Patents Assigned to Eastman Kodak Company
  • Patent number: 11914319
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventor: Chung-Hui Kuo
  • Patent number: 11868070
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventor: Chung-Hui Kuo
  • Patent number: 11838480
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas L. Schwartz, Horia Neamtu, Chung-Hui Kuo
  • Patent number: 11829084
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Karlheinz Peter, Hans-Guenter Staack, Michael Thomas Dobbertin
  • Patent number: 11822262
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventor: Chung-Hui Kuo
  • Patent number: 11813882
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark Edward Irving, Douglas Eugene Bugner, David D. Putnam
  • Patent number: 11813884
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Johannes Obenauf, Domenico Balbinot
  • Patent number: 11812005
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Chung-Hui Kuo, Victor Ignacio Ibarluzea, Thomas L. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 11807731
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Mridula Nair, Lloyd Anthony Lobo, Douglas Edward Garman, James Douglas Shifley
  • Patent number: 11802369
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Mridula Nair, Diane Marie Herrick
  • Patent number: 11797803
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventor: Chung-Hui Kuo
  • Patent number: 11780248
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventor: Chung-Hui Kuo
  • Patent number: 11760081
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Yasushi Miyamoto, Masamichi Kamiya, Maru Aburano, Jeremy Marc Yatvin
  • Patent number: 11746463
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Mridula Nair, Diane Marie Herrick
  • Patent number: 11726416
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventor: Chung-Hui Kuo
  • Patent number: 11720042
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Chung-Hui Kuo, Thomas L. Schwartz, David M. Gotham
  • Patent number: 11714354
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Philipp Viehmann, Saija Werner, Christopher D. Simpson, Stefanie Hansmann
  • Patent number: 11711483
    Abstract: 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 control parameter prediction function is provided which computes a predicted control parameter value as a function of color coordinates. The predicted control parameter value is used to determine an aim color for reproducing the spot color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Chung-Hui Kuo, Victor Ignacio Ibarluzea, Thomas L. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 11703791
    Abstract: A media transport system is used to transport a media sheet along a media transport path past an image capture system. The image capture system includes an image capture device positioned to capture an image of the media sheet, and a platen positioned behind the media sheet, wherein a surface of the platen includes a non-uniform density pattern. The image capture system captures an image of the media sheet that includes at least one edge of the media sheet and a portion of the platen that extends beyond the edge of the media sheet. An image analysis system automatically analyzes the captured digital image to detect an edge position of the media sheet by detecting a platen region that includes the non-uniform density pattern and a media region. The detected edge position is used to adjust a position that a printing module prints image data onto the media sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventor: Chung-Hui Kuo
  • Patent number: 11675287
    Abstract: A hierarchical printhead system 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: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventor: Chung-Hui Kuo