Patents by Inventor Bart Verhoest
Bart Verhoest 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).
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Publication number: 20020126169Abstract: An ink-jet printer includes pagewidth printheads mounted in a frame, wherein the printheads are coupled to mechanical devices for aligning the printheads with respect to each other, with respect to an edge of the image receiving substrate, or with respect to both. The printer may include devices for sensing the possible misalignment, coupled to a computer for automatically aligning the printheads.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2002Publication date: September 12, 2002Inventors: Hilbrand Vanden Wyngaert, Bart Verhoest, Dirk De Ruijter, Bart Verlinden
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Publication number: 20020080210Abstract: An ink jet printer including a first and a second nozzle array, arranged one after another in the printing direction, wherein the second nozzle array is movably arranged in the printer for being displaced so that the number of nozzles in the second nozzle array experience a displacement having a component in a direction orthogonal to the printing direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2001Publication date: June 27, 2002Inventors: Bart Verhoest, Dirk De Ruijter, Hilbrand Van den Wyngaert, Bart Verlinden
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Patent number: 6371607Abstract: An ink jet printer including an ink-supply system having: a lower ink container, an upper ink container, a liquid droplet deposition apparatus with nozzles, wherein an ink circulator is provided for circulating ink from the lower container to the upper container and from the upper container through the liquid droplet deposition apparatus (a printhead) back into the lower container and wherein the upper container, having a bottom and side walls and containing ink forming an ink surface, has a first compartment with an inlet for ink wherein the inlet contains a flow guiding device for avoiding directional flow of the ink towards the ink surface and a second compartment, separated from the first one by a partition placed between the first and second compartments so that the two compartments communicate only in a lower part of the upper container.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2001Date of Patent: April 16, 2002Assignee: AGFA-GevaertInventors: Paul Wouters, André Van Geyte, Bart Verhoest
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Publication number: 20020031356Abstract: A method for thermally processing a sheet of a thermographic material provides good flatness and dimensional stability together with a high optical homogeneity. The method incorporates the steps of supplying a sheet of thermographic material m (1) to a thermal processor (10) having a processing chamber (12), heating the processing chamber to a predetermined processing temperature, and transporting the sheet of thermographic material through the processing chamber in a sinuous way (4). This transporting is carried out by a first drivable belt (21), a second drivable belt (22) and backing means (27).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2001Publication date: March 14, 2002Inventors: Bart Verhoest, Luc De Coux, Bart Verlinden, Ludo Van Schepdael
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Publication number: 20020001024Abstract: An ink jet printer including an ink-supply system having: a lower ink container, an upper ink container, a liquid droplet deposition apparatus with nozzles, wherein an ink circulator is provided for circulating ink from the lower container to the upper container and from the upper container through the liquid droplet deposition apparatus (a printhead) back into the lower container and wherein the upper container, having a bottom and side walls and containing ink forming an ink surface, has a first compartment with an inlet for ink wherein the inlet contains a flow guiding device for avoiding directional flow of the ink towards the ink surface and a second compartment, separated from the first one by a partition placed between the first and second compartments so that the two compartments communicate only in a lower part of the upper container.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2001Publication date: January 3, 2002Inventors: Paul Wouters, Andre Van Geyte, Bart Verhoest
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Patent number: 6250222Abstract: The apparatus comprises a housing (12) defining one or more treatment cells (14, 16, 18) having a sheet material path (20) extending therethrough from an entrance (22) to an exit (24). The entrance (22) and exit (24) are each closed by a respective drive roller (26) in contact with a reaction surface (28, 50) to define a nip (29) therebetween through which the sheet material path (20) extends. Rotatable sealing means (30) seal each drive roller (26) to the housing (12). A reduced pressure is established within the treatment cell (14, 16, 18). The continuous treatment of sheet materials can be carried out under reduced pressure, in a convenient and reliable manner.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 1999Date of Patent: June 26, 2001Assignee: Agfa-GevaertInventors: Bartholomeus Verlinden, Bart Verhoest
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Patent number: 6071022Abstract: A machine part (24) is provided with a resilient seal (28) having an in-use condition in which the seal (28) protrudes beyond a sealing face (32) of the machine part (24). The seal (28) has an alternative condition in which it is accommodated in a cut-out portion (52) in the sealing face (32) of the machine part (24). The arrangement can be used in an apparatus comprising a number of machine parts, a first machine part (24) being provided with the resilient seal (28) which protrudes beyond a sealing face (32) of the first machine part (24) to seal the first machine part (24) to a second machine part (30). The arrangement enables such an apparatus to be dis-assembled with reduced risk of damaging the seal or tearing it from its mounting.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 1998Date of Patent: June 6, 2000Assignee: Agfa-GevaertInventors: Bart Verhoest, Fran.cedilla.ois Joos, Dirk de Ruyter
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Patent number: 6068414Abstract: The roller (20) comprises a main body member (31), a shaft (46) fixed to the main body member (31) and extending from one end thereof, and an end member (34) in contact with the main body member (31), characterised in that the end member (34) is mounted on the shaft (46) in a replaceable manner.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 1998Date of Patent: May 30, 2000Assignee: Agfa-GevaertInventors: Bart Verhoest, Fran.cedilla.ois Joos
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Patent number: 6049344Abstract: The apparatus comprises at least one treatment vessel (12) comprising a housing (14) having a sheet material inlet opening (17) and a sheet material outlet opening (18) defining a sheet material path (20) through said vessel (12). Each opening (17, 18) is closed by a path-defining rotatable roller (28) biased towards a reaction surface (30) to form a nip (36) there-between through which said sheet material path (20) extends. The path-defining roller (28) is in contact along its length, with a plurality of rotatable intermediate rollers (38) carried in fixed bearings (40) mounted on said housing (14).Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 1998Date of Patent: April 11, 2000Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert N.V.Inventors: Bartholomeus Verlinden, Patrick Van den Bergen, Bart Verhoest, Dirk de Ruyter, Ludo Van Schepdael
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Patent number: 5997191Abstract: A housing (10) defines a liquid treatment chamber (12). The chamber (12) has entrance and exit openings (16, 18) each closed by a pair of co-operating path defining rollers (20), rotatable about a horizontal axis (26) and in contact with each other to form a nip (22) through which a material transport path segment (24) extends. Sealing means (28) seal the path defining rollers (20) to the housing (10). A drip tray (30) is so shaped and positioned as to collect treatment liquid dripping from the roller (20), both when the material path segment (24) is vertical and when it is horizontal. The vessel may be connected in a closed manner to one or more further treatment vessels to constitute a apparatus for processing photographic material. The vessel can be successfully used in either orientation.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 1998Date of Patent: December 7, 1999Assignee: Agfa-GevaertInventors: Bart Verlinden, Patrick Van den Bergen, Bart Verhoest
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Patent number: 5993084Abstract: The apparatus comprises a developing station (10), a second treatment station (12), a third treatment station (14). A liquid connection (52) is provided between the third treatment station (14) and the second treatment station (12). In a cleaning mode, liquid is fed from the developing station (10) to the third treatment station (14) to assist in cleaning of the third and second treatment stations (12, 14). The apparatus can be cleaned in a particularly convenient and efficient method, enabling optimum use of cleaning liquids and enabling automation of the cleaning process.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 1998Date of Patent: November 30, 1999Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert N.V.Inventors: Dirk de Ruyter, Bart Verhoest
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Patent number: 5993082Abstract: The apparatus comprises a treatment vessel (112) having a path-defining roller (12) biased towards a reaction member (14) to define a nip (136) there-between through which a sheet material path (120) extends. The path-defining roller (12) comprises a core (56) having a covering of elastomeric material, an outer layer (60) of which is doped with a surface modifying material. The roller which is able to resist wear without significant loss to operating characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 1998Date of Patent: November 30, 1999Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert N.V.Inventors: Bart Verhoest, Rik Plessers
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Patent number: 5960226Abstract: The roller comprises a core (56) having an elastomeric covering which comprises an outer exposed region (60) and an intermediate region (58) positioned between the outer region (60) and the core (56). The outer region (60) has a thickness which decreases towards each end of the roller and the intermediate region (58) has a thickness which increases towards each end of the roller. When associated with another such roller to form a nip in an apparatus for wet processing sheet materials, carry-over is reduced, leakage when no sheet material is passing through the nip is reduced, and the risk of physical damage to the sheet material is reduced.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 1998Date of Patent: September 28, 1999Assignee: Agfa-GevaertInventors: Ludo Van Schepdael, Bart Verhoest
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Patent number: 5794091Abstract: An apparatus for the wet processing of photographic sheet material comprises at least one treatment vessel having a rotatable endless surface means biased towards a reaction member to define a nip there-between through which the sheet material path extends. At least one of the endless rotatable surface means and the reaction member comprises an inner region (58) of elastomeric material having a relatively low hardness, and an outer region (60) of elastomeric material having a relatively high hardness positioned over the inner region (58). Such a roller minimises carry-over between vessels without damage to the sheet material while being capable of successfully being used as a drive roller. The roller exhibits good stability against treatment liquids and has good processing qualities.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 1996Date of Patent: August 11, 1998Assignee: AGFA-GevaertInventors: Bart Verlinden, Bart Verhoest
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Patent number: 5754914Abstract: An apparatus for the wet processing of photographic sheet material comprises at least one treatment vessel (12, 12', 12") having upper and lower openings (17, 18). One of the openings constitutes a sheet material inlet and the other of the openings constitutes a sheet material outlet. A substantially vertical sheet material path (20) through the vessel is defined by the inlet and outlet and by a path-defining rotatable roller (28) biased towards a reaction surface (30) to form a roller nip (36) there-between through which the sheet material path extends. The path-defining roller (28) is in sealing contact along its length, with a rotatable sealing member (38). The reaction surface is preferably a further path-defining roller. The sealing of one vessel from the next and of the path-defining roller to the housing of the associated vessel is thereby achieved in a simple and reliable manner.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 1996Date of Patent: May 19, 1998Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert N.V.Inventors: Patrick Van den Bergen, Francois Joos, Bart Verhoest, Bart Verlinden
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Patent number: 5745816Abstract: A roller, for use in a photographic sheet material processing apparatus, comprises a core (32) provided with a covering of relatively soft material (34). The roller has a length (L) of from 0.4 to 2.0 m. The core has a maximum diameter (D) of less than 0.04*L m. The roller is characterised by having a deflection as measured by a specific test and a weight (W) below levels defined by a specified boundary condition formulae (1) & (2). Rollers satisfying this condition are characterised in that the core is formed of a composite material comprising fibers and a resin matrix. Such rollers have a relatively small diameter, are light and yet still have sufficient stiffness to avoid substantial wrinkling of the sheet material in the apparatus and to satisfy the requirements of high processing quality.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 1996Date of Patent: April 28, 1998Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert N.V.Inventors: Bartholomeus Verlinden, Bart Verhoest, Jan Claes, Ludo Van Schepdael
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Patent number: 5737662Abstract: An apparatus for the wet processing of photographic sheet material comprises at least one treatment vessel (12, 12', 12") having upper and lower openings (17, 18), one of the openings constituting a sheet material inlet and the other of the openings constituting a sheet material outlet, the inlet and outlet defining there-between a substantially vertical sheet material path (20) through the vessel. The vessel comprises a pair of rotatable rollers (28, 30) biased towards each other to define a nip (36) there-between through which the sheet material path extends. The apparatus is characterized in that the rollers (28, 30) are axially offset relative to each other; and each roller is in sealing contact along its length, at least between the limits (56) of the nip (36) with a stationary sealing member (38, 39).Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 1996Date of Patent: April 7, 1998Assignee: AGFA-Gevaert, N.V.Inventors: Bartholomeus Verlinden, Bart Verhoest, Patrick Van den Bergen
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Patent number: 5689750Abstract: An apparatus for the wet processing of photographic sheet material comprises at least one treatment vessel (12, 12', 12") having upper and lower openings (17, 18), one of the openings (17) constituting a sheet material inlet and the other of the openings (18) constituting a sheet material outlet, the inlet and outlet defining there-between a substantially vertical sheet material path (20) through the vessel. The vessel comprises a rotatable roller (28) biased towards a reaction surface (30) to define a roller nip (36) there-between through which the sheet material path extends and associated with sealing means (38) to retain treatment liquid (24) in the vessel (12). The apparatus is characterised in that the roller (28) comprises a core (32) carrying a covering (34) of elastomeric material, the ratio (.phi./L) of the maximum diameter (.phi.) of the elastomeric material covering to the length (L) thereof being at least 0.012.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 1996Date of Patent: November 18, 1997Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert N.V.Inventors: Bartholomeus Verlinden, Marc De Niel, Bart Verhoest
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Patent number: 5678118Abstract: An apparatus for the wet processing of photographic sheet material comprises at least one treatment vessel (12, 12', 12") having upper and lower openings (17, 18), one of the openings constituting a sheet material inlet and the other of the openings constituting a sheet material outlet, the inlet and outlet defining there-between a substantially vertical sheet material path (20) through the vessel. The vessel comprises a pair of rotatable rollers (28, 30) biased towards each other to define a nip (36) there-between through which the sheet material path extends. The apparatus is characterised in that the end faces of one roller lie in substantially the same plane as the end faces of the other roller and each roller is in sealing contact with a stationary sealing means (38) having a continuous contact line (52) which extends along the length of each roller (28, 30) and over the end faces of each roller, at least on the fluid side of said nip (36).Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 1996Date of Patent: October 14, 1997Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert N.V.Inventors: Patrick Van den Bergen, Luc De Roeck, Bart Verhoest, Dirk de Ruijter
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Patent number: 5606720Abstract: Apparatus for processing a photographic sheet material in at least one processing stage which includes a feed roller array for transporting the material to or from the stage. The feed roller array has a pair of rollers supported on shafts for rotation and mounted with one superposed generally above the other. The upper roller is driven in a transport direction by a drive mechanism acting on an end of its shaft. The opposite ends of the shafts of the two rollers are journaled in frame members with the lower roller being supported for limited independent movement toward and away from the upper roller. The lower roller is normally biased into contact with the upper roller and is adapted to be displaced vertically away from the upper roller by a cam arrangement acting on the ends of its shaft. The upper roller is adapted to be shifted axially to disengage an end of its shaft from its journal to permit the upper roller to be removed manually from the apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 1994Date of Patent: February 25, 1997Assignee: AGFA-Gevaert N. V.Inventors: Bart Verhoest, Jan Claes, Freddy van Humbeeck