Patents by Inventor Oliver Merka

Oliver Merka 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: 11964466
    Abstract: Lithographic printing plate precursors are prepared with a unique aluminum-containing substrate prepared using two separate anodizing processes to provide an inner aluminum oxide layer of average dry thickness (Ti) of 300-3,000 nm and a multiplicity of inner micropores of average inner micropore diameter (Di) of ?100 nm. An outer aluminum oxide layer is also provided to have a multiplicity of outer micropores of average outer micropore diameter (Do) of 15-30 nm and a dry thickness (To) of 30-650 nm. A hydrophilic layer disposed on the outer aluminum oxide layer at 0.0002-0.1 g/m2 has at least a hydrophilic copolymer composed of (a) recurring units having an amide group and (b) recurring units comprising an —OM group directly connected to a phosphorus atom, wherein M represents a hydrogen, sodium, potassium, or aluminum atom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Oliver Merka, Yasushi Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20220118754
    Abstract: Lithographic printing plate precursors are prepared with a unique aluminum-containing substrate prepared using two separate anodizing processes to provide an inner aluminum oxide layer of average dry thickness (Ti) of 300-3,000 nm and a multiplicity of inner micropores of average inner micropore diameter (Di) of ?100 nm. An outer aluminum oxide layer is also provided to have a multiplicity of outer micropores of average outer micropore diameter (Do) of 15-30 nm and a dry thickness (To) of 30-650 nm. A hydrophilic layer disposed on the outer aluminum oxide layer at 0.0002-0.1 g/m2 has at least a hydrophilic copolymer composed of (a) recurring units having an amide group and (b) recurring units comprising an —OM group directly connected to a phosphorus atom, wherein M represents a hydrogen, sodium, potassium, or aluminum atom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Oliver Merka, Yasushi Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 11117412
    Abstract: Lithographic printing plate precursors are prepared with a unique aluminum-containing substrate and one or more radiation-sensitive imageable layers. The aluminum-containing substrate is prepared by three separate and sequential anodizing processes to provide an inner aluminum oxide layer having an average dry thickness (Ti) of 500-1,500 nm and a multiplicity of inner pores having an average inner pore diameter (Di) larger than 0 and <15 nm. A formed middle aluminum oxide layer has a dry thickness (Tm) of 60-300 nm and a multiplicity of middle pores of average middle pore diameter (Dm) of 15-60 nm, arranged over the inner aluminum oxide layer. A formed outer aluminum oxide layer comprises a multiplicity of outer pores having an average outer pore diameter (Do) of 5-35 nm and an average dry thickness (To) of 30-150 nm, arranged over the middle aluminum oxide layer. Dm is larger than Do that is larger than Di.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Oliver Merka, Stephanie Mueller, Jan-Phillip Kemmling, Oliver Richard Blum
  • Publication number: 20210094336
    Abstract: Lithographic printing plate precursors are prepared with a unique aluminum-containing substrate and one or more radiation-sensitive imageable layers. The aluminum-containing substrate is prepared by three separate and sequential anodizing processes to provide an inner aluminum oxide layer having an average dry thickness (Ti) of 500-1,500 nm and a multiplicity of inner pores having an average inner pore diameter (Di) larger than 0 and <15 nm. A formed middle aluminum oxide layer has a dry thickness (Tm) of 60-300 nm and a multiplicity of middle pores of average middle pore diameter (Dm) of 15-60 nm, arranged over the inner aluminum oxide layer. A formed outer aluminum oxide layer comprises a multiplicity of outer pores having an average outer pore diameter (Do) of 5-35 nm and an average dry thickness (To) of 30-150 nm, arranged over the middle aluminum oxide layer. Dm is larger than Do that is larger than Di.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Oliver Merka, Stephanie Mueller, Jan-Phillip Kemmling, Oliver Richard Blum
  • Publication number: 20210060923
    Abstract: Lithographic printing plate precursors are prepared with a unique substrate using two separate anodizing processes to provide an inner aluminum oxide layer of average dry thickness (Ti) of 650-3,000 nm and a multiplicity of inner micropores of average inner micropore diameter (Di) of ?15 nm. An outer aluminum oxide layer comprises a multiplicity of outer micropores of average outer micropore diameter (Do) of 15-30 nm; dry thickness (To) of 130-650 nm; and a micropore density (Co) of 500-3,000 micropores/?m2. The ratio of Do to Di is greater than 1.1:1. A hydrophilic layer disposed on the outer aluminum oxide layer has a copolymer composed of (a) recurring units and (b) recurring units, wherein the (a) recurring units have an amide group, and the (b) recurring units have at least a phosphonic acid, a phosphoric acid, a salt of a phosphonic acid, or a salt of a phosphoric acid group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Oliver Merka, Yasushi Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 10828884
    Abstract: Lithographic printing plate precursors are prepared with a unique substrate and one or more radiation-sensitive imageable layers. The substrate is prepared by two separate anodizing processes to provide an inner aluminum oxide layer having an average dry thickness (Ti) of 650-3,000 nm and a multiplicity of inner micropores having an average inner micropore diameter (Di) of ?15 nm. A formed outer aluminum oxide layer comprises a multiplicity of outer micropores having an average outer micropore diameter (Do) of 15-30 nm; an average dry thickness (To) of 130-650 nm; and a micropore density (Co) of 500-3,000 micropores/?m2. The ratio of Do to Di is greater than 1.1:1, and Do in nanometers and the outer aluminum oxide layer micropore density (Co) in micropores/?m2, are further defined by the outer aluminum oxide layer porosity (Po) according to the following equation: 0.3?Po?0.8 where Po is 3.14(Co)(Do2)/4,000,000.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Oliver Merka, Jan-Phillip Kemmling, Oliver Richard Blum, Benedikt Uhl
  • Patent number: 10363734
    Abstract: On-press developable, negative-working lithographic printing plate precursors are used to provide lithographic printing plates. Such precursors are prepared with a substrate and one or more negative-working, infrared radiation-sensitive imagable layers. The substrate is prepared by two separate anodizing processes to provide an inner aluminum oxide layer having an average dry thickness (Ti) of 650-3,000 nm and inner micropores having an average inner micropore diameter (Di) of <15 nm. A formed outer aluminum oxide layer comprises outer micropores having an average outer micropore diameter (Do) of 15-30 nm; an average dry thickness (To) of 130-650 nm; and a micropore density (Co) of 500-3,000 micropores/?m2. The ratio of Do to Di is greater than 1.1:1, and Do in nanometers and the outer aluminum oxide layer micropore density (Co) in micropores/?m2, are further defined by the outer aluminum oxide layer porosity (Po) as: 0.3?Po?0.8 wherein Po is 3.14(Co)(Do2)/4,000,000.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Oliver Merka, Jan-Phillip Kemmling, Oliver Richard Blum, Benedikt Uhl, Philipp Viehmann
  • Publication number: 20190016110
    Abstract: On-press developable, negative-working lithographic printing plate precursors are used to provide lithographic printing plates. Such precursors are prepared with a substrate and one or more negative-working, infrared radiation-sensitive imagable layers. The substrate is prepared by two separate anodizing processes to provide an inner aluminum oxide layer having an average dry thickness (Ti) of 650-3,000 nm and inner micropores having an average inner micropore diameter (Di) of <15 nm. A formed outer aluminum oxide layer comprises outer micropores having an average outer micropore diameter (Do) of 15-30 nm; an average dry thickness (To) of 130-650 nm; and a micropore density (Co) of 500-3,000 micropores/?m2. The ratio of Do to Di is greater than 1.1:1, and Do in nanometers and the outer aluminum oxide layer micropore density (Co) in micropores/?m2, are further defined by the outer aluminum oxide layer porosity (Po) as: 0.3?Po?0.8 wherein Po is 3.14(Co)(Do2)/4,000,000.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventors: Oliver Merka, Jan-Phillip Kemmling, Oliver Blum, Benedikt Uhl, Philipp Viehmann
  • Publication number: 20180250925
    Abstract: Lithographic printing plate precursors are prepared with a unique substrate and one or more radiation-sensitive imageable layers. The substrate is prepared by two separate anodizing processes to provide an inner aluminum oxide layer having an average dry thickness (Ti) of 650-3,000 nm and a multiplicity of inner micropores having an average inner micropore diameter (Di) of ?15 nm. A formed outer aluminum oxide layer comprises a multiplicity of outer micropores having an average outer micropore diameter (Do) of 15-30 nm; an average dry thickness (To) of 130-650 nm; and a micropore density (Co) of 500-3,000 micropores/?m2. The ratio of Do to Di is greater than 1.1:1, and Do in nanometers and the outer aluminum oxide layer micropore density (Co) in micropores/?m2, are further defined by the outer aluminum oxide layer porosity (Po) according to the following equation: 0.3?Po?0.8 where Po is 3.14(Co)(Do2)/4,000,000.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Oliver Merka, Jan-Phillip Kemmling, Oliver Richard Blum, Benedikt Uhl