Patent · US Active

Method and apparatus for controlling lightness in colored inkjet inks by means of a transparent white ink composition

US9228104B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
3References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 2, 2012
Grant dateJan 5, 2016
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 17, 2033

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC09D11/322
  • WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A transparent white ink composition is formulated to brighten, lighten and or dilute full-tone primary inkjet colors: cyan; magenta; yellow and black, eliminating the need for ‘light ink’ primary color inks. The transparent white ink is jetted concurrently with reduced amounts of full-tone inks in lighter tonal areas conventionally supported by ‘light ink’ primary inks. Printing ‘light ink’ primary colors using a transparent white ink composition may reduce the number of print channels needed to print all four primary colors and the four ‘light ink’ primary colors. Embodiments of the transparent white ink composition may be solvent- or water-based, drying by evaporation of the carrier fluid. Other embodiments may be radiation-curable ink compositions. An inkjet printer includes print carriage and print head assemblies configured for jetting a primary color ink and the transparent white ink in the same pass in correct proportions to achieve a desired effect.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.