JP2009119874A - Permanent heat activated transfer printing process, ink composition used for the same, and container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a permanent heat activated transfer printing process for general printing, particularly for printing heat activated ink by an inkjet printer onto paper or other printable substrates as a medium, and heat-activating the ink to transfer a design formed by the ink from the medium to a substrate on which the design is to appear permanently. <P>SOLUTION: The permanent heat activated transfer printing process comprises (a) preparing the inkjet printer, (b) preparing at least one heat activated ink, and (c) transferring the heat activated ink in the form of an image onto an object on which the image is to appear, wherein the transfer process includes printing the heat activated ink on the substrate medium without activating the heat activated ink in the form of the image in the printer, and transferring the image from the substrate medium to the object by heating the heat activated ink. The heat activated ink is formed of a liquid ink composition comprising (i) heat activatable dye solids existing dispersed in a colloidal form in a liquid carrier, finely divided and substantially insoluble in the liquid carrier, and (ii) at least one emulsifying enforcing agent having affinity for the activatable dye solids and capable of sticking to all or part of individual dye solid particles or surrounding them. The emulsifying enforcing agent prevents agglomeration of the colloidal dye solids to prevent separation of the dye solids from the liquid carrier, and stabilizes ink components with the lapse of time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates generally to printing, and in particular, printing a thermally activated ink by an ink jet printer on paper or other printable substrate as a medium, and then thermally activating the ink, thereby causing the ink to It is directed to a method of transferring a formed design from a medium to a substrate on which the design is to appear permanently.

  Language and design are often printed on clothing and other textile materials and other objects. Common means of attaching the design to an object include the use of a silk screen and mechanically bonded thermal transfer.

The use of computer science and technology allows for the instantaneous printing of images. For example, a video camera or scan can be used to capture an image to a computer. The image may then be printed by any suitable printing means including mechanical thermal printers, ink jet printers and laser printers. These printers print in multiple colors.
Color ink jet printers are commonly used. Color ink jet printers use a combination of cyan, yellow and magenta inks or dyes to produce a multicolor image.

  The main types of ink jet printers currently in use belong to three categories: phase change, free stream and foam jet. The ink or dye used in phase change ink jet printing is comprised of a solid compound that changes state to liquefy the solid upon the application of heat, and then the ink components are printed. Free stream and foam jet printers use liquid ink, but the actual printing method of free stream ink jet printers is different from foam jet printers.

  The thermally activated transfer ink solid changes to a gas at 400 ° F. and has a high affinity for polyester at the activation temperature and a limited affinity for most other materials. When gasified adhesion occurs, the ink is permanently printed and highly resistant to changes or fades caused by laundry products.

US Pat. No. 5,246,518 US Pat. No. 5,248,363 US Pat. No. 5,302,223

  Hale, US Pat. Nos. 5,099,086 and 5,037,312 disclose the use of a thermal printing machine to produce an image on a medium or transfer sheet, wherein the image is sublimated or otherwise Made of heat activated ink. The method described in Hale does not activate the ink when printing media or transfer sheets.

  The method of printing a thermal ink solid, such as sublimation ink, on a phase change ink jet printer is similar to the method described in Hale Patents 1, 2, and 3. The use of heat by all ink jet printers presents a problem recognized in Hale patents that print thermally activated ink in its deactivated form by the printer, as the ink is exposed to high temperatures by the printer. For example, bubble jet printers heat ink during the printing process to about the boiling point of an ink solvent, typically water. Free-flow ink jet printers use heat to create pressure to transport ink during the printing process.

  The use of liquid ink, as required by free stream and bubble jet printers, presents a new set of problems when attempting to print ink solids. The orifices or nozzles of free stream and foam jet printers are not designed for the dispensing of solids contained within the liquid material. The orifices of these printing presses are typically 5-10 microns in diameter, and orifice clogging occurs when large particle sizes or large amounts of ink solids are sent through the orifice.

  Furthermore, when the ink solid is placed in a liquid, the ink solid tends to separate from the liquid over time and fall to the bottom of the ink container. The ink component is typically sealed in the container at the manufacturing facility for subsequent mounting of the container in the ink jet printer, meaning that there is significant storage time for the ink component prior to use. Separation of liquid and solids in the ink composition presents problems with respect to the mechanical operation of the printing press and the print quality achieved by using the ink composition. Substances that inhibit separation should also inhibit agglomeration of solid dye particles and allow or prevent activation of the ink or dye during final printing at elevated temperatures by insulation or other methods. Don't be.

  The present invention resides in a method for printing a thermally activated ink solid in a deactivated form onto a medium in a desired image by an ink jet printer for subsequent transfer of the image from the medium by thermal activation of the ink solid. The present invention includes an ink or dye component having a heat activated ink or dye for use in the method. The ink components provided include solid components at ambient temperature for use in phase change ink jet printers, and emulsions or colloids for use in free stream and foam jet printers.

  The ink solid is transferred in a desired design by a printing machine to a substrate for use as a medium. The substrate may be paper or other material that facilitates the transfer temperature and resists the adhesion of the ink layer to the substrate.

  Although the ink jet printer includes a thermal process, the ink solids of the present invention are not activated at the operating temperature of the printer. Thermal activation of the ink solids is not performed during printing of the image by a printing press, but rather is performed during transfer of the image from the media to a substrate on which the image is permanently deposited. Non-activated ink solids produce a printed image on the media that is recognizable but dull in color and acceptable for most applications.

A sufficient temperature is then applied to the image for transfer of the image from the media to the substrate on which the image should appear permanently. Heat activates or sublimes the ink solids during this transfer from the media to the substrate. The image is then permanently adhered to the substrate. Permanent images are vivid and have vibrant colors that form the image.
When the ink composition prepared according to the invention is a liquid, the finely divided dye solids are present in a liquid carrier in the form of a colloid or emulsion. Emulsion forcing agents with surfactant properties surround and shield the dye particles to prevent unwanted activation at low heat and to prevent agglomeration of the dye particles. However, emulsification forcing agents allow dye activation at higher temperatures.

  In the preferred embodiment, a video camera or scanning device 2 is used to capture the image 3. Next, the image is input to the computer 4. The computer commands the printing machine 6 to print the image. Any device that forms a printable image from a computer, including an image generated by software, may be used. Available computer design graphic software may be used, or still pictures may be used. The design may be photographic, graphic arts or simply text or language. The use of turquoise, yellow and crimson ink components allows the printing press to print in a full color or multicolor design.

  In the present invention, thermally activated ink solids are used and transferred to the media by a printing press without activating the ink solids. The thermally activated ink solid is transferred to the medium by a printing press.

  Essentially any material may be used as a medium that can be printed thereon by a printing press and withstands a heat activated transfer temperature of about 400 ° F. as described herein. This medium can be any paper normally used in color ink jet printers, however, normal bond paper can be used, or even metal sheets if the metal can be handled by the press. May be used.

  Once the image is printed on the media, the image may be permanently transferred to the substrate immediately or later. Most commonly, the design is transferred to a textile substrate such as shirt 8, although the image may be transferred to other materials such as metal, ceramic, wood or plastic that act as the substrate. The design 3 that is printed on the medium 9 without activating the ink is placed against the object 8. Next, a temperature sufficient to activate the ink solids is applied. This temperature is typically about 400 ° F. This temperature is applied for a time sufficient to thermally activate and transfer the ink solids. The thermal transfer machine 10 may be used to achieve transfer of ink from the media to the substrate. Activation or sublimation is not performed during the printing of the image on the medium, even though heat can be used to achieve the printing of the image on the medium, but during the transfer from the medium to the substrate. Arise.

  Phase change ink jet printers use ink components that are solid at ambient temperature. The ink component may be in the form of a solid bar. The “ink rod” includes a thermally activated ink and a phase change material or transfer base that liquefies upon the application of heat to the ink components. Polymer binders and additives may be added to the ink components. The additive may be used to control dissolution, flow, drying, corrosion and other variables. The component changes from a solid to a liquid by dissolving the ink solids in a controlled manner in order to attach the ink solids to the medium and effect printing. The dissolved ink component is contained in the reservoir in liquid form at the elevated temperature necessary to maintain the ink component in liquid form. The liquefied ink component is then removed from the reservoir and printed upon request. The ink component may be applied to the printer in three or more colors, such as turquoise, yellow and crimson, and deposited by the printer in combination to achieve multicolor or full color printing. Good.

  The transfer base may be a waxy material such as a wax or a specific polymer having a low molecular weight and a low melting point. Because liquid forms of waxes and waxy materials tend to have an affinity for paper, the transfer base easily adheres to the paper media and has sufficient heat to activate and transfer the ink solids. The ink solid is held on the medium until released by the addition.

  The composition of the ink components used in the phase change ink jet printer is as follows.

感熱ないし熱活性化の染料またはインクの固体は、微細に分割される昇華インクでもよい。固体粒子が０．１ミクロン以下の直径を有することは、好適である。転写材料は、媒体へのインクの印刷を可能にするように７０〜１２０℃の温度において液化する蝋または蝋状材料である。

The solid of the heat-sensitive or heat-activated dye or ink may be a finely divided sublimation ink. It is preferred that the solid particles have a diameter of 0.1 microns or less. The transfer material is a wax or waxy material that liquefies at a temperature of 70-120 ° C. to allow printing of the ink on the media.

  The emulsification forcing agent acts as a dispersant through which the ink solid is distributed. The emulsion forcing agent may be one or more polymers or surfactants that are anions. The binder may be a polymer that reinforces the ink stick when the ink stick is in solid form. The plasticizer increases the solubility of the ink in the ink stick composition. The foam control agent and viscosity control agent help to form the ink stick.

  The surface tension control agent may be a surfactant. The agent aids in printing the ink composition. Diffusion control agents help control the diffusion of ink as it is deposited on the media. Flow control agents help control the temperature and speed of ink dissolution during the printing process.

ポリワックスＰＥ５００は、転写基剤である。該転写基材は、蝋状重合体材料である。エクソンＦＮ３５０５は、転写基剤の一部として使用される炭化水素蝋である。その他の蝋または組合せは、印刷機と、その運転温度と、印刷されるべきインクと、印刷されるべき媒体とに依存して転写基剤として使用されてもよい。

The polywax PE500 is a transfer base. The transfer substrate is a waxy polymer material. Exon FN3505 is a hydrocarbon wax used as part of a transcription base. Other waxes or combinations may be used as a transfer base depending on the printing press, its operating temperature, the ink to be printed, and the medium to be printed.

  The disperse bike 182 is an emulsification forcing agent. Anionic emulsification forcing agents should be used. Disperbike is a polymer type surfactant. Vinapas B1.5 and pico-stick are used as binders. Polygard is an antioxidant used for corrosion control. Dibutyl phthalate is a plasticizer.

  Free-flow ink jet printers and bubble jet ink jet printers use ink in liquid form. Free-flow ink jet printers dispense ink through an orifice in an ink container. The printer commands and controls the flow through the orifice to print in the desired manner.

  Bubble jet printers also use ink that is in liquid form and held in a container. Foam jet printers use a different system of orifices or nozzles than free-flow printers. Channels, heating systems are used to form bubbles. The type of foam is controlled by the press by applying heat to the ink to print as desired.

  Thermally activated inks or dyes are solid particles. Free stream and foam jet printers are designed to use liquid ink, but do not use ink with solid particles in the liquid. The presence of solid material plugs the orifices or nozzles of the printing press. Furthermore, the liquid ink component in which the solid particles are placed or dissolved is not homogeneous over time. Solid ink particles in the mixture settle out of the liquid toward the bottom of the ink container. This precipitation increases orifice blockage. Furthermore, the print quality is affected if the ink is not unchanged.

  The liquid ink component of the present invention is a milky liquid composed of finely divided thermally activated ink solids that are placed in a milky liquid by an emulsification forcing agent present in a solvent. Wetting agents, corrosion inhibitors, surfactants and antifoaming agents may be included in the ingredients.

  The composition of the emulsion that is used in ink jet printers that require liquid ink and that includes thermally activated ink solids is as follows.

熱活性化の染料またはインクの固体は、微細に分割されて、乳化剤と、水でもよい溶剤とによる乳状液中に入れられる。残りの成分は、液体インク成分の組成、保管および／または印刷を容易にするように添加されてもよい。

The heat-activated dye or ink solid is finely divided and placed in an emulsion with an emulsifier and a solvent, which may be water. The remaining components may be added to facilitate composition, storage and / or printing of the liquid ink component.

組成例２は、熱活性化黄色インクまたは染料を含む。ジプロピレングリコール及びＤＭＳＯは、共溶剤である。苛性ソーダは、殺菌剤としても作用する無機乳化強制剤である。蒸留水は、溶剤として作用する。コブラテックは、腐蝕防止剤として作用する。

Composition Example 2 contains a heat activated yellow ink or dye. Dipropylene glycol and DMSO are co-solvents. Caustic soda is an inorganic emulsifying forcing agent that also acts as a disinfectant. Distilled water acts as a solvent. Cobratech acts as a corrosion inhibitor.

  With this composition, the individual ink solids are finely divided to produce small particle sizes. The individual ink solids of Example 2 tend to dissolve mostly in caustic soda used as an emulsifying force. The combination of caustic soda and a solvent whose composition example is distilled water yields an emulsion that can be used in bubble jet and free stream ink jet printers.

  In general, a “humectant” is a humidity regulator. In the related art, the term “wetting agent” is used to describe an agent included in an ink composition to control the viscosity of the ink by adjusting the rate at which the ink dries. In addition to these properties, the present invention may include one or more wetting agents that prevent clogging of the orifice or nozzle. Depending on the particular ink, the wetting agent adjusts the sublimation rate of the ink or dye as the printed design is transferred from the media to the object that should appear permanently thereon. The wetting agent in Composition Example 2 is dipropylene glycol which acts as a cosolvent and wetting agent.

サブラプリント青色７００１３は、熱活性化のインクまたは染料の固体である。リグノソルＦＴＡおよびＭＥ8３９２３５は、乳化強制剤である。リグノソルＦＴＡは、殺菌剤としても作用する。ＭＥ8３９２３５は、重合体であり、特に、ポリエチレン結合剤である。ジエチレングリコールおよびＤＭＳＯは、湿潤剤として作用する。溶剤は、蒸留水である。サブラプリント青色７００１３は、ビファクスアン黄色３ＧＥよりも昇華するのに一層困難であり、乳化強制剤中に一層少なく可溶性である。ジエチレングリコールは、サブ

Sublaprint Blue 70013 is a heat activated ink or dye solid. Lignosol FTA and ME839235 are emulsifying forcing agents. Lignosol FTA also acts as a fungicide. ME839235 is a polymer, in particular a polyethylene binder. Diethylene glycol and DMSO act as wetting agents. The solvent is distilled water. Sublaprint blue 70013 is more difficult to sublime than bifaxuan yellow 3GE and is less soluble in emulsifying forcing agents. Diethylene glycol is a sub

  Used as a wetting agent to facilitate sublimation of Laprint blue ink solids.

  The thermally active ink solid is finely divided into small particle sizes. The finely divided ink solids are combined with one or more emulsifying forcing agents, which are then combined with a solvent.

組成例＃４は、微細に分割されて乳化強制剤中に組合わされる熱活性化インク固体または染料を含む。該乳化強制剤ないし媒体は、例＃３の場合のように、リグノソルＦＴＡおよびＭＥ３９２３５である。蒸留水は、溶剤として使用される。ジプロピレングリコールは、湿潤剤として使用される。

Composition Example # 4 includes a thermally activated ink solid or dye that is finely divided and combined in an emulsification forcing agent. The emulsifier or medium is lignosol FTA and ME39235, as in Example # 3. Distilled water is used as a solvent. Dipropylene glycol is used as a wetting agent.

  Composition Example # 4 further includes Defo 806-102, an antifoaming agent or foam control agent, to prevent foaming of the liquid ink component. Composition Example # 4 further includes a surfactant, which may be sorbitol (R), and a corrosion inhibitor, which in this example is NA-SUL (R). Composition examples 2, 3, and 4 are milky liquids. In Example 2, the individual dyes have a tendency to dissolve in the emulsification forcing agent. Composition examples 3 and 4 may be described as colloids having finely divided ink particles present in the dispersion medium and having a diameter of 0.1 microns or less.

  The present invention relates to emulsions or colloids that operate in free-flow ink jet printers, piezoelectric printers, and bubble jet printers without experiencing the problems associated with orifice clogging caused by the use of ink solids. I will provide a. Furthermore, the use of emulsions or colloids prevents the separation of ink solids from the liquid component and makes the ink component stable over time. Typically, the liquid ink composition is present in the printer within the container. There are three or more colors of liquid ink. The container may be sealed at the factory, and thus the ink composition may be retained in the container for an extended period.

  Bubble jet printers form bubbles that are used to print ink at about the boiling point of the ink solvent. In most compositions, water is used as the solvent, so the ink is exposed to temperatures of 100 ° C. or higher when printed. The comparable temperature may be used in a free flow ink jet printer to create pressure for the purpose of transporting ink for printing. As in the case of phase change ink jet printers, the ink is subjected to temperatures that activate or sublimate some thermally activated ink or dye. The ink or dye used for the ink component here is not activated or sublimated at the operating temperature of the printing press.

The liquid ink composition includes a liquid carrier. The liquid carrier or solvent may be water. Emulsion forcing agents that are soluble in the liquid carrier form an emulsion or colloid in the liquid carrier. The emulsion forcing agent has an affinity for the heat-activated dye and can adhere to or surround all or a portion of the individual particles of the dye particles.
The heat-activated dye when used is a finely divided solid that is substantially insoluble in the liquid carrier. The dye particles tend to agglomerate when placed in a liquid, significantly reducing the effectiveness of the ink composition and effectively eliminating it. The emulsification forcing agent is used to form an emulsion or colloid, and in the present invention it also surrounds and shields, thereby separating the individual dye particles from the liquid carrier and each other, and collecting the dye particles. Blocking lumps, thereby preventing the ink composition from blocking the orifice of the printing press such as ink jetting. The emulsification forcing agent shields and insulates the dye particles and prevents activation or sublimation of the dye due to exposure to heat present in the printing press and printing press processes. The emulsification forcing agent shields the dye particles and improves the shelf life of the ink composition. The adverse effects of heat, chemical reaction, light, time and other factors present in the packaging or environment are reduced by the emulsification forcing agent. However, when the emulsification forcing agent shields the dye particles, the insulating properties of the emulsification forcing agent are such that the image from the media is carried out at or above the temperature at which the heat activation of the heat activated dye activates the dye. So that the required optical density of the dye after final transfer by thermal activation is achieved.

An example of an emulsifying forcing agent that achieves the objectives of the present invention is a well-known metal sulfonate such as lignin sulfonate or lignosulfonate or sulfitrignin when used in water as a liquid carrier. These products are generally accompanied by CHSO ₃ functional groups and are soluble in aqueous solutions over a wide pH range. Lignin sulfonates are sold under various trade names including Lignosol and Raykrome. Lignin sulfate is also used.

  Other compounds of the lignin product that can be used as emulsifying agents may be selected from the compounds known as oxylignins. These drugs are derived from oxidized lignin and have a reduced sulfonic group, a methoxyl group and an increased number of functional phenolic groups, hydroxyl groups, carboxy groups And a carboxylic group.

  All the disclosed lignin compounds have their chemical and physical properties such as water solubility, pH range, molecular weight, thermal stability and emulsification performance sulphonation, methylation, carboxylation, fractionation. Further modification may be performed through a process such as a nation or the reverse process.

  The lignin used as a dye dispersant / emulsion forcing agent in the present invention results in a stable sublimation (heat sensitive) dye emulsion / colloid system by appropriate adjustment of solvent and usage levels. Marasperse CBA-1 [Lignotech], Malaspers 52CP (Lignotech), Lignosol FTA (Lignotech), Lignosol SFX-65 (Lignotech), Temsperse S002 [Temfibre, Inc. Lignosulfonate products such as Stepsperse DF series (Stephan Co.), Weschem NA-4 (Wesco Technologies, LTD), and Diwatex Kraft lignin products such as (Diwatex) XP (Lignotech) and Reax 85 (Westvaco) and oxylignin products such as Malaspers CBOS-6 and Vanisperse CB Sublimation (heat sensitive) dye-based It is suitable for emulsification. The resulting double layer structure (centered dye particles surrounded by lignin molecules and other hydrated layers on the outer layer) shields the dye and prevents reagglomeration, chemical and physical changes Interfere with the action of.

  Other surfactants / dye dispersants can improve the stability of the resulting ink emulsion / colloid, either as the primary dispersant / emulsion forcing agent, or the resulting ink, thus improving print quality and blocking the print head. And may be used as an additive to eliminate kogation. The concentration of these agents may range from 1% to 15% of the total components without impairing the sublimation heat transfer properties of the heat sensitive dye in the heat transfer stage. The material is obtained after finely dividing solid dye particles, or after sublimation (heat-sensitive) dye particles are well dispersed in an aqueous solution through a grinding / dispersing step and a separating step such as centrifugation or filtration. , May be added to the ingredients. These additives act as emulsion / colloid stabilizers, leveling agents, wetting agents, or form control agents in addition to their action as emulsification forcing agents.

  Drugs that can be used for this purpose are non-ionic surfactants such as Triton X series, Octylphen oxypolyeth oxyethanol, alkylaryl polyether alcohol type. An alkylamine ethoxylate nonionic surfactant, such as Triton RW series Triton CF-10, a Tergitol nonionic surfactant series from Union Carbide Chemicals, and ICI Polysorbate products such as the Tween series from Chemicals and Polymers and Silwet surfactants (polydimethylsiloxane copolymers such as polydimethelsiloxane copolymers). Polyakylene and polyakylene modified surfactants, Coat Osil surfactants from OSI Specialties, Renex series, BRIJ series, Ukanil ) Nonionic surfactant alcohol alkoxylate type such as series, Sorbitan ester products such as Span series and Ariacel series, and Tween series Atlas ) Series, Myrj series alkoxylate esters / PEG products, Cirrasol surfactant products from ICI Chemicals & Polymers, Amyl Acid Phosphate, Chemofos (Chemophos) TR Alkyl phosphoric acid esters surfactant products such as -421, alkyl amine oxides such as the Chemoxide series from Chemron Corporation, and Hampshire Chemical Anionic sarcosinate surfactants such as the Hmposyl series from Hampshire Chemical Corporation and glycerol esters such as the Hodag series from Calgene Chemical esters) or non-ionic surfactants of polyglycol esters.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a printing process. FIG. 2 shows an example of a design printed by a printing machine using the printing process. FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration showing exemplary elements of a computer and a printing system that can be used to accomplish the printing process.

Claims (16)

a. Prepare an ink jet printer,
b. Prepare at least one heat-activated ink,
c. transferring the thermally activated ink in the form of an image onto the object on which the image is to appear, the transfer step applying the thermally activated ink in the form of an image on a printing medium onto a substrate medium; Printing without activating ink and subsequently transferring the image from the substrate medium to an object by applying heat to the thermally activated ink;
The thermally activated ink is a liquid ink composition;
i) a finely divided, thermally activatable dye solid present in a colloidal dispersion in the liquid carrier and substantially insoluble in the liquid carrier;
ii) from at least one emulsifying forcing agent that has an affinity for the activatable dye solid and adheres to or can be surrounded by all or part of the individual particles of the dye solid Become
The emulsification forcing agent thereby prevents agglomeration of colloidal dye solids and stabilizes the ink components over time so as to prevent the dye solids from separating from the liquid carrier. A method that is a liquid ink composition.   2. A method for printing a multicolor image using a heat activated ink printed on a printing press as claimed in claim 1, wherein the printing press is a multicolor printing press and is provided with at least one heat activation. The ink is a heat-activated ink of at least three colors, and the transferring step transfers the heat-activated ink in the form of the multicolor image onto a substrate by a multicolor ink jet printer to heat the multicolor image. Printing on the substrate without activating the activated ink.   3. A method of printing an image using a heat activated ink printed on a printing press as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein one or more heat activated inks are printed thereon by the printing press. Is used as a medium without activation for subsequent transfer of the image from the medium to the object and without activation by applying heat to the object.   4. A method of printing an image using activated ink printed by a printing press as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the emulsification forcing agent is ligurin.   5. A method for printing an image using heat activated ink as claimed in claim 4 wherein the emulsification forcing agent is a sulfonated lignin.   6. A method for printing an image using a thermally activated ink as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the thermally activated ink further comprises a surfactant.   7. A method for printing an image using thermally activated ink as claimed in any one of claims 1-6, wherein the printing machine is a color thermal ink printer or a piezoelectric printer. 8. A method of printing an image using a thermally activated ink as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the thermally activated ink has its thermal activation temperature or higher at the thermal activation temperature. Activate the activated ink for a sufficient time to activate it,
The emulsification forcing agent does not substantially increase the activation temperature required for the heat activated ink to be activated after the heat activated ink is printed on the substrate.    9. A method of printing an image using thermally activated ink as in any one of claims 1-8, wherein the activated ink is transferred at a required activation temperature of about 200 <0> C. A liquid ink composition for ink jet printing of a heat-activatable dye solid comprising:
i) a finely divided, thermally activatable dye solid present in a colloidal dispersion in the liquid carrier and substantially insoluble in the liquid carrier;
ii) at least one emulsifying forcing agent that has an affinity for the heat-activatable dye solid and adheres to or can be surrounded by all or part of the individual particles of the dye solid; Consists of
A liquid ink composition whereby the emulsification forcing agent prevents agglomeration of colloidal dye solids and stabilizes the ink components over time so as to prevent the dye solids from separating from the liquid carrier.   The liquid ink composition according to claim 10, wherein the emulsification forcing agent comprises lignin.   The liquid ink composition according to claim 10, wherein the emulsification forcing agent is sulfonated lignin or oxylignin.   The liquid ink composition according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the emulsification forcing agent further comprises a surfactant.   The liquid ink composition according to claim 10, wherein the liquid carrier is water.   A container adapted to be located inside a printing press and containing a liquid ink composition according to any one of claims 10-14.   The container according to claim 15, wherein the container is sealed in a factory.

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