Patents Assigned to Agfa-Gevaert N.V.
  • Storage phosphors
    Patent number: 6315923
    Abstract: Storage phosphors comprising an activated garnet host comprising oxygen and combined elements satisfying the relationship Ln3+&dgr;M5−&dgr;:cQ wherein Ln is an element selected from the group consisting of Gd, La, Lu, Y and combinations thereof; M is an element selected from the group consisting of Al, Ga, Sc, Fe and combinations thereof; Q is selected from the group consisting of terbium, samarium, thallium, indium, europium, ytterbium and combinations thereof; &dgr; is greater lo than or equal to minus 0.5, but less than or equal to 0.5 (i.e., −0.5≦&dgr;≦0.5); and c is an amount sufficient to produce a phosphor that exhibits a higher luminescence emission intensity than said phosphor absent Q when, after first being exposed to penetrating radiaton, the phosphor is stimulated by light of a wavelength ranging from 600 to 1200 nm or thermally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignees: Symyx Technologies, Inc, AGFA-Gevaert, N.V.
    Inventors: Martin Devenney, Earl Danielson, Paul Leblans
  • Pigmented recording material having a backing coating for the production of offset printing plates
    Patent number: 6294298
    Abstract: The invention relates to a recording material for the production of an offset printing plate, having a substrate on whose front a photosensitive image layer is present and on whose back a layer of an organic polymeric material having a glass transition temperature Tg of 45° C. or more is present. The photosensitive image layer, or any top layer present thereon, has a pigment layer formed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert N.V.
    Inventors: Steffen Denzinger, Michael Doerr, Andreas Elsaesser, Guenther Hultzsch, Allen P. Gates, Roland Robinson
  • Fixing element for an article in a container
    Patent number: 6286679
    Abstract: A fixing element (30) retains an article (20) from moving inside a container (10). The container (10) has a base (11) and a cover (19). The fixing element (30) has a tape-like portion (31) that is bent around a corner (21) of the article (20), thus retaining the corner (21) and urging the article (20) against two side walls (15, 16) of the base (11) of the container (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa Gevaert N.V.
    Inventor: Lieven Dirx
  • Recording medium
    Patent number: 6258451
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a recording medium for recording with a phase change ink. The medium comprises a substrate with a support layer and an adhesive layer coated thereon. The adhesive layer coated on said support layer at a coating weight of no more than 10 mg/dm2, comprises a blooming crosslinker and the adhesive layer is soluble in the phase change ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: AGFA Gevaert N.V.
    Inventors: Jose Esteban Valentini, Jose A Siqueira, John Thomas Chandler, Joseph T Guy
  • Method for making positive working printing plates from a heat mode sensitive image element
    Patent number: 6251563
    Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a method for making lithographic printing plates including the following steps a) preparing a heat mode imaging element consisting of a lithographic base with a hydrophilic surface and a top layer which top layer is sensitive to IR-radiation, comprises a polymer, soluble in an aqueous alkaline solution and is unpenetrable for an alkaline developer containing SiO2 as silicates; b) exposing imagewise said heat mode imaging element to IR-radiation; c) developing said imagewise exposed heat mode imaging element with said alkaline developer so that the exposed areas of the top layer are dissolved and the unexposed areas of the top layer remain undissolved characterized in that said top layer includes an IR-absorbing pigment and 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid or a benzophenone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert, N.V.
    Inventors: Marc Van Damme, Joan Vermeersch, Guido Hauquier, Eric Verscheuren
  • Cyanine dyes
    Patent number: 6221574
    Abstract: The present application provides cyanine dyes of the formula (I) in which R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 mutually independently denote a substituent, providing that at least one of the residues R1, R2, R3 denotes an indolyl substituent, X denotes O, S, Se, NR9, CH═CH or C(CH3)2, wherein R9 denotes a optionally substituted alkyl residue, R7, R8 mutually independently denote alkyl, sulfoalkyl, carboxyalkyl, —(CH2)1—SO2−Y—SO2—alkyl, —(CH2)1—SO2—Y—CO—alkyl, —(CH2)1—CO—Y—SO2—alkyl, —(CH2)1—CO—Y—O—alkyl or —(CH2)1—NH—SO3&thgr;, —(CH2)1—N(alkyl)—SO3&thgr; or —(CH2)1—N(aryl)—SO3&thgr;, providing that l=1 to 6 and Y means NH or N−, n means 1, 3, 5, 7, L denotes a substituted or unsubstituted methine group, which may be a constituent of one or more carbocyclic rings, and M denotes a counterion optionally necess
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert N.V.
    Inventor: Michael Missfeldt
  • Process to make ultrahigh contrast images
    Patent number: 6218070
    Abstract: A process to make ultrahigh contrast photographic negative images is disclosed. In known processes, particularly those using hydrazine compounds, developer solutions to increase contrast contain high concentrations of amino compounds that are volatile, have an annoying, unwholesome odor, and corrode the development machines. If development is conducted in the presence of onium compounds having both quaternary nitrogen and tertiary amine functions in the molecule, the process can operate with odor-free developers that do not release corrosive vapors. The invention can be used in reprography for steps preliminary to printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert, N.V.
    Inventor: Reinhold Rüger
  • Radiation-sensitive emulsion, light-sensitive silver halide photographic film material and radiographic intensifying screen-film combination
    Patent number: 6200743
    Abstract: A spectrally-sensitized emulsion has been described, wherein said emulsion comprises {111} tabular silver halide grains having an average aspect ratio of at least 2 with two flat parallel {111} crystal faces accounting for a total projective surface of said parallel crystal faces in said emulsion of at least 50%, characterized in that a site-directing compound is present at said faces, satisfying the general formula I as described herein is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: AGFA-Gevaert, N.V.
    Inventors: Kathy Elst, Ann Verbeeck, Paul Callant
  • Electroconductive glass laminate
    Patent number: 6197418
    Abstract: A material is disclosed which comprises a substrate and an organic electroconductive layer provided on said substrate, characterised in that the substrate is a laminate comprising a glass layer and a support. The glass layer is preferably a flexible glass layer having a thickness from 10 to 500 &mgr;m. The material can be used as an electrode in electric or semiconductor devices thereby providing an improved lifetime, e.g. displays, photovoltaic cells or light-emitting diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert, N.V.
    Inventors: Tom Cloots, Frank Louwet, Hieronymus Andriessen, Bart Verlinden, Jean-Pierre Tahon, Leo Vermeulen, Luc Leenders, Rudi Goedeweeck
  • Method for making a driographic printing plate involving the use of a heat-sensitive imaging element
    Patent number: 6197478
    Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a method for making driographic printing plates comprising the image-wise exposure of a heat-sensitive recording material comprising on an ink-accepting support an image-forming layer containing hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles and a compound capable of converting light into heat, said compound being present in said image-forming layer or a layer adjacent thereto and a cured ink-repellant surface layer. After the exposure the printing plate is developed by wiping it with water or an aqueous solution before or after mounting it on the print cylinder of a printing press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: AGFA-Gevaert, N.V.
    Inventors: Joan Vermeersch, Marc Van Damme
  • Apparatus for recording a gradient image on transparent media
    Patent number: 6193366
    Abstract: An improved apparatus for recording a gradient image on transparent media. The apparatus has at least one solid phase change ink and a solid null image element. A printing head melts the solid phase change ink to form a molten phase change ink and melts the solid null image element to form a molten null image element. The molten phase change ink and the molten null image element are deposited, in an imagewise pattern, onto a transfer surface. A cooling mechanism cools the molten phase change ink and the molten null image element in the imagewise pattern to form a malleable phase change ink and a malleable null image element in the imagewise pattern on the transfer surface. The malleable phase change ink and the malleable null image element are transfered to a media from the transfer surface in the imagewise pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa Gevaert N.V.
    Inventors: Jule William Thomas, Jr., Bernard Allen Apple, C. Wayne Jaeger, Stephen M. Kroon
  • Heat mode sensitive imaging element for making positive working printing plates
    Patent number: 6192799
    Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a heat mode imaging element for making a lithographic printing plate having on a lithographic base with a hydrophilic surface a first layer including a polymer that is soluble in an aqueous alkaline solution and a top layer on the same side of the lithographic base as the first layer that is IR-sensitive and unpenetrable for an alkaline developer; characterized in that at least one of the first layer and the top layer includes a surfactant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: AGFA-Gevaert, N.V.
    Inventors: Marc Van Damme, Joan Vermeersch, Guido Hauquier, Eric Verschueren
  • Method for making a lithographic printing master
    Patent number: 6190828
    Abstract: A method for making a lithographic printing master is disclosed. The method comprises a step of providing a hydrophilic cylindrical surface, e.g. an aluminium plate mounted on the plate cylinder of a printing press, with an image recording composition by transfer from a donor material. The donor material comprises a support and a transfer layer which comprises hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles dispersed in a hydrophilic binder and a compound capable of converting light to heat. The transfer is obtained by friction between the donor layer and the cylindrical surface and/or by moistening the cylindrical surface with an aqueous liquid. The method is especially suited for on-press coating and on-press imaging in computer-to-press procedures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert, N.V.
    Inventors: Eric Verschueren, Joan Vermeersch
  • Film materials comprising colored matting particles
    Patent number: 6190821
    Abstract: A photosensitive silver halide film material is disclosed comprising a support and on one or both sides thereof one or more layer(s) comprising a photosensitive silver halide emulsion wherein tabular silver halide crystals having an average thickness of less than 0.25 &mgr;m and an average aspect ratio of 2 or more are present characterized in that said photosensitive silver halide emulsion layer(s) comprise(s) blue colored polymeric matting particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert, N.V.
    Inventor: Hubert Vandenabeele
  • Polymers containing N-substituted maleimide units and their use in radiation-sensitive mixtures
    Patent number: 6190825
    Abstract: The invention relates to polymers containing N-substituted maleimide units, to a positive- or negative-working radiation-sensitive mixture comprising a) a polymeric binder which is insoluble in water, but soluble in aqueous-alkaline solutions, and b) at least one radiation-sensitive compound, where the binder comprises a polymer containing N-substituted maleimide units of the formula (I) The invention furthermore relates to a recording material having a support and a radiation-sensitive layer, where the layer includes the mixture. The recording material is particularly suitable for the production of chemical-resistant relief recordings. The planographic printing plates produced from the recording material allow long print runs and are resistant to processing chemicals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert N.V.
    Inventors: Steffen Denzinger, Andreas Elsaesser
  • Heat mode recording element based on a thin metal layer
    Patent number: 6187508
    Abstract: An improved heat mode recording element based on a thin metal layer, preferably bismuth, is disclosed, characterized in that it contains hypophosphorous acid, or phosphorous acid, or a mixture of both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: AGFA-Gevaert, N.V.
    Inventors: Hieronymus Andriessen, Steven Lezy
  • Presensitized printing plates
    Patent number: 6187507
    Abstract: The invention provides a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a grained and anodized aluminium substrate having coated thereon a silver halide emulsion layer, the back surface of said substrate being coated with an inert coating which does not chemically or physically interact with an adjacent silver halide layer when two plates are placed in front to back contact. Fogging of the silver halide layer is avoided and the use of the back coating eliminates the requirement for the use of tissue interleaving when wrapping and packing the lithographic printing plate precursors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert, N.V
    Inventors: Allen Peter Gates, Jonathan William Goodin, John Michael Kitteridge, Malcolm James Mallison, Roland Robinson, Philip John Watkiss
  • Method of preparing a lithographic printing plate
    Patent number: 6183936
    Abstract: A method of preparing a lithographic printing plate which involves providing a plate precursor comprising a grained and anodized aluminium substrate coated with a metallic silver layer, imagewise exposing the precursor by means of a high intensity laser beam, and treating the plate by chemical and mechanical means in order to remove stains on the plate surface. On exposure of the plate precursor, removal of the metallic silver layer occurs in the exposed areas. The method provides press ready plates free of background stain, which give a clean, even appearance in exposed areas and show high image resolution and excellent durability on press, while eliminating the requirement for the use of intermediate film and developer chemistry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert, N.V.
    Inventor: Philip John Watkiss
  • Photostimulable phosphor screen suited for dual energy recording
    Patent number: 6180949
    Abstract: A single sheet photostimulable phosphor screen, characterized in that the screen contains in consecutive order (1) a support, (2) a continuous phosphor-containing layer, and permanently and contiguously united therewith (3) a grid structured phosphor-containing layer containing a phosphor different from the phosphor contained in the continuous phosphor-containing layer (2), the grid structured layer (3) containing parallel rows of phosphor-containing stripes or dots, and the different phosphors having a different X-ray absorption capacity with respect to different energy levels of X-ray radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert, N.V.
    Inventor: Paul Leblans
  • Structured media for phase change ink printing
    Patent number: 6180255
    Abstract: A recording media for phase change ink recording comprising: a support; 30-200 mg/dm2 of a receptive layer coated on the support wherein the receptive layer comprises: a binder comprising: a water soluble polymer; and a water insoluble polymer; wherein the combined weight of the water soluble polymer and the water insoluble polymer comprises at least 50%, by weight, and no more than 95%, by weight, water insoluble binder; and an optional inorganic particulate material. The media has an island size of no more than 15 &mgr;m and an asperity of 5.0 to 6.2 &mgr;m which is formed by controlling the drying rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa Gevaert N.V.
    Inventors: Jose Esteban Valentini, Richard Roy Jones
  • Method for treating polypropylene ether and poly-1,2-butylene ether polyols
    Patent number: 4355188
    Abstract: Polyetherpolyols containing residues of catalysts of the double metal cyanide complex class are treated with a strong base and ion exchanged or neutralized and filtered to provide a stable polyol with reduced tendency to form allophanates with diisocyanates. Further, the addition of ethylene oxide to the polyol while in contact with the strong base serves to end cap the polyol to provide it with primary hydroxyl groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1982
    Assignee: The General Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Herold, Robert E. Bingham