Patents Assigned to Agfa
  • Publication number: 20120046376
    Abstract: A polymerizable polymeric photoinitiator according to Formula (I): wherein: PL represents an n+m+p-functional polymeric core; n and m independently represent an integer from 1 to 30; p represents an integer from 0 to 10; o is 0 or 1; INI represents a group selected from the group consisting of a benzophenone, a thioxanthone, a carbazole, a anthraquinone, a camphor quinone, an ?-hydroxyalkylphenone, an ?-aminoalkylphenone, an acylphosphine oxide, a bisacyl phosphine oxide, an acylphosphine sulfide, a phenyl glyoxalate, a benzoin ether, a benzyl ketal, an ?-dialkoxyacetophenone, a carbazolyl-O-acyl-oxime, an ?-haloarylketone and an ?-haloaryl sulfone; L3 and L4 represent a substituted or unsubstituted divalent linking group comprising 1 to 14 carbon atoms; A represents a radically polymerizable functional group selected from the group consisting of an acrylate, a methacrylate, a styrene, an acryl amide, a methacryl amide, a maleate, a fumarate, an itaconate, an vinyl ether, an allyl ether, an allyl ester
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: AGFA GRAPHICS NV
    Inventors: Johan Loccufier, Luc Vanmaele, Hedwige Docx, Nadine Willems
  • Patent number: 8118385
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for aligning the printing of dots generated by at least one array of printing elements in an printing apparatus, wherein the method includes the steps of printing a calibration test pattern, scanning the printed calibration test pattern, determining at least one calibration value based on the scanned calibration test pattern, positioning an alignment adjustment tool relative to the array of printing elements of which the alignment needs to be adjusted and, based on the calculated calibration value, automatically adjusting the alignment of the array of printing elements using the alignment adjustment tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Agfa Graphics NV
    Inventors: Werner Van de Wynckel, Verhoest Bart
  • Patent number: 8121371
    Abstract: A first and a second image are expressed in a common coordinate system by applying a geometric transformation to the second image so as to map a structure in the second image onto a corresponding structure in the first image in a common coordinate system. Starting from initial values, the parameters of the geometric transformation are updated taking into account the result of an evaluation of a cost function. Measurements are performed in the common coordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Agfa Healthcare
    Inventor: Piet Dewaele
  • Patent number: 8119329
    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, a top layer, and optionally, an intermediate layer between the photopolymerizable layer and the support, wherein the photopolymerizable layer includes a polymerizable compound, a polymerization initiator, and a binder; b) image-wise exposing the coating in a plate setter; c) optionally, heating the precursor in a pre-heating unit; d) washing the precursor in a pre-washing station by applying water or an aqueous solution to the coating, thereby removing at least a portion of the top layer; and e) developing the precursor in a gumming station by applying a gum solution to the coating of the precursor, thereby removing the non-exposed areas of the photopolymerizable layer from the support and gumming the plate in a single ste
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Agfa Graphics NV
    Inventor: Marc Van Damme
  • Patent number: 8119330
    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, wherein the photopolymerizable layer includes a polymerizable compound, a polymerization initiator and a binder, b) image-wise exposing the coating in a plate setter, c) heating the precursor in a pre-heating unit within a time period of less than 10 minutes after step (b), d) treating the precursor in a gumming station, including at least one gumming unit, whereby a gum solution is applied to the precursor, thereby removing non-exposed areas of the photopolymerizable layer from the support and gumming the plate in a single step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Agfa Graphics NV
    Inventor: Marc Van Damme
  • Patent number: 8121370
    Abstract: A first and a second image are expressed in a common coordinate system by applying a geometric transformation to the second image so as to map a structure in the second image onto a corresponding structure in the first image in a common coordinate system. Starting from initial values, the parameters of the geometric transformation are updated taking into account the result of an evaluation of a cost function. Measurements are performed in the common coordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Agfa Healthcare
    Inventor: Piet Dewaele
  • Publication number: 20120038649
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a corresponding apparatus for multimodal visualization of volume data sets of an object, in particular a patient, comprising the following steps: acquiring a first volume data set of the object with a first imaging modality and a second volume data set of the object with a second imaging modality, said first and second volume data set each comprising a plurality of sample points and values (f1, f2) associated with said sample points, establishing a transfer function, said transfer function defining optical properties (c, ?) of certain values (f1, f2) of said first and second volume data set, and visualizing the optical properties (c, ?) of said certain values (f1, f2) of said first and second volume data set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: AGFA HEALTHCARE NV
    Inventors: Armin Kanitsar, Martin Haidacher, Stefan Bruckner, Eduard Groeller
  • Publication number: 20120034565
    Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a coating provided on a support having a hydrophilic surface, the coating containing thermoplastic polymer particles and an infrared radiation absorbing dye characterized in that the coating further comprises a phenolic stabilizer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: AGFA GRAPHICS NV
    Inventors: Johan Loccufier, Paul Callant, Jens Lenaerts, Ineke Van Severen
  • Patent number: 8110610
    Abstract: A radiation curable composition comprising a curable compound, a photo-initiator and a co-initiator, characterized in that said co-initiator is a oligomer or polymer having a repeating unit, said repeating unit comprising at least two tertiary amines, and said polymer being prepared by the polycondensation of di- or oligofunctional Michael acceptors with mono- or oligofunctional aliphatic primary amines or with di- or oligofunctional aliphatic secondary amines or with a mixture thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Agfa Graphics N.V.
    Inventors: Johan Loccufier, Roland Claes
  • Patent number: 8110338
    Abstract: A heat-sensitive positive-working lithographic printing plate precursor includes a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, a heat-sensitive coating including an IR absorbing agent, a phenolic resin, and a first polymer, wherein the first polymer is an alkaline soluble polymer including a monomeric unit having a structure according to Formula I or Formula II, wherein at least one of the aromatic groups Ar1 and Ar2 is an optionally substituted heteroaromatic group:
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Agfa Graphics NV
    Inventors: Johan Loccufier, Stefaan Lingier, Hubertus Van Aert, Jan Venneman, Marc Van Damme
  • Patent number: 8106373
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for reading out X-ray information stored in storage phosphor plates with an input unit, (12) for inputting a plurality of cassettes (14, 28, 32) which can be stacked one behind the other in a direction of stacking (S) within the input unit (12), has an oblong accommodation well (30) for accommodating one of the cassettes (32), the accommodation well (30) being adjacent to the input unit (12), a moving device (50) for horizontally moving the cassette (32) accommodated by the accommodation well (30) along a path of movement, and a deflection element (64, 66) for deflecting a next cassette located within the input unit (12) which is adjacent to the cassette (32) accommodated by the accommodation well (30) and projects at least partially into the path of movement, the deflection element (64, 66) being positioned and designed such that with horizontal movement of the cassette (32) located within the accommodation well (30), due to contact between the cassette (32) located within the accommodation
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Agfa HealthCare N.V.
    Inventors: Johannes Hölzl, Günther Schindlbeck, Volkmar Voigtländer, Thomas Hartmann, Franz Auer, Rudolf Werkstetter
  • Patent number: 8097663
    Abstract: A non-aqueous inkjet ink containing a pigment includes C.I.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Agfa Graphics NV
    Inventors: Katrien Bernaerts, Ivan Hoogmartens, Geert Deroover
  • Patent number: 8093312
    Abstract: A non-aqueous inkjet ink includes a benzimidazolone pigment and a polymeric dispersant according to Formula (I): wherein, T represents hydrogen or a polymerization terminating group; Z represents the residue of polyethyleneimine having a number-average molecular weight of at least 100; A represents an oxyalkylene carbonyl group; T-C(O)An- represents a TPOAC-chain which is bound to Z through an amide bond; and n and m are integers wherein m is at least 2 and n is from 2 to 100; the polymeric dispersant fulfills the conditions of: WTPOAC>57 and NAmide?65 mol % wherein WTPOAC represents the ratio of the weight percentage of TPOAC-chains over the weight percentage of amide bonds in the polymeric dispersant; NAmide represents the mol % of amide bonds based on the total nitrogen content of the polymeric dispersant; and the values of WTPOAC and NAmide are calculated from the total nitrogen content determined by dry combustion of the polymeric dispersant and from the amine content determined through pot
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Agfa Graphics NV
    Inventors: Geert Deroover, Katrien Bernaerts, Ivan Hoogmartens
  • Patent number: 8092983
    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, wherein the photopolymerizable layer includes a polymerizable compound, a polymerization initiator, and a binder, b) image-wise exposing the coating in a plate setter, c) heating the precursor in a pre-heating unit, d) treating the precursor in a gumming station, including at least a first gumming unit, by applying a gum solution to the coating of the precursor, thereby removing the non-exposed areas of the photopolymerizable layer from the support, and wherein the steps (c) and (d) are carried out off-press in the pre-heating unit and the first gumming unit, and the pre-heating unit and the first gumming unit are coupled to each o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Agfa Graphics NV
    Inventor: Marc Van Damme
  • Patent number: 8088560
    Abstract: A method of making a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of: (a) providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, and a coating on the support, the coating including (i) at least one image-recording layer which includes a photocurable composition, and (ii) on top thereof, an oxygen-barrier layer including a water-soluble or water-swellable polymer, b) image-wise exposing the coating, (c) optionally, heating the precursor in a pre-heating unit, (d) treating the image-wise exposed precursor with water or an aqueous solution to remove at least a portion of the oxygen-barrier layer, (e) mounting the treated precursor on a plate cylinder of a lithographic printing press, and (f) developing the precursor by rotating the plate cylinder while feeding dampening liquid and/or ink to the coating, thereby removing non-exposed areas of the image-recording layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Agfa Graphics NV
    Inventor: Alexander Williamson
  • Patent number: 8088559
    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, wherein the photopolymerizable layer includes a polymerizable compound and a polymerization initiator, b) image-wise exposing the coating in a plate setter, c) optionally, heating the precursor in a pre-heating unit, 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 photopolymerizable layer from the support, wherein the photopolymerizable layer further includes a polymer containing an acid group and a basic nitrogen-containing compound capable of neutralizing the acid group, or wherein the photopolymerizable layer furt
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Agfa Graphics NV
    Inventors: Willi-Kurt Gries, Marc Van Damme
  • Patent number: 8088561
    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 an imaging layer, and, optionally, an intermediate layer between the imaging layer and the support, wherein the imaging layer includes a switchable polymer, b) image-wise exposing the coating, whereby the polymer undergoes a chemical reaction induced by the exposing step thereby creating a lithographic image consisting of printing areas and non-printing areas wherein the non-printing areas are removable from the support by a gum solution, and c) developing the precursor by treating the coating of the precursor with the gum solution thereby removing the non-printing areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Agfa Graphics NV
    Inventors: Hieronymus Andriessen, Hubertus Van Aert, Alexander Williamson, Marc Van Damme
  • Patent number: 8088474
    Abstract: A non-transparent microvoided biaxially stretched self-supporting non-laminated polymeric film, the film comprising linear polyester as a continuous phase and dispersed uniformly therein an amorphous high polymer comprising at least one chain-polymerized block with a higher glass transition temperature than the glass transition temperature of the continuous phase and isotactic poly(4-methyl-1-pentene), wherein the linear polyester consists essentially of aromatic dicarboxylate and aliphatic dimethylene monomer units, wherein the combined concentration of the uniformly dispersed amorphous high polymer and isotactic poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) in the film is 5 to 35% by weight; the use of the above-described non-transparent microvoided biaxially stretched film in synthetic paper; an image recording element comprising the above-described non-transparent microvoided biaxially stretched film; and a process for producing a transparent pattern comprising the step of: image-wise application of heat optionally supplement
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert N.V.
    Inventors: Dirk Quintens, Peter Bries
  • Patent number: 8088558
    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, wherein the photopolymerizable layer includes a polymerizable compound, a polymerization initiator, and a reactive binder; b) image-wise exposing the coating in a plate setter; c) optionally, heating the precursor in a pre-heating unit; 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 photopolymerizable layer from the support, wherein the reactive binder is a polymer containing a monomeric unit which includes a group having an ethylenically unsaturated bond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Agfa Graphics NV
    Inventors: Alexander Williamson, Marc Van Damme, Willi-Kurt Gries, Hubertus Van Aert
  • Patent number: 8088562
    Abstract: A method for making a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of providing a heat-sensitive lithographic printing plate precursor including on a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, a heat-sensitive coating; image-wise exposing the precursor with IR-radiation or heat; and developing the image-wise exposed precursor with an alkaline developing solution, wherein an anti-sludge agent is present in the precursor or in the developing solution or in the precursor and the developing solution, and wherein the anti-sludge agent is a 5-membered heteroaromatic compound, including —NH— group wherein the hydrogen is capable of being deprotonated in the alkaline developing solution, selected from the group consisting of an optionally substituted benztriazole, 1,2,3-triazole, tetrazole, or indazole compound. According to the above method, the formation of sludge is inhibited or reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Agfa Graphics NV
    Inventors: Johan Loccufier, Stefaan Lingier, Frank Vangaever, Mark Lens, Marc Van Damme