Inkjet Printing Method Using Blue Ink to Stabilize Color Materials

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing inkjet printing methods for expressing blue colors using cyan and magenta inks suffer from insufficient weatherability, color developability, and bronze resistance, along with color unevenness due to aggregation issues and incorrect order of ink application on the printing medium.

Innovation Solution

An inkjet printing method and apparatus that uses a cyan ink with a phthalocyanine skeleton, a magenta ink with a xanthene skeleton compound, and a blue ink containing a water-soluble organic solvent with a specific Log P value, ensuring the blue ink's hue angle is between the cyan and magenta inks, to stabilize the color materials' positions and suppress color unevenness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If cyan ink and magenta ink are applied to express blue color, then color developability is improved, but weatherability and bronze resistance become insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor developabilityVSAvoidweatherability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the magenta ink by specifying a xanthene skeleton compound with particular molecular structure (formula 1) and controlling its concentration ratio relative to cyan ink. It also adjusts the solvent composition parameters (Log P value, water solubility) to optimize both color developability and weatherability simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite color material systems: cyan ink with phthalocyanine skeleton compound, magenta ink with xanthene skeleton compound, and blue ink with specific organic solvent composition. These composite material combinations achieve synergistic effects that improve both color developability and weatherability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Measurement precision

If cyan ink and magenta ink are overlaid to express blue color, then color developability is improved, but color unevenness occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor developabilityVSAvoidcolor uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies magenta ink first as a base layer, then overlays cyan ink and blue ink in specific sequences. This preliminary action of establishing the magenta layer first prevents color unevenness by controlling the layering order and ensuring proper positioning of color materials

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces blue ink with specific properties (Log P value between -1.10 to 1.50, water solubility of 10 g/L or more) to specific regions where color adjustment is needed. This local quality approach addresses color unevenness by selectively applying ink with tailored properties to specific areas

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Measurement precision

If magenta ink with xanthene skeleton is used to improve color developability, then color brightness is improved, but weatherability remains insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor developabilityVSAvoidweatherability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent specifies precise chemical parameters for the xanthene skeleton compound (formula 1) including molecular structure, concentration (0.1-5% by mass), and solvent compatibility. It also controls the Log P value and water solubility parameters to achieve both high color developability and improved weatherability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adjusts the concentration ratio of magenta ink to cyan ink within specific ranges (magenta: 0.5-2.0 parts, cyan: 1.0-2.0 parts) to optimize the balance between color developability and weatherability, preventing one property from improving while the other deteriorates

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If three types of inks are used to express blue color, then weatherability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveweatherabilityVSAvoidprinting system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the blue ink to serve multiple functions: it acts as a colorant, a positioning agent for color materials, and a weatherability enhancer. The specific solvent composition (Log P value and water solubility parameters) enables the blue ink to perform these multiple functions simultaneously, reducing the need for separate functional additives

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10851256B2Inkjet printing method and inkjet printing apparatus
Publication Date: 2020.12.01 CANON KK
  • US10851256B2 patent drawing
  • US10851256B2 patent drawing
  • US10851256B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An inkjet printing method for printing an image by using a cyan ink, a magenta ink, and a blue ink, including the step of applying the blue ink to a region provided with both the cyan ink and the magenta ink.