Patents Assigned to Eastman Kodak Company
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Patent number: 5815178Abstract: A constant electric field is applied to a drop on demand print head using coincident force address of selected ink drops. This field can be generated by applying one electric potential to the print head, and a different electric potential to a platen which lies on the opposite side of the recording medium. This field does not need to be modulated, or turned on for each drop to be ejected. As a result, a simple high voltage power supply can be used to generate the electric field. No high voltage switching equipment is required. Also, the spacing between nozzles can be small, as the field applied to a nozzle does not need to be separated from fields applied to adjacent nozzles. The electric field is set to be insufficient to cause ink drops to be drawn from the print head when the ink in the nozzles in the quiescent position. The drop selection method causes the ink meniscus of selected drops to protrude from the front surface of the print head.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 1996Date of Patent: September 29, 1998Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Kia Silverbrook
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Patent number: 5813619Abstract: A film assemblage comprising a spool core, and a filmstrip, a film leader and a film trailer which are to be wound as a single longitudinal strip on the spool core in a roll with the filmstrip extending between the film leader and the film trailer in order that the film leader, the filmstrip and the film trailer form a common inner side of the roll and a common outer side of the roll, is characterized in that the film trailer has a discrete cohesive patch located to be on the inner side of the roll and a discrete cohesive patch located to be on the outer side of the roll, which can only stick to one another other and not to the inner or outer sides of the roll, and which are spaced apart along the film trailer a distance substantially equal to the circumference of the roll, whereby when the film leader, the filmstrip and the film trailer are wound on the spool core with the film trailer being an innermost convolution of the roll and the film leader being an outermost convolution of the roll the cohesive patchType: GrantFiled: April 9, 1997Date of Patent: September 29, 1998Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Jeffrey C. Robertson
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Patent number: 5815739Abstract: A method and apparatus for loading a cartridge in a camera frame assembly. In the method, a frame assembly is provided that includes a frame having a cartridge chamber, a supply chamber, and an intermediate section between the chambers. The frame assembly includes a thumbwheel attached in freely rotatable relation to the frame. The thumbwheel has a rotation member disposed external to the cartridge chamber and a drivekey extends axially into the cartridge chamber. A film cartridge is positioned in the cartridge chamber in close axial proximity to the thumbwheel drivekey. The film cartridge includes a spool and a filmstrip. The spool has opposed first and second ends. Each end has a spool engagement portion. The spool engagement portion of the first end is complementary in shape to the thumbwheel drivekey. The filmstrip has leading, main and tail portions. A quill drivekey is placed in close axial proximity to the second end of the spool.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 1997Date of Patent: September 29, 1998Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Stephen D. Marra, Duane B. Kirk, Joseph A. Watkins
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Patent number: 5815645Abstract: A method of combining at least one customer generated digital image to form a merged image and/or text with at least one prestored digital image. The prestored digital image has a predetermined location where the customer generated digital image may be placed. A design characteristic is determined from an item to be associated with the merged image. The customer generated digital image or the prestored digital image is modified in accordance with the design characteristic so as to form a first modified digital image that is then combined with the other of the customer generated digital image or the prestored digital image so as to form a newly merged digital image. The newly merged digital image is the merged image sent to an output device for printing.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 1996Date of Patent: September 29, 1998Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: John Randall Fredlund, Ronald Steven Cok
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Patent number: 5814948Abstract: A flash circuit for a low cost camera in which a voltage dependent resistor is employed as a flash capacitor charge voltage sensing device to perform a control effect in the flash circuit, such as turning on a flash ready indicator light or activating a oscillation terminating device to arrest self oscillations in a flash charging circuit.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 1997Date of Patent: September 29, 1998Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Paul Teremy
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Patent number: 5814810Abstract: An interline sensor is constructed using photocapacitors. The vertical shift register of the interline sensor is operated in a uniphase mode, i.e., holding one of the two phase (.phi.2) at a D.C. potential while fluctuating the other phase (.phi.1) between a voltage that is sufficiently above and below that D.C. potential to facilitate transfer of charge from one phase to the next. The uniphase mode is facilitated by a single electrode, an indium tin oxide electrode, that covers both the phase that is held at a constant D.C. potential and the photodetector having photocapacitor charges. The charges are transferred from the photocapacitors to the vertical shift register by a third level clock into (.phi.1) adjacent the photodetectors utilizing the same ITO electrode for phase 2 of both the vertical and horizontal CCD shift registers is also proposed.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 1997Date of Patent: September 29, 1998Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Constantine N. Anagnostopoulos
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Patent number: 5815754Abstract: A camera for use with a film cassette having a spool rotatable to wind an exposed filmstrip including a trailing film end portion into the cassette and a light lock movable to be closed after the trailing film end portion is wound into the cassette, comprising a film winder rotatable in engagement with the spool in a film winding direction to rotate the spool in the same direction to wind the exposed filmstrip including the trailing film end portion into the cassette, and a closing actuator movable in engagement with the light lock to close the light lock, is characterized in that a drive motor is drivingly connected with the film winder to rotate the film winder in the film winding direction, and a motor switch capable of changing state to turn off the drive motor is disposed to change state to turn off the drive motor when the closing actuator is moved to close the light lock.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 1997Date of Patent: September 29, 1998Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Edward N. Balling, Joel S. Lawther, Thomas E. Dussinger
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Patent number: 5813304Abstract: An apparatus for cutting and desplicing a roll of spliced films, being transported through the apparatus, to form filmstrip leading and trailing ends and re-shaping each end to their desired configurations having, a splice cutter located along the film path for forming two filmstrip ends with residual splices thereon, punch and die assemblies located adjacent to the splice cutter for re-shaping the ends of the filmstrip and removing the residual splice, moveable alignment guides located adjacent to each punch and die assembly, for aligning the film prior to cutting and re-shaping operations, a plurality of flexible guides located along the film path for guiding the spliced and despliced films along the film path, and an aperture located below the splice cutter, underneath the film path, for disposing of the removed residual splices, is described. A method for cutting and re-shaping the ends of a filmstrip using the apparatus is also described.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 1997Date of Patent: September 29, 1998Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: William Thomas Matthias, William James Greene, Dennis Francis Tianello
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Patent number: 5810349Abstract: An apparatus (1) for depositing sheet products (39, 40) at an offset has a deposition tray (2) that can be rotated alternately by 180 degrees in opposite directions about a vertical axis (41), and is equipped with a vertically movable deposition table (34). Delimiters (19, 20), arranged symmetrically to the rotation axis (41) and parallel to one another, and extending transverse to transport direction A of the sheet products (39, 40), are provided above a top starting position of the deposition table (34). Associated with each of the delimiters (19 or 20) are pivotedly arranged holding elements (17, 33 or 18, 32), which can be placed on the sheet products (39, 40) deposited on the deposition table (34). The delimiters (19 or 20) and the associated holding elements (17, 33 or 18, 32) are each configured as horizontally displaceable assemblies (21, 22).Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 1997Date of Patent: September 22, 1998Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Helmut Bloser, Gerhard Glemser, Juergen Ries
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Patent number: 5812175Abstract: The present invention is for an imaging processor for thermal print medium. The image processor comprises a vacuum imaging drum (110) for holding thermal print medium (40) and donor sheets (120) in registration on the imaging drum (110). A printhead (200) moves along a line parallel to a longitudinal axis (X) of the imaging drum (110) as the imaging drum (110) rotates. The printhead (200) receives information signals and produces radiation which is directed to the donor (120) which causes dye to transfer from the donor (120) to the thermal print medium (40). When the imaging drum (110) is rotated in a first direction, a direct image is produced. When the direction of the imaging drum (110) is reversed, a mirror image is produced.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1996Date of Patent: September 22, 1998Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Roger S. Kerr, John D. Gentzke
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Patent number: 5811228Abstract: The invention provides a multilayer color negative photographic element comprising a support, at least one light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer sensitive to each of the blue, green and red regions of the visible spectrum, a magnetic recording layer, and a permanent density correction dye, wherein:the spectral absorbance maximum of the density correction dye is in the range of 450-485 nm;the ratio of the absorbance of the density correction dye at 480 nm relative to 420 nm is between 1.2 and 3.5;the ratio of the absorbance of the density correction dye at 440 nm relative to 420 nm is between 1.25 and 2.5;the ratio of the absorbance of the density correction dye at 510 nm relative to 480 nm is less than 0.6; andthe density correction dye is uncharged and is free of carboxyl and sulfonate groups.The element exhibits improved color balance permitting it to be satisfactorily processed together with conventional photographic elements to produce viewable color images.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 1996Date of Patent: September 22, 1998Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Paul Barrett Merkel, Melvin Michael Kestner, David Hoke
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Patent number: 5812322Abstract: A lenslet array system for imaging an associated object onto a final image plane includes (i) a first lens assembly including a field limiting mask and a first lenslet array having an associated image plane, (ii) a second assembly including a rear lenslet array, and (iii) a middle lenslet array located between the first and said rear lenslet array. The first lenslet array accepts a full field of view subtends by the associated object and forms a plurality of image sections of the associated object on an intermediate image plane. The first lenslet array includes a plurality of positive power lenslets, each of the plurality of lenslets having a focal length f.sub.1 and accepting a unique segment of the full field of view subtended by the associated object. These segments of the full field of view together comprise the full field of view, and each of the lenslets forms one image section corresponding to its segment of the full field of view. The rear lenslet array has a plurality of positive power lenslets.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 1996Date of Patent: September 22, 1998Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Mark M. Meyers
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Patent number: 5812884Abstract: A one-time-use camera for use with a film cartridge having a spool rotatable to wind an exposed filmstrip including a trailing film end portion into the cartridge and a light lock movable to be closed after the trailing film end portion is wound into the cartridge, comprising a film winder rotatable in engagement with the spool in a film winding direction to rotate the spool in the same direction to wind the exposed filmstrip including the trailing film end portion into the cartridge, and a closing actuator movable in engagement with the light lock to close the light lock, is characterized in that an anti-backup pawl for engaging the film winder to prevent rotation of the film winder in a reverse direction opposite to the film winding direction is breakable, and the closing actuator has a breaking element for breaking the anti-backup pawl when the closing actuator is moved in engagement with the light lock to close the light lock.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 1997Date of Patent: September 22, 1998Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Jude A. Sangregory
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Patent number: 5811226Abstract: This invention relates to a method of preventing fog formation in a silver halide photographic element, said method comprising bringing a silver halide developer solution, or a solution preceding a silver halide developer solution, into contact with a cyanide scavenger by a method other than the seasoning out of the cyanide scavenger from a sensitized silver halide photographic element.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 1996Date of Patent: September 22, 1998Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Terrence Robert O'Toole, Daniel Lawrence Kapp, Kenneth George Harbison, Frank Anthony Pettrone, Kenneth Don Fowler
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Patent number: 5811156Abstract: A method of making a color filter array on a first substrate having an array of pixels, comprising the steps of: providing a transferable colorant on a second substrate and positioning such transferable layer in transferable relationship with the first substrate; transferring the colorant layer to the first substrate layer; applying a photoresist layer onto the colorant layer; and patterning the photoresist to form selected pads over pixels in the array; and etching the colorant layer through the openings in the patterned photoresist, leaving a portion of the colorant layer over the selected pixels.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 1997Date of Patent: September 22, 1998Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Luther C. Roberts
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Patent number: 5812159Abstract: A liquid ink, drop-on-demand printhead includes a substrate having a plurality of drop-emitter orifices, an ink channel coupled to each of the orifices for delivery of a body of ink to the orifices at a pressure above ambient, thereby forming an ink meniscus at the orifices. Drop selection is effected by selectively delivering heat to ink which has been delivered to selectively addressed ones of the orifices, thereby causing a difference in meniscus position between ink in addressed and non-addressed orifices. A heater is suspended in each ink meniscus close to its surface when the meniscus is at its position in a non-addressed orifice, the heater being effective to heat the meniscus and to thereby reduce surface tension of the meniscus at selectively addressed orifices.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 1996Date of Patent: September 22, 1998Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Constantine Nicholas Anagnostopoulos, Ravi Sharma
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Patent number: 5810348Abstract: A delivery unit (1) of a copying apparatus is equipped with a paper delivery tray (2), provided in a top cover (4). The paper delivery tray (2) consists of at least one inclined delivery surface (2a, 2b) for a sheet stack, an output slot (10) formed by paper output rollers (8), and a paper contact surface (6) arranged after the output slot (10). A bar (12), which fits around the output slot (10) and can be pivoted onto the sheet stack (5) located on the delivery surface on the basis of a signal form the copying apparatus, is provided in a wall (7) of the paper delivery tray.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 1996Date of Patent: September 22, 1998Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Gert Scheufler
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Patent number: 5811230Abstract: Novel bicyclic pyrazolo couplers containing a fully substituted carbon at the 6-position of the bicyclic structure and a ballast group of formula (I): ##STR1## are useful in photographic materials and processes. The couplers exhibit increased coupling activity, and provide formation of dyes having improved maximum magenta image dye density, contrast, and photographic speed when employed in color photographic materials and processes. The variables are defined more specifically in the specification.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 1996Date of Patent: September 22, 1998Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Ping Wah Tang, Wendell Smith, Stanley W. Cowan
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Patent number: 5812899Abstract: An image receptacle comprises a detector for detecting a first play-mode signal. A sound control module records sound, and emits the recorded sound upon receiving the first play-mode signal from the detector. Upon receiving a signal from the sound control module, an emitter emits a second play-mode signal to a second image receptacle for initiating the second image receptacle to emit its associated sound.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 1996Date of Patent: September 22, 1998Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Dale F. McIntyre
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Patent number: 5811214Abstract: A monocomponent electrostatographic developer is disclosed. The developer contains a negative charging toner wherein the toner particle surface contains particles of cerium dioxide and a mixture of two hydrophobic silicon dioxides having a particle size of 0.005 to 0.03 .mu.m.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 1997Date of Patent: September 22, 1998Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Hans W. Osterhoudt, Robert C. Storey, Dinesh Tyagi