Patents Assigned to Agfa
  • Publication number: 20110046035
    Abstract: A method for treating a lithographic printing plate is disclosed comprising the step of applying a liquid to the plate including an aqueous phase; a solvent phase which is present in the liquid in an amount ?40% wt; and one or more compound (s) having the following formula (I): R1—O—(Y)n?H wherein R1 is a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group or a butyl group; Y represents —CH2—CHR2-0- with R2=hydrogen or an alkyl group and/or mixtures thereof; and n is an integer ?10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: AGFA-GEVAERT NV
    Inventors: Peter Maessen, Patrick Mertens
  • Publication number: 20110026792
    Abstract: A method of generating a multiscale contrast enhanced image is described wherein the shape of edge transitions is preserved. Detail images are subjected to a conversion, the conversion function of at least one scale being adjusted for each detail pixel value according to the ratio between the combination of the enhanced center differences and the combination of the unenhanced center differences. Several adaptive enhancement measures are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: AGFA HEALTHCARE N.V.
    Inventors: Tom Bertens, Pieter Vuylsteke
  • Publication number: 20110026785
    Abstract: For each of a number of landmarks in an image an initial position of the landmark is defined. Next a neighborhood around the initial position, comprising a number of candidate locations of the landmark is sampled and a cost is associated with each of the candidate locations. A cost function expressing a weighted sum of overall gray level cost and overall shape cost for all candidate locations is optimized. A segmented anatomic entity is defined as a path through a selected combination of candidate locations for which combination the cost function is optimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: Agfa HealthCare N.V.
    Inventors: Piet Dewaele, Dirk Loeckx, Dieter Seghers
  • Patent number: 7878625
    Abstract: A printhead positioning system is provided wherein the shuttle assembly is split up in a printing shuttle, having a high accuracy positioning capability and a utility shuttle needing only a low accuracy positioning system. Due to this split-up the mass of components which have to be positioned accurately is greatly reduced and therefore making it easier to position the lighter load accurately and allowing for use of cheaper drive systems while maintaining the high accuracy in printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Agfa Graphics NV
    Inventors: Marc van Kalmthout, Arend-Jan Beltman, Albert Brals, Werner Van De Wynckel, Bart Verhoest, Bart Verlinden
  • Patent number: 7875321
    Abstract: Upon a substrate subsequent layers of elastic ink are jetted using an ink jet printing system. Each layer is immobilised by a immobilisation step before jetting the following layer. A printing relief is gradually formed to obtain a flexographic printing plate allowing accurate control over the relief and slopes of the printing plates. Use can be made of different inks or immobilisation step to obtain different layer characteristics. Inks can be immobilised using UV curing. The recorded relief of the layers can be measured and corrections can be applied using a feed-back loop. A rejuvenation process for printing plates can be constructed using the described method. An elastic base layer can be provided on the substrate to provide better plate characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Agfa Graphics NV
    Inventors: Bart Verhoest, Bart Verlinden, Eddi Daems, Luc Leenders, Kris Vangeel, Wim Helsen
  • Patent number: 7875698
    Abstract: A novel polymeric initiator is disclosed comprising a dendritic polymer core with at least one initiating functional group as an end group. The dendritic polymeric core is preferably a hyperbranched polymer. The polymeric initiators are useful in radiation curable compositions such as varnishes, lacquers and printing inks and are especially useful in radiation curable inkjet inks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Agfa Graphics NV
    Inventors: Luc Vanmaele, Johan Loccufoer, Yu Chen, Holger Frey
  • Publication number: 20110014381
    Abstract: A method for making a lithographic printing plate support includes the steps of providing an aluminum support; graining the support in a graining electrolyte solution; and treating the grained support in a desmut electrolyte solution containing hydrochloric acid by applying a direct current resulting in a charge density Q; wherein the desmut electrolyte solution has a pH less than 1 and Q is at least 400 C/dm2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: AGFA GRAPHICS NV
    Inventors: Paola Campestrini, Dirk Faes
  • Publication number: 20110007106
    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: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: AGFA GRAPHICS NV
    Inventors: Peter Bracke, Davy De Vetter
  • Patent number: 7869642
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a predicted window level transformation for image data associated with a loading image based on user selections of window level transformations. A learning image associated with a set of learning context characteristics is displayed to the user in order to elicit selection of a first selected window transformation. Learned rules are established based on the learning context characteristics and the first selected window transformation. When there is a request to display a loading image associated with a set of loading context characteristics, the learned rules are evaluated based on the loading context characteristics to determine a set of inferred window level transformations. The predicted window level transformation is then determined by selecting the most desirable inferred window level transformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: AGFA Inc.
    Inventor: Donald K. Dennison
  • Patent number: 7867572
    Abstract: A method for making a lithographic printing plate precursor includes the steps of coating a composition having a pH?5 on a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, the composition including hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles stabilized with an anionic dispersant, a hydrophilic binder and colloidal silica, characterized in that the silica carries a negative charge; and drying the coated composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Agfa Graphics NV
    Inventor: Hieronymus Andriessen
  • Publication number: 20110000384
    Abstract: Method for cleaning a lithographic printing plate comprising the step of applying a liquid to the plate including an aqueous phase, a solvent phase and at least one alkyl (poly) glucoside, said solvent phase including a mixture comprising aliphatic and/or aromatic hydrocarbons, characterized in that the amount of solvent phase in the liquid is ?40% wt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: Agfa Graphics NV
    Inventors: Peter Maessen, Patrick Albert Mertens
  • Publication number: 20110000385
    Abstract: A method for making a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including a support, with a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, and a coating provided thereon, the coating including an image-recording layer which includes thermoplastic particles; exposing the precursor to heat or infrared radiation; and developing the exposed precursor in an alkaline aqueous solution; wherein the alkaline aqueous solution includes at least 0.05 g/l of lithium ions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: AGFA GRAPHICS NV
    Inventors: Paola Campestrini, Stefaan Lingier
  • Publication number: 20100330304
    Abstract: A security laminate precursor comprising a plurality of lamellae and layers, wherein at least one of the outermost lamellae is an axially stretched linear polyester film and the security laminate precursor comprises a touch-detectable relief structure on a side of the security laminate precursor having as outermost lamella the axially stretched linear polyester film, the relief structure being associated with a viewable non-surface image which is a pattern made up of micro-perforations. A security laminate and a process for preparing a security laminate are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: AGFA-GEVAERT NV
    Inventors: Ingrid Geuens, Carlo Uyttendaele
  • Publication number: 20100330296
    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: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: AGFA GRAPHICS NV
    Inventors: Johan Loccufier, Ivan Hoogmartens
  • Publication number: 20100331478
    Abstract: An inkjet printing method includes the steps of a) providing a first radiation curable composition curable by free radical polymerization or cationic polymerization; b) applying a layer of the first radiation curable composition on a substrate; c) curing the layer; d) jetting on the cured layer a second composition curable by a different polymerization than the first composition but selected from the group consisting of free radical polymerization and cationic polymerization; and e) curing the jetted second composition by a different polymerization than the first composition. The first composition includes a cationically polymerizable compound having at least one (meth)acrylate group present in the first curable composition in an amount of at least 25 wt % based upon the total weight of the first curable composition. An inkjet ink set may be used in the above inkjet printing method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: AGFA GRAPHICS NV
    Inventor: Roland Claes
  • Patent number: 7859549
    Abstract: A comparative review system for displaying views associated with studies on first and second display areas according to a screen layout, a study view mode, and a hanging protocol. The screen layout is used to determine the number of display slots to display in the first and second display areas. This determination along with the study view mode is then used to determine whether to display a study in corresponding display slots associated with the first and second display areas. The number of display slots displayed, whether studies are displayed in corresponding display slots across displays, and the hanging protocol are used to determine which views to display within display slots. Each screen layout, study view mode and hanging protocol is associated with a comparative review mode, which in turn are combined into a comparative review sequence. The comparative review sequence allows for display and navigation through the various modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: AGFA Inc.
    Inventors: Carrie Handley, Edmund H. Scorah, Steve Rankin
  • Publication number: 20100322500
    Abstract: A method of detecting the orientation of a radiographic image represented by a digital signal representation wherein mathematical moments of the digital signal representation are calculated relative to different reference entities and wherein a decision on the orientation of the radiographic image, for example the position of the thorax edge in a mammographic image, is obtained on the basis of an extreme value (minimum, maximum) of the calculated moments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: AGFA HEALTHCARE
    Inventor: Piet DEWAELE
  • Publication number: 20100320743
    Abstract: A security laminate comprising a plurality of lamellae and layers, wherein at least one of the lamellae is a biaxially stretched polyethylene terephthalate film, and wherein the ratio of the thickness of the one or more biaxially stretched polyethylene terephthalate films over the total thickness of the security laminate is at least 0.21. A method for detecting the falsification of such security laminates by a sound characteristic is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: AGFA-GEVAERT
    Inventors: Ingrid Geuens, Walther Wouters
  • Patent number: 7854799
    Abstract: A non-aqueous inkjet ink includes a diketopyrrolo-pyrrole pigment and at least one polyalkyleneglycol dialkylether having a molecular weight of at least 250. Also, a method for manufacturing decorative laminates using the non-aqueous inkjet ink is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Agfa Graphics NV
    Inventor: Ivan Hoogmartens
  • Publication number: 20100316841
    Abstract: A process for producing a security laminate comprising a plurality of lamellae and layers, comprising the steps of: a) providing at least one film, at least a first and a second prelaminate and a contactless module, wherein the contactless module is not incorporated in the prelaminate or the film; and b) laminating in one step together the at least first prelaminate, the at least one film, the contactless module and the at least second prelaminate to provide the security laminate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: AGFA-GEVAERT
    Inventor: Ingrid Geuens