heat to return the dried substrate to an ambient temperature and moisture content. The applied substantially pure water and heat are sufficient to cause a significant improvement of the durability of the deposited ink on the substrate.

Aqueous ink durability deposited on substrate

A method for printing an image with authentication features, including: printing a media treatment material onto a print medium in accordance with a pattern of predefined authentication features, and printing one or more visible printing materials onto the print medium in accordance with an image pattern, thereby providing a printed visible image. The media treatment material alters lateral spreading characteristics of the visible printing materials within the print medium, so that the lateral spreading characteristics are different in image regions where the media treatment material was printed than in image regions where the media treatment material was not printed. The difference in the lateral spreading characteristics causes the pattern of authentication features to be detectable.

Image authentication using lateral spreading characteristics

A method of printing with water-based inkjet inks on a water-impermeable, low-surface-energy substrate, includes:

Printing on water-impermeable substrates with water-based inks

Growing community of inventors

Rochester, NY, United States of America

Douglas E Bugner