Patents Assigned to Eastman Kodak Company
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Patent number: 11964466Abstract: Lithographic printing plate precursors are prepared with a unique aluminum-containing substrate prepared using two separate anodizing processes to provide an inner aluminum oxide layer of average dry thickness (Ti) of 300-3,000 nm and a multiplicity of inner micropores of average inner micropore diameter (Di) of ?100 nm. An outer aluminum oxide layer is also provided to have a multiplicity of outer micropores of average outer micropore diameter (Do) of 15-30 nm and a dry thickness (To) of 30-650 nm. A hydrophilic layer disposed on the outer aluminum oxide layer at 0.0002-0.1 g/m2 has at least a hydrophilic copolymer composed of (a) recurring units having an amide group and (b) recurring units comprising an —OM group directly connected to a phosphorus atom, wherein M represents a hydrogen, sodium, potassium, or aluminum atom.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2020Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANYInventors: Oliver Merka, Yasushi Miyamoto
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Patent number: 11945240Abstract: A method of printing on an inkjet printer including a plurality of overlapping jetting modules includes analyzing image data within a stitch area to designate white pixels and non-white pixels. For rows where the stitch area includes white pixels, a hard stitch boundary is defined within the stitch area where image pixels to the left of the hard stitch boundary are to be printed using a left jetting module and image pixels to the right of the hard stitch boundary are to be printed using a right jetting module. For image regions where the rows of image pixels within the stitch area include only non-white pixels, a soft-stitching path is defined through the image region, and a fading function is used to gradually transition from printing image pixels with the left jetting module to printing image pixels with the right jetting module in a transition zone around the soft-stitching path.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2023Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANYInventors: Manfred L. Holl, Rainer Kuessel, Andreas Weiser
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Patent number: 11932744Abstract: A foamed, opacifying element has a substrate with opposing planar surfaces and a foamed opacifying layer disposed on one opposing surface. The foamed opacifying layer contains (a) 0.1-80 weight % of nonporous polymeric particles; (b?) 10-80 weight % of a matrix material derived from a (b) binder material having a glass transition temperature of less than 40° C.; (c) 0.0001-50 weight % of certain additives; (d) less than 5 weight % of water; and (e) at least 0.002 weight % of an opacifying colorant different from all of the (c) additives. Foamable and foamed aqueous compositions can be used to provide these foamed, opacifying elements for use as light-blocking window shades, curtains, or other materials. These light-blocking articles can also have a printable outer surface that accepts ink for making printed images that are not observable from the opposite surface.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2020Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Mridula Nair
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Patent number: 11914319Abstract: A digital printing system incorporating in-track position corrections includes one or more printing subsystems, a data processing system; and a digital memory for storing a representation of an in-track position correction function, wherein the in-track position correction function is a non-linear function that specifies in-track position corrections to be applied as a function of cross-track position, and wherein the representation of the in-track position correction function includes the cross-track positions and transition direction of transitions in the in-track position correction function.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2022Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANYInventor: Chung-Hui Kuo
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Patent number: 11868070Abstract: A method for reducing artifacts in an electrophotographic printing system includes receiving a print job including image data for a set of pages. The electrophotographic printing system is used to print a block of pages from the print job to provide corresponding printed pages. The image data for the block of pages is analyzed to determine an average toner usage rate. If the determined average toner usage rate for the block of pages falls outside an acceptable toner usage rate range, image data for a compensation image and a number of compensation images are determined such that the average toner usage rate will be brought back into the acceptable toner usage rate range.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2022Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANYInventor: Chung-Hui Kuo
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Patent number: 11838480Abstract: A method for reducing image burn-in artifacts in an electrophotographic printing system, includes receiving a print job including image data for a set of pages to be printed. The pages are analyzed to determine that the image data for a sequence of pages in the print job are similar. The similar pages are printed using a pattern of lateral translations wherein the image data is laterally translated such that it is printed at a different lateral position on the printed page. The similar pages can also be printed using a pattern of page orientations including a first page orientation and a second page orientation, wherein the image data for the second page orientation is rotated 180 degrees relative to the image data for the first page orientation.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2022Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANYInventors: Thomas L. Schwartz, Horia Neamtu, Chung-Hui Kuo
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Patent number: 11829084Abstract: An electrophotographic printing system for printing with a set of toners including a white toner. A plurality of printing modules are configured to print respective toner patterns, each including a toner image printed onto a receiver medium being transported on a transparent transport web and a corresponding registration mark positioned outside a border of the receiver medium. A first registration mark sensing system is positioned to detect the registration marks printed with a first subset of the toners that doesn't include the white toner. A second registration mark sensing system is positioned to detect the registration marks printed with a second subset of the toners that includes the white toner. The registration mark sensing systems each include a reflector plate positioned behind the transport web. The reflector plate for the first registration mark sensing system is white, and the reflector plate for the second registration mark sensing system is black.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2022Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANYInventors: Karlheinz Peter, Hans-Guenter Staack, Michael Thomas Dobbertin
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Patent number: 11822262Abstract: An electrophotographic printing system for printing with a set of toners including a white toner. A plurality of printing modules are configured to print respective toner patterns, each including a toner image printed onto a receiver medium being transported on a transparent transport web and a corresponding registration mark positioned outside a border of the receiver medium. A registration mark sensing system is positioned to detect the printed registration marks. The registration mark sensing system includes a light detector positioned to detect light that is emitted by a light source, transmitted through the transport web and reflected off a non-white colored reflector plate positioned behind the transport web. The colored reflector plate has a color that provides detection signals for the registration marks having a magnitude that is greater than or equal to a predefined threshold.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2022Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANYInventor: Chung-Hui Kuo
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Patent number: 11813882Abstract: An aqueous composition can be used for pre-treating a substrate prior to inkjet printing to provide a white opaque background for inkjet-printed images. This aqueous composition includes: (a) one or more water-soluble salts of a multivalent metal cation at 5-30 weight %; (b) a nonionic or cationic water-soluble or water-dispersible polymeric binder material at 5-30 weight %; and (c) surface-treated visible light-scattering particles having a D50 (median) particle size of at least 0.04 ?m and up to and including 2 ?m in an amount of 5-60 weight % based on the total aqueous composition weight. The pre-treated substrate is useful as an inkjet receiving medium that can be readily inkjet-printed particularly with anionically-stabilized aqueous pigment-based inks.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2021Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANYInventors: Mark Edward Irving, Douglas Eugene Bugner, David D. Putnam
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Patent number: 11813884Abstract: Lithographic printing plate precursors have an aluminum-containing substrate prepared using two anodizing processes to provide an inner aluminum oxide layer of average dry thickness of 300-3,000 nm and a multiplicity of inner micropores of average inner micropore diameter of ?100 nm. An outer aluminum oxide layer is provided with a multiplicity of outer micropores of average outer micropore diameter of 15-30 nm and a dry thickness of 30-650 nm. A hydrophilic layer is disposed on the outer aluminum oxide layer at 0.0002-0.1 g/m2 and has a (1) compound having an ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable groups; a —OM group connected directly to a phosphorus atom, wherein M represents hydrogen, sodium, potassium, or aluminum; and (2) one or more hydrophilic polymers having (a) recurring units comprising an amide group, and (b) recurring units having an —OM? group that is directly connected to a phosphorus atom, wherein M? represents hydrogen, sodium, potassium, or aluminum.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2021Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANYInventors: Johannes Obenauf, Domenico Balbinot
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Patent number: 11812005Abstract: A method for reproducing an out-of-gamut spot color includes determining a color gamut for a color printer, and specifying a spot color by color coordinates in a three-dimensional color space. A first target color is determined corresponding to a color having a minimum color difference to the specified spot color, and a second target color is determined corresponding to a color on the color gamut surface having a hue value equal to a hue value of the specified spot color. A path is defined on the color gamut surface connecting the first target color and the second target color, wherein a control parameter is used to specify a relative position along the defined path. A user interface is provided enabling a user to adjust the control parameter to specify an aim color.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2022Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANYInventors: Chung-Hui Kuo, Victor Ignacio Ibarluzea, Thomas L. Schwartz
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Patent number: 11807731Abstract: A foamed, opacifying element useful as a light-blocking article is prepared with a dry opacifying layer on a substrate. The dry opacifying layer is densified, followed by application of a functional composition formulation to form a functional composition upon drying and curing at a coverage of 0.5-15 g/m2. The functional composition comprises at least: (i) glass particles such as hollow glass particles at a coverage of 0.1-2.2 g/cm2, and can also include any or combination of a (iv) water-soluble or water-dispersible organic polymeric binder that may be crosslinked, thickeners, coating aids having an HLB of at least 5, (ii) lubricants, (iii) tinting materials, and (v) crosslinking agents. Among other properties, the presence of the glass particles provides additional heat absorption for the foamed, opacifying elements that can be formed into light-blocking materials.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2020Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANYInventors: Mridula Nair, Lloyd Anthony Lobo, Douglas Edward Garman, James Douglas Shifley
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Patent number: 11802369Abstract: Laminated light-blocking decorative articles are prepared by applying an aqueous foamed opacifying composition to a non-woven fabric, drying, laminating a decorative fabric to the resulting dry foamed opacifying layer, and densifying that layer to have a thickness that is at least 20% less than before densifying. This operation can be carried out so that non-woven fabric, decorative fabric, and aqueous foamed opacifying composition are supplied in a single-pass, in-line operation to make any desired quantity of a laminated light-blocking decorative article. The applied aqueous foamed opacifying composition has 35%-70% solids and a foam density of 0.1-0.5 g/cm3. It is composed of (a) porous particles, (b) a binder material, (c) two or more additives comprising at least one foaming surfactant and at least one foam stabilizer, (d) an aqueous medium, and (e) at least 0.0001 weight % of an opacifying colorant that absorbs electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of 380-800 nm.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2022Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANYInventors: Mridula Nair, Diane Marie Herrick
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Patent number: 11797803Abstract: A method for correcting in-track position errors in a digital printing system includes determining a non-linear in-track position correction function responsive to measured in-track position errors, wherein the in-track position corrections are quantized to integer in-track position corrections. A representation of the in-track position correction function is stored in a digital memory, wherein the representation of the in-track position correction function includes the cross-track positions and transition direction of transitions in the in-track position correction function. Digital image data for a digital image to be printed is received, and corrected image lines are determined by resampling the digital image data responsive to the stored representation of the in-track position correction function. The corrected image lines are modified to provide anti-aliasing pixels at cross-track positions adjacent to transitions in the in-track position correction function.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2022Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANYInventor: Chung-Hui Kuo
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Patent number: 11780248Abstract: A printing system includes a media transport system configured to pick a sheet of media from a media supply and transport it along a media transport path to a printing module. An image capture system positioned along the media transport path, includes an image capture device positioned to capture a digital image of the sheet of media, and a platen positioned behind the sheet of media, wherein a surface of the platen includes a non-uniform density pattern, and wherein the captured digital image includes at least one edge of the sheet of media and a portion of the platen that extends beyond the edge of the sheet of media. An image analysis system automatically analyzes the captured digital image to detect an edge position of the sheet of media by detecting a platen region that includes the non-uniform density pattern and a media region.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2021Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANYInventor: Chung-Hui Kuo
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Patent number: 11760081Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor has an infrared radiation-sensitive image-recording layer containing an IR absorber, and an ozone-blocking material of 1500 or less molecular weight and has structure (I), (II), or (III): wherein R is a hydrocarbon having 14-30 carbon atoms; m is 1 or 2; n is 1-6; the sum of m and n is >2 and <8; and A is a multivalent organic moiety free of R and OH groups and has a valence m+n; wherein R1 and R2 are alkyl groups of 14-22 carbon atoms, and o is 1-3; R3C(?O)NR4R5?? (III) wherein R3 is an alkenyl with a C?C bond within a carbon-carbon chain of 16-30 carbons, and R4 and R5 are hydrogen or unsubstituted alkyls of 1-4 carbon atoms. Such ozone-blocking materials can be used to protect infrared radiation-sensitive dyes that may be degraded by ozone and thus improve imaging sensitivity.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2021Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANYInventors: Yasushi Miyamoto, Masamichi Kamiya, Maru Aburano, Jeremy Marc Yatvin
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Patent number: 11746463Abstract: Laminate precursors are prepared by applying an aqueous foamed opacifying composition to a non-woven fabric, drying, optionally applying an anti-blocking material to the dried aqueous foamed opacifying composition, and densifying the dry foamed opacifying layer so that it will have a thickness that is at least 20% less than its thickness before densifying. Each laminate precursor is rolled up for immediate or later use to make laminate decorative articles when the unrolled laminate precursor is laminated with back side of a decorative fabric. The applied aqueous foamed opacifying composition has 35%-70% solids and a foam density of 0.1-0.5 g/cm3. It is composed of (a) porous particles, (b) a binder material, (c) two or more additives comprising at least one foaming surfactant and at least one foam stabilizer, (d) an aqueous medium, and (e) an opacifying colorant that absorbs electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of 380-800 nm.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2019Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANYInventors: Mridula Nair, Diane Marie Herrick
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Patent number: 11726416Abstract: A hierarchical printhead design supports multiple print modes. A first print mode uses a first subset of light sources having a first spacing. A second print mode uses a second subset of light sources having a second spacing which is less than the first spacing. Image data for lines of image data are sequentially loaded into the printhead, wherein if the specified print mode is the first print mode, image data for a first group of light sources corresponding to the first subset are loaded, and if the specified print mode is the second print mode, image data for the first group of light sources are first loaded, and then image data for a second group of light sources corresponding to the light sources in the second subset that are not in the first subset are loaded.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2022Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANYInventor: Chung-Hui Kuo
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Patent number: 11720042Abstract: A printing system for printing on tabbed media having a plurality of tab positions. A media transport system picks the next sheet of tabbed media from a media tray. A detection system detects the tab position for the sheet of tabbed media. The detected tab position is compared to an expected tab position and if the detected tab position is different from the expected tab position then either the front end is used to supply image data to be printed on the sheet of tabbed media having the detected tab position, or the media transport system is controlled to direct the sheet of tabbed media into a waste receptacle and pick one or more additional sheets of tabbed media until the detected tab position is the same as the expected tab position.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2021Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANYInventors: Chung-Hui Kuo, Thomas L. Schwartz, David M. Gotham
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Patent number: 11714354Abstract: IR-sensitive lithographic printing plate precursors provide a stable print-out image using a unique IR radiation-sensitive composition. This IR radiation-sensitive composition includes: a) free radically polymerizable component; an b) IR radiation absorber; c) an initiator composition; a d) borate compound; and a e) compound capable of forming a colored boronic complex during or after exposure of the infrared radiation-sensitive image-recording layer to infrared radiation. The resulting print-out image exhibits an excellent color contrast between the exposed and non-exposed regions. After IR imaging, these precursors can be developed off-press or on-press.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2020Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANYInventors: Philipp Viehmann, Saija Werner, Christopher D. Simpson, Stefanie Hansmann