Patents by Inventor Luc De Roeck

Luc De Roeck 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).

  • Patent number: 11905653
    Abstract: A method for decorating a natural leather comprising the following steps: a) holding by vacuum suction the natural leather with its corium side to an air-permeable support onto a vacuum support of an inkjet printer; and b) inkjet printing a decorative image on the natural leather wherein the air-permeable support is partly covered by said natural leather. The air-permeable support comprises a fibrous layer in contact with the corium side of the natural leather.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Agfa NV
    Inventor: Luc De Roeck
  • Patent number: 11872805
    Abstract: An inkjet printer (500) for printing on natural leather (300) comprising a first vacuum belt (150) for conveying an unwoven fabric (200) which is, configured as a second vacuum belt, for conveying under an inkjet print head (505) a natural leather (300); and a device for applying pressure to said natural leather (300) on said second vacuum belt; wherein said device comprises a portion for traversing said natural leather (300) with a rub by a relative movement between said pressure device and said second vacuum belt, carrying said natural leather (300).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Agfa NV
    Inventor: Luc De Roeck
  • Publication number: 20230364933
    Abstract: Method of decorating natural leather with an inkjet printer which comprises:—a first vacuum belt (150) for conveying an unwoven fabric (200) which is configured as a second vacuum belt, for conveying under an inkjet print head (505) a natural leather (300); and wherein the method comprises:—applying from an adhesive tape-roll an adhesive tape (1300) as a continuous sheet against the unwoven fabric wherein said adhesive tape (1300) has an adhesive side and opposite side and the opposite side is in contact with the unwoven fabric;—applying a natural leather (300) on the adhesive side of the adhesive tape (1300);—conveying the applied natural leather by moving the first vacuum belt (150) whereby the unwoven fabric (200) is moving by suction power through the first vacuum belt (150) and the applied adhesive tape (1300) is moving by said suction power through said unwoven fabric (200) under an inkjet print head (505);—marking the applied natural leather with jetted droplets of the inkjet print head (505) for decor
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Applicant: AGFA NV
    Inventor: Luc De Roeck
  • Publication number: 20230069706
    Abstract: An inkjet printer (500) for printing on cloth (300) comprising a first vacuum belt (150) for conveying an unwoven fabric (200) which is, configured as a second vacuum belt, for conveying under an inkjet print head (505) a cloth (300); and a device for applying pressure to said cloth (300) on said second vacuum belt; wherein said device comprises a portion for traversing said cloth (300) with a rub by a relative movement between said pressure device and said second vacuum belt, carrying said cloth (300).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: AGFA NV
    Inventor: Luc De Roeck
  • Publication number: 20220297459
    Abstract: A method for decorating an unassembled packaging box (300) comprising the following steps: a) holding by vacuum suction the unassembled packaging box with its side to an air-permeable support (200) onto a vacuum support of an inkjet printer (100); and b) inkjet printing an image on the unassembled packaging box wherein the air-permeable support 200) is partly covered by said unassembled packaging box wherein the air-permeable support (200) comprises a fibrous layer in contact with the side of the unassembled packaging box (300) and wherein the fibrous layer is an unwoven fabric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: AGFA NV
    Inventor: Luc De Roeck
  • Publication number: 20220227147
    Abstract: A method for decorating a natural leather comprising the following steps: a) holding by vacuum suction the natural leather with its corium side to an air-permeable support onto a vacuum support of an inkjet printer; and b) inkjet printing a decorative image on the natural leather wherein the air-permeable support is partly covered by said natural leather. The air-permeable support comprises a fibrous layer in contact with the corium side of the natural leather.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Applicant: AGFA NV
    Inventor: Luc De Roeck
  • Publication number: 20220227146
    Abstract: An inkjet printer (500) for printing on natural leather (300) comprising a first vacuum belt (150) for conveying an unwoven fabric (200) which is, configured as a second vacuum belt, for conveying under an inkjet print head (505) a natural leather (300); and a device for applying pressure to said natural leather (300) on said second vacuum belt; wherein said device comprises a portion for traversing said natural leather (300) with a rub by a relative movement between said pressure device and said second vacuum belt, carrying said natural leather (300).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Applicant: AGFA NV
    Inventor: Luc De Roeck
  • Patent number: 11273656
    Abstract: A sticky-layer-cleaner for removing residues adhered to a sticky flat layer includes a receptacle for a cleaning-liquid and a cleaning-roll in contact with the sticky flat layer, wherein the cleaning-roll includes an elongated carpet fabric which is helically folded around the cleaning-roll and a pile of which includes yarn tufts in loop and/or cut configuration, and the cleaning-roll further includes a helical channel along the length of the folded carpet fabric for draining the cleaning-liquid from the cleaning-roll and/or for wetting the cleaning-roll with the cleaning-liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: AGFA NV
    Inventor: Luc De Roeck
  • Publication number: 20210394543
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of decorated natural leather including the steps of applying a crusted leather, having a corium side, a grain side and an edge, on a conveyor system, having a position means, and aligning said crusted leather by moving said edge against said position means; and laminating said aligned crusted leather on a temporary carrier, having an adhesive layer, wherein said corium side is attached by said adhesive layer on said temporary carrier while conveying said crusted leather on said conveyor system towards said temporary carrier and moving said temporary carrier relative to said conveyor system; and inkjet printing on said grain side with one or more pigmented inkjet inks an image by an inkjet printing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventor: Luc De Roeck
  • Publication number: 20210146703
    Abstract: A sticky-layer-cleaner for removing residues adhered to a sticky flat layer includes a receptacle for a cleaning-liquid and a cleaning-roll in contact with the sticky flat layer, wherein the cleaning-roll includes an elongated carpet fabric which is helically folded around the cleaning-roll and a pile of which includes yarn tufts in loop and/or cut configuration, and the cleaning-roll further includes a helical channel along the length of the folded carpet fabric for draining the cleaning-liquid from the cleaning-roll and/or for wetting the cleaning-roll with the cleaning-liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventor: Luc DE ROECK
  • Patent number: 10752023
    Abstract: An inkjet printing device includes a vacuum-belt and vacuum-table including a flat area positioned between a first and second air-groove aligned along a conveying direction. The vacuum-belt includes a first column of vacuum-belt-air-channels connected to the first air-groove a second column of vacuum-belt-air-channels connected to the second air-groove, and a third column of vacuum-belt-air-channels connected to the flat area by a plurality of air channels formed by a rough layer at the back-side of the vacuum-belt and/or a rough layer on the flat area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: AGFA NV
    Inventor: Luc De Roeck
  • Patent number: 10632766
    Abstract: An inkjet printer, and a printing method with the inkjet printer, includes a first conveyor belt wrapped around a vacuum table and supported by an upstream pulley and a downstream pulley and a vacuum area on the first conveyor belt, and a second conveyor belt wrapped-around the first conveyor belt and supported by an upstream sliding support and a downstream sliding support. The second conveyor belt is adhered in the vacuum area by vacuum power and a print receiver is attached to the second conveyor belt for conveying and printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: AGFA NV
    Inventor: Luc De Roeck
  • Patent number: 10603931
    Abstract: An inkjet printing method with an inkjet printing device includes a vacuum belt having a set of air-channels connecting a top-surface and a bottom-surface of the vacuum belt. The set of air-channels couples an inkjet receiver to the vacuum belt by air suction in the set of air-channels, wherein the vacuum belt includes a dimple at the top-surface. The dimple has a closed bottom end, and the dimple is connected with an air-channel of the set of air-channels to form an air cup and to couple the inkjet receiver to the vacuum belt at the dimple by air suction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: AGFA NV
    Inventors: Luc De Roeck, Peter Baeyens, Jeroen Strijckers
  • Publication number: 20190270320
    Abstract: An inkjet printer, and a printing method with the inkjet printer, includes a first conveyor belt wrapped around a vacuum table and supported by an upstream pulley and a downstream pulley and a vacuum area on the first conveyor belt, and a second conveyor belt wrapped-around the first conveyor belt and supported by an upstream sliding support and a downstream sliding support. The second conveyor belt is adhered in the vacuum area by vacuum power and a print receiver is attached to the second conveyor belt for conveying and printing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventor: Luc DE ROECK
  • Patent number: 10384475
    Abstract: An inkjet printing device includes a transport system for transporting a rigid multilayered substrate in a print direction and a support plane; a dryer, attached to a first gantry which is positioned over the transport system and perpendicular to the print direction, for immobilizing a jetted ink layer in a drying zone; and a push down mechanism for the rigid multilayered substrate against the transport system, arranged at least in the drying zone. The push down mechanism includes a bar which is positioned parallel and elongated to the print direction and mounted parallel to the support plane above the transport system. The bar is maintained on a second and third gantry by a maintainer on each gantry and positioned over the transport system at each side of the first gantry and perpendicular to the print direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: AGFA NV
    Inventors: Luc De Roeck, Jurgen Van Dorpe
  • Publication number: 20190240997
    Abstract: An inkjet printing device includes a vacuum-belt and vacuum-table including a flat area positioned between a first and second air-groove aligned along a conveying direction. The vacuum belt includes a first column of vacuum-belt-air-channels connected to the first air-groove, a second column of vacuum-belt-air-channels connected to the second air-groove, and a third column of vacuum-belt-air-channels connected to the flat area by a plurality of air channels formed by a rough layer at the back-side of the vacuum-belt and/or a rough layer on the flat area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventor: Luc DE ROECK
  • Publication number: 20180345686
    Abstract: An inkjet printing device includes a transport system for transporting a rigid multilayered substrate in a print direction and a support plane; a dryer, attached to a first gantry which is positioned over the transport system and perpendicular to the print direction, for immobilizing a jetted ink layer in a drying zone; and a push down mechanism for the rigid multilayered substrate against the transport system, arranged at least in the drying zone. The push down mechanism includes a bar which is positioned parallel and elongated to the print direction and mounted parallel to the support plane above the transport system. The bar is maintained on a second and third gantry by a maintainer on each gantry and positioned over the transport system at each side of the first gantry and perpendicular to the print direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Luc DE ROECK, Jurgen VAN DORPE
  • Publication number: 20180264851
    Abstract: An inkjet printing method with an inkjet printing device includes a vacuum belt having a set of air-channels connecting a top-surface and a bottom-surface of the vacuum belt. The set of air-channels couples an inkjet receiver to the vacuum belt by air suction in the set of air-channels, wherein the vacuum belt includes a dimple at the top-surface. The dimple has a closed bottom end, and wherein the dimple is connected with an air-channel of the set of air-channels to form an air cup and to couple the inkjet receiver to the vacuum belt at the dimple by air suction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Luc DE ROECK, Peter BAEYENS, Jeroen STRIJCKERS
  • Patent number: 9969187
    Abstract: A belt step conveyor system includes a moving belt gripper mounted on a linear movement system to convey the conveyor belt rotating about a plurality of pulleys in successive distance movements while the moving belt gripper engages the conveying belt and the moving belt gripper is moved from a home position to an end position by linear movement system. The conveyor belt is stagnant by engaging a stagnating belt gripper while the moving belt gripper moves back to its home position, else the stagnating belt gripper releases the conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: AGFA NV
    Inventors: Luc De Roeck, Eric Piron, Jan Zwijsen
  • Patent number: 9962963
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing of an inkjet flatbed table including a large support layer with an area of at least 1.5 m2 to support an ink receiver in an inkjet printing system, the method including the steps of fixing a plate on top of a base unit by forming a part of or whole the support layer; and abrading the fixed plate to have a flatness on the top of the support layer less than 300 ?m and wherein the plate is characterized by including a thermoplastic polymer resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: AGFA NV
    Inventor: Luc De Roeck