Patents Assigned to Agfa
  • Inkjet printing methods and inkjet ink sets
    Patent number: 8282197
    Abstract: An inkjet printing method including, in order, the steps of: a) providing at least two or more color inkjet inks of the same color and color density but having a different composition to an inkjet printer; b) mixing the two or more color inkjet inks in a controlled amount; and c) printing the mixture of the two or more color inkjet inks with the inkjet printer onto an ink-receiver. An inkjet printer and an inkjet ink set include two or more color inkjet inks of the same color and color density but having a different composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Agfa Graphics NV
    Inventors: Frank De Voeght, Etienne Van Thillo
  • Process and apparatus for reading out and erasing X-ray information stored in storage phosphor layers
    Patent number: 8278637
    Abstract: A process, and to a corresponding apparatus for reading out and erasing X-ray information stored in storage phosphor layers, comprising the following: irradiating the storage phosphor layer (1) with stimulation light (3) by means of which the storage phosphor layer (1) is stimulated to emit emission light, collecting the emission light emitted at different locations (x, y) of the storage phosphor layer (1) with a detector (7), detector signal values (D(x, y)) being obtained for different locations (x, y) of the storage phosphor layer (1), and irradiating the storage phosphor layer (1) with erasing light (21), the quantity of erasing light (21) being determined by means of the detector signal values (D(x, y)).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Agfa HealthCare N.V.
    Inventors: Stephan Mair, Thomas Hartmann, Bernd Gerstlauer
  • Method for creating a color link
    Patent number: 8270028
    Abstract: The invention deals with a method for replacing the colorant values of a raster image by a new set of colorant values that is for example optimized for a standardized printing process. According to the invention, a forward look up table is identified that transforms the colorant values in the raster image into color values. The color values in this look up table are separated into new colorant values to obtain a colorant to colorant interpolation look up table. This is done by using an inverse transformation that is based on the forward look up table using appropriate separation parameters for the standardized printing process. The method has the advantage that it enables to map pure colorant values in the original image back onto pure colorant values in the transformed image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Agfa Graphics NV
    Inventors: Marc Mahy, Wim Cliquet, Stefan Livens
  • Flexographic printing forme precursor for laser engraving
    Patent number: 8268533
    Abstract: A method of making a flexographic printing form precursor for laser engraving including the steps of (i) providing at least one layer of a curable composition on a substrate; (ii) curing the at least one layer; wherein the curable composition defining an outermost layer includes at least 0.5% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition of an organo-silicon compound including at least one polymerizable group; and a urethane (meth)acrylate oligomer having three or less polymerizable groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: AGFA Graphics NV
    Inventors: Eddie Daems, Luc Leenders
  • NON-AQUEOUS PIGMENT DISPERSIONS USING DISPERSION SYNERGISTS
    Publication number: 20120229555
    Abstract: Non-aqueous pigment dispersions exhibit improved dispersion quality and/or stability for a specific selection of naphthol AS pigments and azo pigments by using specific quinacridone dispersion synergists. The non-aqueous pigment dispersions can be advantageously used in inkjet inks inkjet printing methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: AGFA-GEVAERT N.V.
    Inventor: Geert Deroover
  • Laser Markable Security Film
    Publication number: 20120231240
    Abstract: A security film including a support (1) and a laser markable layer (3), wherein the laser markable layer includes i) a laser additive; ii) a polymer selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polycarbonate and styrene acrylonitrile; iii) an initiator; and iv) at least 15 wt % of radiation curable compound based on the total dry weight of the laser markable layer, wherein the radiation curable compound has a viscosity of less than 100 mPa·s at 25° C. and at a shear rate of 100 s?1. A security document and a method for preparing the security film are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: AGFA-GEVAERT N.V.
    Inventors: Carlo Uyttendaele, Bart Aerts, Bart Waumans, Ingrid Geuens
  • Security Document with Security Feature on Edge
    Publication number: 20120223516
    Abstract: A security document precursor including one or more lamellae provided with two or more holes near a perimeter edge surface of the precursor, wherein the holes perforate the largest surface of the one or more lamellae, and wherein at least one of the holes is filled with a coloured material which differs in colour from at least one of the one or more lamellae, such that the coloured material is visible from a direction perpendicular on the perimeter edge surface; wherein at least one of the one or more lamellae is transparent or translucent: or wherein at least one of the one or more lamellae is opaque and the opaque part of the at least one of the one or more lamellae between the perimeter edge and the hole filled with a coloured material has been removed. A security document and a method of preparing the security document precursor are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: AGFA-GEVAERT N.V.
    Inventors: Bart Waumans, Ingrid Geuens
  • Laser Markable Security Film
    Publication number: 20120217736
    Abstract: A security film including, in order, a transparent biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate support (1), a subbing layer (2, 2?) and a laser markable layer (3, 3?) comprising a laser additive and one or more polymers selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polycarbonate and styrene acrylonitrile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: AGFA-GEVAERT N.V.
    Inventors: Carlo Uyttendaele, Bart Aerts, Bart Waumans, Ingrid Geuens
  • FLEXOGRAPHIC PRINTING FORME PRECURSOR FOR LASER ENGRAVING
    Publication number: 20120213984
    Abstract: A method of making a flexographic printing forme precursor for laser engraving including the steps of (i) providing at least one layer of a curable composition on a substrate; (ii) curing the at least one layer; wherein the curable composition defining an outermost layer includes at least 0.5% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition of an organo-silicon compound including at least one polymerizable group; and a urethane (meth)acrylate oligomer having three or less polymerizable groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: Agfa Graphics NV
    Inventors: Eddie DAEMS, Luc LEENDERS
  • NOVEL CYANINE DYES AND LITHOGRAPHIC PRINTING PLATE PRECURSORS COMPRISING SUCH DYES
    Publication number: 20120208126
    Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor includes a cyanine dye, characterized in that the cyanine dye includes two different chromophoric groups, a chromophoric group that has its main absorption in the infrared region and another chromophoric group that has its main absorption in the visible light region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: AGFA GRAPHICS NV
    Inventor: Paul Callant
  • NON-AQUEOUS PIGMENT DISPERSIONS USING DISPERSION SYNERGISTS
    Publication number: 20120200634
    Abstract: Non-aqueous pigment dispersions exhibiting improved dispersion quality and/or stability were prepared for a specific selection of quinacridone pigments, diketopyrrolo-pyrrole pigments and azo pigments by using specific naphthol AS dispersion synergists. The non-aqueous pigment dispersions can be advantageously used in inkjet inks inkjet printing methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: AGFA-GEVAERT N.V.
    Inventor: Geert Deroover
  • PREPARING AND DISPERSING SURFACE-MODIFIED COLOUR PIGMENTS
    Publication number: 20120199044
    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 1,4-butane sultone or 1,3-propane sultone in an alkaline medium to form sulfobutyl groups respectively sulfopropyl groups on the pigment surface; and c) adding acid to convert the sulfobutyl groups or sulfopropyl groups to sulfonic acid groups. Pigments obtainable by the method and non aqueous pigment dispersions are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: AGFA-GEVAERT N.V.
    Inventor: Geert Deroover
  • NON-AQUEOUS PIGMENT DISPERSIONS USING DISPERSION SYNERGISTS
    Publication number: 20120200650
    Abstract: Non-aqueous pigment dispersions exhibiting improved dispersion quality and/or stability were prepared for a specific selection of naphthol AS pigments, diketopyrrolo-pyrrole pigments and quinacridone pigments, by using specific yellow monoazo dispersion synergists. The non-aqueous pigment dispersions can be advantageously used in inkjet inks inkjet printing methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: AGFA-GEVAERT N.V.
    Inventor: Geert Deroover
  • PREPARING AND DISPERSING SURFACE-MODIFIED COLOUR PIGMENTS
    Publication number: 20120202927
    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: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: AGFA-GEVAERT N.V.
    Inventor: Geert Deroover
  • UV CURABLE INKJET COMPOSITIONS FOR HIGH-DENSITY PRINT HEADS
    Publication number: 20120194616
    Abstract: A combination of: a) an inkjet print head having a nozzle density of at least 600 dpi and nozzles with an outer nozzle diameter D smaller than 25 ?m; and b) a UV curable inkjet composition containing 0 to 10 wt % of one or more monofunctional monomers and at least A wt % of 2-(2-vinyloxyethoxy)ethyl acrylate, wherein both wt % are based on the total weight of the UV curable inkjet composition; and wherein A is defined by the formula 100 wt %?D×3.0 wt %/?m?A?100 wt %?D×1.0 wt %/?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicants: AGFA-GEVAERT N.V., AGFA GRAPHICS NV
    Inventors: Geert Van Dyck, David Tilemans
  • Method of making a lithographic printing plate
    Patent number: 8232043
    Abstract: A method of making a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of a) providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including (i) a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, (ii) a coating on the support including a photopolymerizable layer, and, optionally, an intermediate layer between the photopolymerizable layer and the support, b) image-wise exposing the coating in a plate setter, c) optionally, heating the precursor in a preheating unit, and d) developing the precursor off-press in a gumming unit by treating the coating of the precursor with a gum solution, thereby removing the non-exposed areas of the coating from the support, wherein the coating further includes a compound capable of interacting with the support, the compound being present in the photopolymerizable layer and/or in the intermediate layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Agfa Graphics NV
    Inventors: Alexander Williamson, Marc Van Damme, Willi-Kurt Gries
  • Visual enhancement of interval changes using temporal subtraction, convolving, and non-rigid transformation field mapping
    Patent number: 8229189
    Abstract: Method to bring out a temporal difference between corresponding structures in a reference image R and a floating image F by convolving the reference image R and the floating image F with a window function Hw to generate Rw and Fw, applying a non-rigid transformation resulting in a transformation field g(rR) mapping every location rR to a corresponding location rF in the floating image F and generating a subtraction image by performing subtraction Rw(r)?Fw(g(r)) wherein r represents a voxel (x, y, z) in reference image R.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Agfa HealthCare N.V.
    Inventors: Dieter Seghers, Piet Dewaele, Paul Suetens
  • Visual enhancement of interval changes using temporal subtraction and pattern detector
    Patent number: 8229190
    Abstract: A workflow method for temporal nodule review by registering a reference image R with a floating image F, convolving the reference image R and the floating image with the same window function Hw to generate Rw and Fw, generating a subtraction image by performing subtraction Rw?Fw (g(r)) wherein r represents a voxel (x, y, z) in reference image R, applying a pattern detector to said subtraction image to detect corresponding nodules in reference image R and floating image F and displaying corresponding nodules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Agfa HealthCare N.V.
    Inventors: Dieter Seghers, Piet Dewaele, Paul Suetens
  • Radiation curable inkjet fluids and inks improved for photoyellowing
    Patent number: 8227047
    Abstract: A radiation curable inkjet fluid includes a radiation curable composition including at least 25 wt % of a vinylether acrylate and at least 15 wt % of a polymerizable compound including at least three acrylate groups, each wt % being based upon the total weight of the radiation curable composition; and a photoinitiator including a tertiary amine group and 0 to 3 wt % of isopropylthioxanthone based upon the total weight of the radiation curable inkjet fluid. Also, an inkjet printing method using the radiation curable inkjet fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Agfa Graphics NV
    Inventors: Johan Loccufier, Ivan Hoogmartens
  • Visual enhancement of interval changes using rigid and non-rigid transformations
    Patent number: 8224046
    Abstract: An image point in a displayed reference image R is selected and a non-rigid transformation resulting in a transformation field g(rR) mapping every location rR to a corresponding location rF in a floating image F is applied, next a rigid body transformation is applied to floating image F such that rF coincides with the selected image point and the transformed floating image is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Agfa HealthCare N.V.
    Inventors: Dieter Seghers, Piet Dewaele, Paul Suetens