Patents by Inventor Kazuhiko Kitamura

Kazuhiko Kitamura has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20080022895
    Abstract: Problem to be Solved: To provide an ink composition capable of giving printed matter excellent in gas fastness and light fastness and free from generation of a bronzing phenomenon, an inkjet recording method using the ink composition, and recorded matter which is recorded by the recording method. Means to Solve the Problem: An ink composition comprising at least water, a cyan dye represented by the formula shown below and an aromatic compound having a carboxyl group and/or a salt thereof; an inkjet recording method using the composition; and recorded matter which is recorded by the recording method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Oki, Kazuhiko Kitamura, Hiroko Hayashi, Keiichi Tateishi, Shigeaki Tanaka, Yoshiharu Yabuki
  • Patent number: 7323045
    Abstract: Objects of the present invention are to provide a magenta ink composition having good light-fastness and gas resistance, and excellent moisture resistance and clogging resistance, and to provide a magenta ink composition having excellent colorability in addition to these characteristics. The present invention provides a magenta ink composition containing, as colorants, at least one selected from compounds represented by undermentioned formula (1) and salts thereof, and at least one selected from compounds represented by undermentioned formula (2) and salts thereof. Moreover, the present invention also provides a magenta ink composition containing, as colorants, the above and in addition at least one selected from compounds represented by undermentioned formula (3). (Definitions of the symbols in the formulae are as in the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Hanmura, Kazuhiko Kitamura
  • Patent number: 7303616
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink composition using a metal phthalocyanine type cyan dye, according to which the indoor storability (gas resistance) of images created using the ink composition can be improved. The present invention provides an ink composition containing water, metal phthalocyanine type cyan dye, and aromatic compound having a sulfo group and/or salt thereof represented by undermentioned general formula (1) and/or (2). Moreover, the present invention provides an ink jet recording method comprising carrying out recording by discharging droplets of an ink composition and attaching the droplets to a recording medium, wherein the ink jet recording method uses an ink composition as described above as the ink composition. Furthermore, the present invention provides a recorded article characterized by being obtained by recording using an ink composition as described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Oki, Kazuhiko Kitamura, Hiroko Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20070263055
    Abstract: A magenta ink composition used as a colorant, containing at least one type of compound represented by Formula (I) below and at least one type of compound represented by Formula (II) below: (wherein A represents the residue of the five member heterocyclic diazo moiety A-NH2; B1 and B2 represent —CR1? and —CR2?, or one represents a nitrogen atom, and the other represents —CR1? or —CR2?; R5 and R6 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, aliphatic group, aromatic group, heterocyclic group, acyl group, alkoxy carbonyl group, aryloxy carbonyl group, carbamoyl group, alkyl sulfonyl group, aryl sulfonyl group, or sulfamoyl group, each group therein being optionally substituted; G, R1 and R2 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, aliphatic group, aromatic group, heterocyclic group, cyano group, carboxyl group, carbamoyl group, alkoxycarbonyl group, aryloxy carbonyl group, acyl group, hydroxyl group, alkoxy group, aryloxy group, silyloxy group, acyloxy group, carbamoyloxy group, hetero
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Inventors: KAZUHIKO KITAMURA, Hiroshi Fukumoto, Akihito Sao
  • Publication number: 20070263058
    Abstract: An ink composition comprising: a betaine-based surfactant represented by the following general formula (1), a defoaming agent in the form of a glycol ether represented by the following general formula (2), and/or a glycol ether represented by the following general formula (3): (R)p—N-[L-(COOM)q]r ??Formula (1) (wherein, R represents a hydrogen atom, alkyl group, aryl group or heterocyclic group, L represents a divalent or more linking group, M represents a hydrogen atom, alkaline metal atom, ammonium group, protonated organic amino or nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group or quaternary ammonium ion group, or represents a group that does not exist as a cation in the case of being a counter ion of an ammonium ion formed by an N atom in formula (1), q represents an integer of 1 or more, r represents an integer of 1 to 4, p represents an integer of 0 to 4, p+r is 3 or 4, N is a nitrogen atom that composes a quaternary amine in the case p+r is 4, R may be the same or different when p is 2 or more, COOM may be
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Inventors: Akihito Sao, Hidefumi Maruyama, Kazuhiko Kitamura
  • Publication number: 20070265376
    Abstract: An ink composition comprising: a betaine-based surfactant represented by the following general formula (1) and a linear saturated aliphatic alcohol having a hydroxyl value of 1 to 2 and 4 to 6 carbon atoms: [C 1] (R)p—N-[L-(COOM)q]r??Formula (1) (wherein, R represents a hydrogen atom, alkyl group, aryl group or heterocyclic group, L represents a divalent or more linking group, M represents a hydrogen atom, alkaline metal atom, ammonium group, protonated organic amine or nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group or quaternary ammonium ion group, or represents a group that does not exist as a cation in the case of being a counter ion of an ammonium ion formed of an N atom in formula (1), q represents an integer of 1 or more, r represents an integer of 1 to 4, p represents an integer of 0 to 4, p+r is 3 or 4, N is a nitrogen atom that composes a quaternary amine in the case p+r is 4, R may be the same or different when p is 2 or more, COOM may be the same or different when q is 2 or more, and L-(COOM)q may be th
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Inventors: Akihito Sao, Hidefumi Maruyama, Kazuhiko Kitamura
  • Publication number: 20070261597
    Abstract: An ink composition including: a colorant, a betaine-based surfactant represented by the following formula (1) and a defoaming agent: (R)p-N-[L-(COOM)q]r??(Formula 1) (wherein, R represents a hydrogen atom, alkyl group, aryl group or heterocyclic group, L represents a divalent or more linking group, M represents a hydrogen atom, alkaline metal atom, ammonium group, protonated organic amine or nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group or quaternary ammonium ion group, or represents a group that does not exist as a cation in the case of being a counter ion of an ammonium ion comprising an N atom in formula (1), q represents an integer of 1 or more, r represents an integer of 1 to 4, p represents an integer of 0 to 4, p+r is 3 or 4, N is a nitrogen atom that composes a quaternary amine in the case where p+r is 4, R may be the same or different when p is 2 or more, COOM may be the same or different when q is 2 or more, and L-(COOM)q may be the same or different when r is 2 or more).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Inventors: Akihito Sao, Hiroshi Fukumoto, Kazuhiko Kitamura
  • Publication number: 20070263056
    Abstract: A black ink composition comprising a colorant represented by Formula 1 below same as claim 1 and a colorant represented by Formula 2 below same as claim 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Inventors: HIROSHI FUKUMOTO, Kazuhiko Kitamura
  • Patent number: 7279034
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink composition with which the indoor storage stability (gas resistance) of an image produced with an ink composition featuring a phthalocyanine-based cyan dye can be increased without causing any additive precipitation or bronzing. The present invention provides an ink composition containing at least water, a phthalocyanine-based cyan dye, and a lithium salt of an aromatic compound having a sulfo group and expressed by General Formulas 1 and/or 2 in the claims. The present invention also provides an ink composition containing at least water, a phthalocyanine-based cyan dye, and a lithium salt of an aromatic compound having a sulfo group and expressed by General Formulas 5 and/or 6 in the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Oki, Kazuhiko Kitamura
  • Patent number: 7276111
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an ink composition that can improve the preservation characteristics (gas fastness) of an image produced by an ink composition which uses phthalocyanine group cyan dye. The present invention provides an ink composition wherein at least water, the phthalocyanine group cyan dye indicated by the general formula (I), and an aromatic compound having a sulfone group and/or the salt thereof represented by the general formulae (a) and/or (b) are contained; and an ink composition wherein at least water, the phthalocyanine group cyan dye indicated by the general formula (VIII), and an aromatic compound having a sulfone group and/or the salt thereof represented by the general formulae (a) and/or (b) are contained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Oki, Kazuhiko Kitamura
  • Patent number: 7265164
    Abstract: An ink composition for ink jet recording is provided which can realize both good waterfastness of prints and high-quality recorded images on specialty recording media. The ink composition comprises a water-soluble colorant, such as an acid dye, a cationic water-soluble polymer, such as polyallylamine, and an inorganic salt, such as potassium chloride, in combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hidehiko Komatsu, Kazuhiko Kitamura, Hitoshi Ohta
  • Publication number: 20070146453
    Abstract: Problem to be Solved: To provide an ink composition having high reliability in terms of clogging or the like and compatibly having all of light fastness, gas fastness and moisture resistance. Means to Solve the Problem: An ink composition comprising at least water, at least one member selected from a compound represented by formula (1) shown below and a salt thereof, and at least one member selected from an aromatic compound having a carboxyl group and a salt thereof: Formula (1): In formula (1), A represents a residue of a 5-membered heterocyclic diazo component A-NH2; B1 and B2 each represents —CR1? or —CR2?, or either one of B1 and B2 represents a nitrogen atom and the other represents —CR1? or —CR2?; R5 and R6 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, an aliphatic group, an aromatic group, a heterocyclic group or the like; and G, R1 and R2 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an aliphatic group, an aromatic group, a heterocyclic group or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Inventors: Masahiro Hanmura, Kazuhiko Kitamura, Hiroshi Fukumoto, Toshiko Fujiwara, Yoshiharu Yabuki
  • Patent number: 7211132
    Abstract: To provide an ink set capable of recording images with good ozone fastness on a recording medium, an ink set of the present invention comprises at least a yellow ink composition, a magenta ink composition, and a cyan ink composition. The cyan ink composition contains at least one of the compounds expressed by formula (1) below as a cyan dye: and the magenta ink composition contains, as a colorant, at least one substance selected from the group consisting of compounds expressed by formula (2) below: and salts thereof (in formula (2), A represents an alkylene group, an alkylene group containing a phenylene group, or a group expressed by formula (3) below: and X represents a group selected from the group consisting of NH2, OH, and Cl).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Oki, Kazuhiko Kitamura, Tetsuya Aoyama, Masahiro Hanmura, Hiroshi Fukumoto
  • Publication number: 20060203059
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink composition with which the indoor storage stability (gas resistance) of an image produced with an ink composition featuring a phthalocyanine-based cyan dye can be increased without causing any additive precipitation or bronzing. The present invention provides an ink composition containing at least water, a phthalocyanine-based cyan dye, and a lithium salt of an aromatic compound having a sulfo group and expressed by General Formulas 1 and/or 2 in the claims. The present invention also provides an ink composition containing at least water, a phthalocyanine-based cyan dye, and a lithium salt of an aromatic compound having a sulfo group and expressed by General Formulas 5 and/or 6 in the claims.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Oki, Kazuhiko Kitamura
  • Patent number: 7094279
    Abstract: The present invention provides a black water-based ink composition that has excellent resistance to light and ozone, has an excellent hue as a black ink, and also has excellent storage stability. A black water-based ink composition is prepared by combining at least one type of black dye selected from the group consisting of compounds expressed by the following formula (1) and salts thereof: and at least one type of dye other than a black dye, and the hue is adjusted by adding the dye other than a black dye. It is preferable if the dye other than the black dye is a compound that has at least one type of group selected from the group consisting of an —SO3H group, —COOH group, —SO3M group, and —COOM group (where M in these groups is an alkali metal atom), and is not an ammonium salt or a salt with an organic cation. It is also preferable for the dye other than the black dye to be a dye selected from the group consisting of yellow dyes and magenta dyes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Hanmura, Tetsuya Aoyama, Kazuhiko Kitamura
  • Patent number: 7083669
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ink composition comprising at least: water; a cyan dye; and an aromatic compound having a carboxyl group and/or a salt thereof. Also disclosed are an inkjet recording method using the ink composition, and recorded matter recorded using the ink composition or by the inkjet recording method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fukumoto, Yasuhiro Oki, Kazuhiko Kitamura, Hiroko Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20060135646
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink composition using a metal phthalocyanine type cyan dye, according to which the indoor storability (gas resistance) of images created using the ink composition can be improved. The present invention provides an ink composition containing water, metal phthalocyanine type cyan dye, and aromatic compound having a sulfo group and/or salt thereof represented by undermentioned general formula (1) and/or (2). Moreover, the present invention provides an ink jet recording method comprising carrying out recording by discharging droplets of an ink composition and attaching the droplets to a recording medium, wherein the ink jet recording method uses an ink composition as described above as the ink composition. Furthermore, the present invention provides a recorded article characterized by being obtained by recording using an ink composition as described above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Publication date: June 22, 2006
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Oki, Kazuhiko Kitamura, Hiroko Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7018455
    Abstract: An ink composition, a recording medium or printed matter containing a compound expressed by General Formula 1 The compound has a weight reduction after 1 hour at 60°C. of no more than 1%. This makes it possible to provide the ink composition, a recording medium, printed matter, and an ink jet recording method wherein a light resistance of the printed matter is excellent, there is no ink clogging, and a high-quality image with almost no yellowing of the printed matter can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kitamura, Yasuhiro Oki, Tetsuya Aoyama, Kyoichi Oka, Nobuo Uotani, Hiroshi Takahashi, Yuji Ito
  • Patent number: 6984032
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ink composition including at least water; at least one member selected from compounds represented by the following formula (1) and/or salts thereof; and at least one member selected from carboxyl group-containing aromatic compounds and/or salts thereof: wherein A represents an alkylene group, a phenylene group-containing alkylene group or (R means hydrogen or alkyl) and X represents NH2, OH or Cl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kitamura, Hiroshi Fukumoto
  • Publication number: 20050183630
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an ink composition that can improve the preservation characteristics (gas fastness) of an image produced by an ink composition which uses phthalocyanine group cyan dye. The present invention provides an ink composition wherein at least water, the phthalocyanine group cyan dye indicated by the general formula (I), and an aromatic compound having a sulfone group and/or the salt thereof represented by the general formulae (a) and/or (b) are contained; and an ink composition wherein at least water, the phthalocyanine group cyan dye indicated by the general formula (VIII), and an aromatic compound having a sulfone group and/or the salt thereof represented by the general formulae (a) and/or (b) are contained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Oki, Kazuhiko Kitamura