Patents Assigned to Agfa
  • Publication number: 20120321795
    Abstract: A relief print master is created with a printhead that jets droplets of a polymerizable liquid on a cylindrical sleeve. The droplets follow a spiral path on the cylindrical sleeve. In a multiple printhead unit, there are different spiral paths associated with the constituting printheads in the multiple printhead unit. The distance between the spiral paths is not even. Preferred embodiments of the current invention provide a method and a system so that the distance between these spiral paths becomes even. The system can also be used for the creation of other types of print masters, such as offset print plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: AGFA GRAPHICS NV
    Inventor: Chris Gullentops
  • Publication number: 20120319013
    Abstract: A coating device for coating a peripheral surface of a sleeve body with a coating formulation includes a vertical support column for supporting a sleeve body in a vertical position coaxial with a coating axis, a carriage slideable along the vertical support column, and an annular coating stage attached to the carriage and moveable therewith for containing the coating formulation and for coating a layer of the coating formulation onto the peripheral surface of the sleeve body during a sliding movement of the carriage along the vertical support column. The coating device includes an irradiation stage that is arranged to be moveable with the annular coating stage and to provide radiation to at least partially cure the layer of coating formulation onto the peripheral surface so as to prevent flow off of the coating formulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: AGFA GRAPHICS NV
    Inventors: Luc LEENDERS, Willem MUES, Jackie DUPREZ, Bart VERHOEST, Hilbrand VANDEN WYNGAERT, Eddie DAEMS, Luc VANMAELE
  • Patent number: 8330962
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system and to a corresponding method for optical coherence tomography having an interferometer (10) and a detector system (30, 31) which comprises a detector (30) for collecting the light reflected by a specimen (1) to be examined and has a sensitivity to the light reflected by the specimen (1). In order to reduce the times required for the most reliable possible recording of interference signals provision is made such that the sensitivity of the detector system (30, 31) to the light reflected by the specimen (1) and impinging on the detector (30) is modulated with a modulation frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Agfa HealthCare N.V.
    Inventors: Rainer Nebosis, Rainer Scheunemann
  • Patent number: 8329784
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for preparing a non-transparent microvoided axially stretched film including i) mixing a linear polyester having monomer components consisting essentially of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid, an aliphatic diol and optionally an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, a non-crosslinked random SAN-polymer and one or more additional ingredients to produce a mixture, ii) forming the mixture produced in step i) in a thick film followed by quenching; iii) stretching the thick film at a temperature between the glass transition temperature of the SAN-polymer and the glass transition temperature of said linear polyester to at least twice the initial length, and (iv) further stretching the film at an angle substantially 90° to the previous stretching process to at least twice the initial length and at 90° C. or below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert N.V.
    Inventors: Dirk Quintens, Luc Leenders
  • Publication number: 20120309861
    Abstract: A specific type of carbazole photoinitiator is capable of providing radiation curable compositions that are curable by UV LEDs and do not exhibit an unstable yellowing behaviour in an image upon storage like ITX.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: AGFA-GEVAERT N.V.
    Inventor: Johan Loccufier
  • Patent number: 8321474
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for generating evaluation data with a data base for storing original data, a memory for storing an evaluation program for the evaluation of original data stored in the data base and a control. In order to achieve rapid and reliable provision of evaluation data, an evaluation order for evaluating original data is generated upon the occurrence of a pre-specified event. It is checked by the control whether an evaluation order has been generated. In the event of an evaluation order being present, the evaluation program stored in the memory is started dependently upon the evaluation order, the evaluation program accessing original data stored in the data base dependently upon the evaluation order and the evaluation data being generated from this.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Agfa HealthCare N.V.
    Inventor: Joerg Schilken
  • Patent number: 8313576
    Abstract: A method of preparing a pigment includes the steps of: a) providing a mixture including: a pigment selected from the group of pigments including at least 50 wt % of C.I. Pigment Violet 23, C.I. Pigment Red 146, C.I. Pigment Red 176, C.I. Pigment Red 177, C.I. Pigment Violet 19 and C.I. Pigment Orange 13 based on the total weight of the pigment; alkyl nitrile; and at least one acid selected from the group consisting of sulfuric acid and chlorosulfuric acid, with the acid present in the mixture in amount of more than 2 wt % based on the total weight of the pigment; b) heating the mixture for more than 2 hours to a temperature of at least 70° C.; and c) filtering the mixture and washing the filtrand with a washing liquid containing water until the filtrate has a pH between 4 and 7. Pigments obtainable by the method and non aqueous pigment dispersions are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: AGFA-GEVAERT N.V.
    Inventor: Geert Deroover
  • Patent number: 8313885
    Abstract: A heat-sensitive lithographic printing plate precursor comprising on a grained and anodized aluminum support a compound which is capable of converting form a hydrophobic state to a hydrophilic state or vice versa upon exposure to heat, and is represented by the following formula: A-(L)n-B wherein L represents a linking group, n represents 0 or 1 and B represents a thermo-labile group; characterized in that the compound further comprises the group A which is a functional group capable of interacting with the surface of a grained and anodized aluminum support and is selected from the list consisting of a halosilanyl group, an alkoxysilanyl group, a phosphonic acid group or a salt thereof, a phosphoric acid group or a salt thereof, a salicylic acid group or a salt thereof, a boronic acid group or an ester or a salt thereof, an optionally substituted di or tri-hydroxyaryl group, an optionally substituted salicaldoxime group, an optionally substituted salicaldimine group, an optionally substituted hydroxyheteroa
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: AGFA Graphics NV
    Inventors: Johan Loccufier, Hieronymus Andriessen
  • Publication number: 20120279419
    Abstract: A method of preparing a pigment includes, in order, the steps of: a) providing a pigment containing a nucleophile group under basic conditions; b) reacting the pigment with a compound according to Formula (I): wherein, X is a halogen atom or a tosylate group, and R1 and R2 independently represent an alkyl group; and c) hydrolyzing the R1-O bond and/or the R2-O bond. The obtained pigments can be used in non-aqueous pigment dispersions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: AGFA-GEVAERT N.V.
    Inventor: Geert Deroover
  • Publication number: 20120281034
    Abstract: A single pass inkjet printing method includes the steps of: a) providing a radiation curable inkjet ink set containing at least a first and a second radiation curable inkjet ink having a dynamic surface tension of no more than 30 mN/m measured by maximum bubble pressure tensiometry at a surface age of 50 ms and at 25° C.; b) jetting a first radiation curable inkjet ink on an ink-jet ink-receiver moving at a printing speed of at least 35 m/min.; c) at least partially curing the first inkjet ink on the ink receiver within the range of 40 to 500 ms after the first inkjet ink landed on the ink receiver; d) jetting a second radiation curable inkjet ink on the at least partially cured first inkjet ink; and e) at least partially curing the second inkjet ink within the range of 40 to 500 ms after the second inkjet ink landed on the first inkjet ink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: AGFA GRAPHICS NV
    Inventors: Stefaan De Meutter, Peter Bracke, David Tilemans, Joris Van Garsse, Geert Van Dyck
  • Publication number: 20120283349
    Abstract: A radiation curable composition for UV LED curing includes at least one co-initiator selected from the group consisting of an aliphatic tertiary amine and a dialkyl aniline derivative; and at least one specific carbazole photoinitiator. The radiation curable composition can be advantageously used to prevent unstable yellowing behaviour in an image upon storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: AGFA-GEVAERT N.V.
    Inventor: Johan Loccufier
  • Patent number: 8304165
    Abstract: A heat-sensitive negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor comprising: a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer; and an image-recording layer comprising hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles and an infrared light absorbing dye; characterized in that: said image-recording layer further comprises a compound, said compound comprising an aromatic moiety and at least one acidic group or salt thereof and having a most bathochromic light absorption peak at a wavelength between 300 nm and 450 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: AGFA Graphics NV
    Inventors: Hieronymus Andriessen, Paul Callant, Alexander Williamson
  • Patent number: 8304166
    Abstract: A heat-sensitive positive-working lithographic printing plate precursor comprising (1) a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, (2) a heat-sensitive coating, comprising an underlayer on said support and thereon an upperlayer, an IR absorbing agent in at least one of said underlayer and upperlayer, a phenolic resin in said upperlayer, and a first polymer in said underlayer, characterized in that said first polymer is an alkaline soluble polymer comprising a first sulfonamide containing monomeric unit having a specified structure according to formula I or formula II and a second amide containing monomeric unit having a specified structure according to formula III. The printing plates show an improved chemical resistance of the coating and a reduced undercutting of the image forming parts of the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Agfa Graphics NV
    Inventors: Johan Loccufier, Stefaan Lingier, Heidi Janssens
  • Publication number: 20120277340
    Abstract: An inkjet printing method includes in order the steps of: a) providing to an inkjet printer one or more colorless liquids and a white ink including a pigment with a refractive index greater than 1.60; b) mixing the white ink in a controlled amount with the one or more colorless liquids to form a white ink-mixture wherein the viscosity is reduced by at least 5 mPa·s by reference to the white ink when measuring the viscosity at 40° C. with a Brookfield DV-II+Pro at 12 rotations per minute; and c) printing the white ink-mixture with the inkjet printer onto an ink-receiver. Additionally, a color inkjet ink set includes the one or more colorless liquids and the white ink, and an inkjet printer for use in the inkjet printing method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: AGFA GRAPHICS NV
    Inventors: Etienne Van Thillo, Frank De Voeght, Emiel Verdonck
  • Publication number: 20120266768
    Abstract: A positive-working lithographic printing plate precursor is disclosed which comprises on a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer a heat and/or light-sensitive coating including an infrared absorbing agent, said heat and/or light-sensitive coating comprising a first layer comprising a binder including a monomeric unit including a sulfonamide group; characterized in that the binder further comprises a monomeric unit including a phosphonic acid group or a salt thereof, and that the monomeric unit comprising the phosphonic acid group is present in an amount comprised between 2 mol % and 15 mol %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: AGFA GRAPHICS NV
    Inventors: Johan Loccufier, Stefaan Lingier, Heidi Janssens
  • Patent number: 8292385
    Abstract: An ink supply system for an industrial inkjet printer makes use of a least one buffer vessel wherein ink at low pressure is isolated and pressurized to a high pressure suited for feeding the ink to the printhead. A recirculation ink supply system using plural buffer vessels is suited for repressurizing the ink without the use of a pump. The system avoids generation of gas bubbles due to cavitation which are present in systems using a pump for repressurizing ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Agfa Graphics NV
    Inventors: Peter Bracke, Davy De Vetter
  • Patent number: 8287112
    Abstract: An inkjet printing method includes in order the steps of: a) providing to an inkjet printer one or more colorless liquids and a white ink including a pigment with a refractive index greater than 1.60; b) mixing the white ink in a controlled amount with the one or more colorless liquids to form a white ink-mixture wherein the viscosity is reduced by at least 5 mPa·s by reference to the white ink when measuring the viscosity at 40° C. with a Brookfield DV-II+Pro at 12 rotations per minute; and c) printing the white ink-mixture with the inkjet printer onto an ink-receiver. Additionally, a color inkjet ink set includes the one or more colorless liquids and the white ink, and an inkjet printer for use in the inkjet printing method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Agfa Graphics NV
    Inventors: Etienne Van Thillo, Frank De Voeght, Emiel Verdonck
  • Patent number: 8290223
    Abstract: A Markov Random Field (MRF)-based technique is described for performing clustering of images characterized by poor or limited data. The proposed method is a statistical classification model that labels the image pixels based on the description of their statistical and contextual information. Apart from evaluating the pixel statistics that originate from the definition of the K-means clustering scheme, the model expands the analysis by the description of the spatial dependence between pixels and their labels (context), hence leading to the reduction of the inhomogeneity of the segmentation output with respect to the result of pure K-means clustering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Agfa HealthCare N.V.
    Inventors: Marek Suliga, Piet Dewaele, Rudi Deklerck, Edgard Nyssen, Gert Behiels
  • Patent number: 8290292
    Abstract: At least one approximation image is created of the image at one or multiple scales. Translation difference images are created by pixel-wise subtracting the values of an approximation image at scale s and the values of a translated version of the approximation image. A non-linear modification is applied to the values of the translation difference image (s) and at least one enhanced center difference image at a specific scale is computed by combining the modified translation difference images at that scale or a smaller scale with weights wi,,j. An enhanced image is computed by applying a reconstruction algorithm to the enhanced center difference images. The non-linear modification of the values of the translation difference images is steered by (a) characteristic (s) computed out of the approximation image (s) at least one scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Agfa HealthCare N.V.
    Inventors: Tom Bertens, Pieter Vuylsteke
  • Patent number: 8286578
    Abstract: A coating device for coating a peripheral surface of a sleeve body with a coating formulation includes a vertical support column for supporting a sleeve body in a vertical position coaxial with a coating axis, a carriage slideable along the vertical support column, and an annular coating stage attached to the carriage and moveable therewith for containing the coating formulation and for coating a layer of the coating formulation onto the peripheral surface of the sleeve body during a sliding movement of the carriage along the vertical support column. The coating device includes an irradiation stage that is arranged to be moveable with the annular coating stage and to provide radiation to at least partially cure the layer of coating formulation onto the peripheral surface so as to prevent flow off of the coating formulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Agfa Graphics NV
    Inventors: Luc Leenders, Willem Mues, Jackie Duprez, Bart Verhoest, Hilbrand Vanden Wyngaert, Eddie Daems, Luc Vanmaele