Patents Assigned to Kodak Graphics Communications Canada Company
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Patent number: 7345785Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for digital image compensation wherein the image is divided into tiles, at least one of the tiles employing a rectfill. Compensation is provided by reducing the size of the rectfill at the edges by half a pixel all around. As a result, any minor overlaps of adjacent pixels are eliminated, resulting in only the correct pixels being filled.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2002Date of Patent: March 18, 2008Assignee: Kodak Graphic Communications Canada CompanyInventor: Timothy H. Saxton
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Patent number: 7341000Abstract: A slip-sheet compactor for an imaging device with automatic media handling capabilities provides a two-stage compaction for a slipsheet removed from a media sheet to be imaged. A pair of rollers advances the slipsheet into a pre-compression chamber effecting a first compression or folding operation. In a second compression, a plunger sweeps the pre-compression chamber, which is narrowed towards an exit aperture thus effecting a second compression on the slipsheet material.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2003Date of Patent: March 11, 2008Assignee: Kodak Graphic Communications Canada CompanyInventor: Kelly F. Williams
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Patent number: 7323288Abstract: A radiation-sensitive medium comprises hydrophilic polymer particles, the particles comprising a thermally softenable hydrophobic polymer, a hydrophilic polymer and a bonding compound capable of chemically bonding to the hydrophobic polymer and to the hydrophilic polymer. Th radiation-sensitive medium further may comprise a substance capable of converting radiation into heat. The radiation-sensitive medium is aqueous-ineluable when coated and dried, and becomes hydrophobic under the action of heat. The polymer particles are made by polymerization of at least one hydrophobic monomer and at least one bonding compound in the presence of the hydrophilic polymer. The radiation-sensitive medium may be provided as a coatable composition to be applied to substrates to form a processless radiation-imageable lithographic printing precursor.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2003Date of Patent: January 29, 2008Assignee: Kodak Graphic Communications Canada CompanyInventors: Yisong Yu, Brian J. Collister, Jonathan W. Goodin, Graham Darling, Jacqueline L. Ricafrente
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Patent number: 7300728Abstract: An imaging device for preparing a printing surface for a printing operation transfers information related to how the printing precursor should be processed to a processor. The processor is automated to make local adjustments according to the information provided. The information can be transferred for each printing precursor or only when changes occur. The transfer is automated.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2003Date of Patent: November 27, 2007Assignee: Kodak Graphic Communications Canada CompanyInventor: Douglas Manness
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Patent number: 7279263Abstract: A positive-working radiation-sensitive composition for use with a radiation source comprises one or more polymers capable of being eluted in an alkaline aqueous solution and a development-enhancing compound. The invention provides a positive-working photosensitive composition of good sensitivity for use with one or both of ultra-violet radiation and an infrared laser radiation source. The composition is stable in its state before exposure and has an excellent handling property. The sensitivity of a radiation-sensitive coating based on the composition of this invention is increased without compromising the handling characteristics. Radiation-sensitive elements based on the composition of the invention have good development latitude. A positive-working lithographic printing precursor is based on the radiation-sensitive composition coated on a hydrophilic surface.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2005Date of Patent: October 9, 2007Assignee: Kodak Graphic Communications Canada CompanyInventor: Jonathan W. Goodin
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Patent number: 7256811Abstract: An imaging system is equipped with two or more exposure heads that are each able to image either a separate media sheet or a portion of a single media sheet loaded on a media carrier. The imaging time for any combination of media sheets is minimized by providing for the adjustment of the spacing between the dual exposure heads whenever the media configuration changes. In imaging a unitary image using two exposure heads to each image a sub-image, any discontinuity between the end of the first sub-image and the start of the next sub-image is reduced by changing the traversing speed of one of the exposure heads by a fractional amount.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2003Date of Patent: August 14, 2007Assignee: Kodak Graphic Communications Canada CompanyInventors: Derrick Kevin To, Calvin D. Cummings, Roland Wescott Montague, Remy Dawson, Guy Sirton
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Patent number: 7252285Abstract: An alignment device for aligning a manually loaded media sheet to a printer feed path has at least one registration feature disposed to register the trailing edge of the media sheet to the feed path. By aligning the trailing edge, an orthogonal media sheet is loaded into the printer without skew ensuring that the printed image is precisely aligned to the media sheet.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2003Date of Patent: August 7, 2007Assignee: Kodak Graphic Communications Canada CompanyInventors: Andreas Michael Albat, Dannye Robert Williams, Andrew Mitchell, Gil Rosenfeld
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Patent number: 7249828Abstract: An apparatus for controlling droplets allows the phase difference between a calibration signal and its signature signal on a detector to be minimized, or the amplitude of the signature signal to be maximized, by adjusting the droplet charging means of the device, or the droplet generation means, and the signals on either. The apparatus converts a stream of fluid into a stream of droplets under the influence of a droplet stimulation signal imposed onto the droplet generating means. Droplets are subsequently signal-wise charged under the influence of a droplet charging signal imposed on the droplet charging means. The charged droplets are then deflected. The calibration signal is imposed onto the stream of droplets. The calibration signal has characteristics that do not appreciably affect the trajectory of the stream of droplets, thereby ensuring that the placement accuracy of the individual droplets is a maintained.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2005Date of Patent: July 31, 2007Assignee: Kodak Graphic Communications Canada CompanyInventors: Daniel Gelbart, David Scott Bruce, Thomas W. Steiner
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Patent number: 7248734Abstract: The present invention provides for a method and system for reducing the storage required for transmitting digital images. The reduction is accomplished by coalescing identical pixels that are adjacent to each other. Accordingly, a determination is made as to whether pixels along a first axis are identical with pixels along a second axis and, if they are identical, they are coalesced together. The process is repeated along a second axis such that an image resulting from the reduction is significantly smaller, especially if the image was originally upsampled. The present invention reverses the upsampling process to create a reduced image. Additionally, the present invention allows for differentiation between upsampled contone data and linework data that may be overlaid over upsampled contone data. Image data that is linework data is treated as wild card pixels in the image and may be coalesced with any adjacent pixel when coalescing adjacent pixels.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2003Date of Patent: July 24, 2007Assignee: Kodak Graphic Communications Canada CompanyInventor: Kent M. Brothers
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Patent number: 7245402Abstract: A method of screening a continuous tone image into a halftone representation for a flexographic printing operation can compensate for characteristic printing problems in highlight areas by selectively placing non-printing dots or pixels proximate highlight dots. The non-printing dots or pixels raise the printing relief floor in the highlight areas providing additional support for marginally printable image features.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2005Date of Patent: July 17, 2007Assignee: Kodak Graphic Communications Canada CompanyInventors: Devon James McCrea, Stephen Hughes Miller
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Patent number: 7225737Abstract: A computer-to-plate (CTP) machine is operated using processless printing plates. A plate bender is built directly into the CTP, bending the plate after imaging in order to make it ready for mounting on the printing press, eliminating all intermediate steps. For presses requiring punched holes in addition to the bend in the plate, the required holes are also punched in the CTP machine.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2003Date of Patent: June 5, 2007Assignee: Kodak Graphic Communications Canada CompanyInventors: Daniel Gelbart, Judith Marie Hess
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Patent number: 7207267Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for the manipulation of a sleeve onto and off of a cylinder. A sleeve mounted on a handling shaft is equipped with a substantially airtight slideable end cap at its distal end. During mounting, axial alignment is provided when the handling shaft is engaged with the free end of the cylinder. A plurality of apertures on the cylinder's exterior surface conduct pressurized air, which expands the sleeve by exerting radial fluid pressure on its inside surface. A vacuum source actively evacuates the air from the sleeve's interior drawing the sleeve onto the cylinder. To remove the sleeve fluid pressure is reasserted exerting an axial force against the substantially airtight end cap. An auxiliary air supply is selectively activated to aid in sleeve removal.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2004Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Kodak Graphic Communications Canada CompanyInventors: Aldo Salvestro, Lon McIlwraith
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Patent number: 7171901Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for improving the accuracy and streamlining the process of preparing an imaged flexographic printing sleeve. Seam layout details are determined by a controller and transferred to an automated cutting device to cut flexographic precursor sections. The controller can also control a printing device to print indicia on a sleeve substrate for use in aligning the cut precursor sections. The controller can also control a mounting device for the mounting of the cut precursor sections. An imaging engine for imaging a flexographic printing sleeve is equipped with an edge detection system for determining the location of seams between abutting precursor sections.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2004Date of Patent: February 6, 2007Assignee: Kodak Graphic Communications Canada CompanyInventor: Aldo Salvestro
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Patent number: 7126724Abstract: A method of screening a continuous tone image into a halftone representation for a flexographic printing operation can compensate for characteristic printing problems in highlight areas by selectively placing non-printing dots proximate highlight dots. The non-printing dots raise the printing relief floor in the highlight areas providing additional support for marginally printable image features.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2003Date of Patent: October 24, 2006Assignee: Kodak Graphic Communications Canada CompanyInventors: Devon James McCrea, Stephen Hughes Miller
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Patent number: 7119760Abstract: Improved color image display accuracy can be achieved across a computer network by obtaining information characterizing the color response of display devices associated with a client residing on the computer network, and using the information to modify color images delivered to the client. The information may include a gamma estimate. In one embodiment, the gamma estimate is limited to only the green color channel, without reference to the gammas for the red and blue channels. In this manner, the gamma estimate concentrates on the most dominant color channel and avoids errors that can arise due to the red-blue imbalances that are highly prevalent in many display devices. The information can be obtained, for example, by guiding the client through a color profiling process that profiles the color response of the display device. For example, such guidance may take the form of a series of instructional web pages that are delivered to the client.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2001Date of Patent: October 10, 2006Assignee: Kodak Graphic Communications Canada CompanyInventors: Christopher J. Edge, Timothy A. Fischer
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Patent number: 7094503Abstract: The present invention provides a patterned substrate and methods of forming patterns on a substrate, in which a thermally sensitive composition composed of an inorganic nanopaste is applied onto a surface of a substrate to form a layer. The layer may be imaged and developed to form a pattern area that adheres to the surface of the substrate. The patterned substrate may be used in the production of printing plates and masks.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2003Date of Patent: August 22, 2006Assignee: Kodak Graphics Communications Canada CompanyInventors: Kevin Barry Ray, Ken-Ichi Shimazu, Anthony Paul Kitson
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Patent number: 7081322Abstract: The present invention provides a method of forming an image on a printing plate, in which a nanopaste is imagewise ink-jet applied onto a surface of a substrate. The layer is then treated to form an image area. The method is useful in the formation of printing plates and radiation opaque masks.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2003Date of Patent: July 25, 2006Assignee: Kodak Graphics Communications Canada CompanyInventors: Kevin Barry Ray, Ken-Ichi Shimazu, Anthony Paul Kitson
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Patent number: 7075681Abstract: A system and method for reducing the volume of data necessary to represent an image by utilizing tiling and masking techniques is disclosed. Initially, an image described by raster content having an original number of bits per pixel is provided. The image is divided into tiles such that each of the tiles represents a portion of the image. Then, for each of the tiles, the following steps are performed: (a) the colors in the tile are identified; (b) the required number of masks are compared to a threshold number of masks to determine if data reduction by using masks is worthwhile; (c) if the required number of masks is less than the threshold number of masks, a representation of the tile is generated using fills and/or masks; and (d) if the required number of masks is greater than or equal to the maximum number of masks, a representation for the tile using the original format and number of bits per pixel or a smaller index is generated.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2000Date of Patent: July 11, 2006Assignee: Kodak Graphic Communications Canada CompanyInventor: Kent Montgomery Brothers
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Patent number: 7047878Abstract: A flexographic press of conventional design is used to print on a container, with the container to be printed upon replacing the web and the impression roll of the conventional press. In order to maintain the registration between the print stations, the container is placed into a carrier and stays registered to the carrier until all colors are printed. The carrier is moved between the different print stations and is registered to each print station independently. All print stations are set up to print in exactly the same place relative to the carrier, thus registration is achieved.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2005Date of Patent: May 23, 2006Assignee: Kodak Graphic Communications Canada CompanyInventor: Daniel Gelbart
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Patent number: 7044610Abstract: The imaging debris produced by imaging a media with a higher power laser is prevented from accumulating on an optical imaging element by establishing a substantially non-turbulent fluid flow across the optical element. The non-turbulent flow forms a barrier between the optical element and the imaging environment such that debris is not able to reach a surface of the optical element during an imaging operation.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2003Date of Patent: May 16, 2006Assignee: Kodak Graphic Communications Canada CompanyInventors: Vincent Charles Beyer, David Bruce Burgess, Marc Aaron Trudeau, Andrew Leroy Dobric