Patents Assigned to Eastman Kodak
  • Patent number: 10207491
    Abstract: Flexographic printing members are prepared from a flexographic printing plate precursor consisting essentially of: backing film, water- or water-dispersible photosensitive layer, and cover sheet in contact with the photosensitive layer. The cover sheet is removed and a mask element is laminated directly in contact with the photosensitive layer. Exposure through the mask element provides exposed regions and non-exposed regions. The non-exposed regions are removed with an aqueous developer having: a) a C12-20 saturated or unsaturated fatty acid (or alkali metal salt) at 0.25-2.0 weight %, and at least 85 weight % of a C18 mono- or poly-unsaturated fatty acid (or alkali metal salt); b) an aminopolycarboxylic acid (or alkali metal salt) at 0.05-0.30 weight %; c) a buffer at 05-0.60 weight %; and d) water. The photosensitive layer has a controlled release of 5-500 g/cm using ASTM D-3330 Method D, between its front imaging surface and the mask element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: M. Zaki Ali, Richard R. Ollmann, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10208218
    Abstract: A method of inkjet printing includes ink jetting an aqueous inkjet ink composition to form a white printed image on a substrate. The aqueous inkjet ink composition comprises particles of titanium dioxide that are present in an amount of at least 4 to 15 weight % and the particles have a 95th percentile particle size of less than 200 nm and a 50th percentile particle size of less than 130 nm. The titanium dioxide particles are dispersed within the aqueous inkjet ink composition using a dispersing polymer that is a styrene-(meth)acrylic acid polymer, styrene-maleic anhydride polymer, or styrene-maleic acid polymer and the weight ratio of the titanium dioxide particles to the dispersing polymer is from 19:1 to and including 2:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Charles Leo Bauer, Tamara K. Jones, Grace Ann Bennett
  • Patent number: 10207505
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a charging device for an inkjet printing system includes providing a charging device body having at least one conductive trace passing through the interior of the charging device body connecting between a charging face of the charging device body and an interconnection region remote from the charging face. A portion of the at least one conductive trace is exposed on the charging face. A vapor deposition process is used to deposit a conductive base layer through a shadow mask onto the charging face, wherein the deposited conductive base layer contacts the exposed portion of at least one conductive trace. One or more conductive metallic layers are plated onto the deposited conductive base layer to form a charging electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert J. Simon, Michael Frank Baumer, James E. Harrison, Jr., Brian George Morris, Charles D. Rike
  • Patent number: 10192150
    Abstract: A print engine includes a printer module for printing image data in a plurality of different print modes, wherein each print mode has an associated line print time. A data interface receives image data and associated metadata for a print job from a pre-processing system, the metadata including print mode metadata. A digital memory stores a plurality of pulse timing functions, each pulse timing function corresponding to one of the line print times associated with the plurality of print modes. A metadata interpreter interprets the metadata and determines the print mode to be used to print the image data. A printer module controller controls the printer module to print the image data using the pulse timing function corresponding to the line print time associated with the print mode, wherein each light source is activated for a pulse count corresponding to a pixel code value of an associated image pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Chung-Hui Kuo, David R. Brent, Frederick Edward Altrieth, III, Stacy M. Munechika, Richard George Allen
  • Patent number: 10189271
    Abstract: Colorless or colored coatings can be ink jetted onto a substrate using an aqueous particle-free inkjet ink composition that has a viscosity of less than 5 centipoises, and that includes a combination of an anionic polyether polyurethane and an anionic acrylic polymer or anionic styrene-acrylic polymer, in a total amount of less than or equal to 20 weight %. The composition can be colorless (free of colorants) or it can contain a suitable colorant to provide a color image. The composition also includes a defoamer that has a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance value of at least 3 and up to and including 5, and which is present in an amount of at least 0.15 weight % and up to and including 1 weight %. Such composition can be used in inkjet printing methods including recirculation apparatus and methods, and can be provided as part of an ink set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Barbara Boland Lussier, Daniel Talbot Linehan
  • Patent number: 10186342
    Abstract: A photosensitive reducible silver ion-containing composition can be used to provide electrically-conductive silver metal in thin films or patterns. This composition comprises: a) a non-hydroxylic-solvent soluble silver complex represented by the following formula (I): (Ag+)a(L)b(P)c?? (I) wherein L represents an ?-oxy carboxylate; P represents a 5- or 6-membered N-heteroaromatic compound; a is 1 or 2; b is 1 or 2; and c is 1, 2, 3, or 4, provided that when a is 1, b is 1, and when a is 2, b is 2; b) optionally, a photosensitizer that can either reduce the reducible silver ion or oxidize the ?-oxy carboxylate; and c) a solvent medium comprising at least one non-hydroxylic solvent. Electrically-conductive silver can be provided by photochemical conversion of the reducible silver ions in the complex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Deepak Shukla
  • Patent number: 10174425
    Abstract: A non-aqueous stannous alkoxide composition comprises: component (a) comprising a water-insoluble stannous alkoxide complex comprising stannous ions in an amount of at least 1 weight %, and a photocurable component (b), non-photocurable water-insoluble polymer component (c) having a molecular weight of at least 10,000, or both the photocurable component (b) and the non-photocurable water-insoluble polymer component (c). When photocurable component (b) is present, the non-aqueous stannous alkoxide composition further comprises photosensitizer component (d) that is different from all of components (a) through (c), in an amount of at least 1 weight %. These compositions can be used to prepare silver particles as “seed” catalysts in various articles that can then be used for other purposes such as electroless plating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Deepak Shukla, Kevin M. Donovan
  • Patent number: 10150319
    Abstract: A method for forming a flexographic plate for an image pattern including image features. The image pattern includes an array of image pixels, wherein the image pixels include printing pixels corresponding to portions of the image pattern where ink is to be printed on a substrate by the flexographic plate. Edge regions and interior regions of the image features are identified, which are separated by gap regions. A fine texture pattern is applied to the edge regions and a coarse texture pattern is applied to the interior regions to form a textured image pattern which is used to form the flexographic plate. No texture pattern is applied to the gap regions thereby leaving gaps between the edge regions and the interior regions of the image features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventor: Richard Roman Bielak
  • Patent number: 10145061
    Abstract: Foamed, opacifying element comprising a thermal colorant image is prepared using a porous substrate having an opposing external surface and an internal surface, and a dry foamed composition disposed on the internal surface of the porous substrate as a dry opacifying layer that has a light blocking value of at least 4 as well as a luminous reflectance that is greater than 40% as measured by the Y tristimulus value. A thermal colorant image is provided on either the opposing external surface, the dry opacifying layer, or both the opposing external surface and the dry opacifying layer, by thermal colorant transfer from a thermal donor element comprising a colorant donor layer having one or more thermal colorants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Diane Marie Herrick, Mridula Nair
  • Patent number: 10138342
    Abstract: Foamable aqueous compositions can be foamed and applied to porous substrates to make light-blocking dry opacifying elements. Such compositions have 0.05-15 weight % of porous particles; at least 20 weight % of a binder; at least 0.0001 weight % of additives (including a surfactant); water; and at least 0.001 weight % of an opacifying colorant. Each porous particle includes a continuous polymeric phase and discrete pores; a mode particle size of 2-50 ?m; and a porosity of 20-70 volume %. The continuous polymeric phase Tg is >80° C. and has a polymer viscosity of 80-500 centipoises at an ethyl acetate shear rate of 100 sec?1 at a concentration of 20 weight % at 25° C. The dry opacifying element light blocking value is at least 4 and has a luminous reflectance >40% as measured by the Y tristimulus value. The foamed aqueous composition has a foam density of 0.1-0.5 g/cm3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Mridula Nair, Mary Christine Brick, Ellen M. Pyszczek
  • Patent number: 10138386
    Abstract: Colorless coatings can be ink jetted onto part or all of colored images as spaced colorless drops to provide a colorless image over at least 50% of colored areas of the colored image and on a predetermined areal percentage of non-colored areas of the colored image. The aqueous colorless inkjet ink composition has a viscosity of less than 0.005 N-sec at 25° C., and comprises an anionic polyether polyurethane and an anionic acrylic or styrene-acrylic polymer, each having an acid number of at least 50, and such polymeric materials are present in unique amounts. Use of the aqueous colorless inkjet ink composition can be adjusted to provide increased gloss on the colored image in either or both of the colored area or non-colored areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventor: Barbara Boland Lussier
  • Patent number: 10132031
    Abstract: A foamed, opacifying element has a thermal colorant image on either an opposing external surface and an internal surface of a porous substrate. The internal surface has a dry foamed composition disposed thereon as a dry opacifying layer that comprises: (a) 0.1-40 weight % of porous particles; (b) at least 10 weight % of an at least partially cured binder material; (c) at least 0.2 weight % of one or more additives comprising a surfactant; (d) less than 5 weight % of water; and (e) at least 0.002 weight % of an opacifying colorant different from all of the one or more (c) additives, which opacifying colorant absorbs predetermined electromagnetic radiation. The thermal colorant image is derived from thermal colorant transfer of sublimable colorants from a thermal donor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Mridula Nair, Diane Marie Herrick
  • Patent number: 10126696
    Abstract: A method is described for calibrating a linear printhead including an array of light sources. A test target is printed by activating the light sources in the printhead in accordance with digital image data for the test target, wherein a current value for each light source is controlled responsive to an initial set of current control parameters. A digital image capture system is used to capture an image of the printed test target, and the captured digital image is analyzed to determine an estimated exposure gain error for each light source. An updated set of current control parameters is then determined which is adapted to compensate for the estimated exposure gain errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Chung-Hui Kuo, Stacy M. Munechika, Frederick Edward Altrieth, III
  • Patent number: 10112379
    Abstract: A three-dimensional part and associated support structure is constructed using an electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system. A support layer is developed using a first electrophotography engine, and a part layer is developed using a second electrophotography engine. The developed support and part layers are transferred to a transfer medium and moved into alignment with a tile region of a layer transfusion assembly, where the transferred part and support layers are transfused to previously-printed layers. This process is repeated for a plurality tile regions and for a plurality of layers to construct a three-dimensional part having a footprint larger than a maximum printable area of the first and second electrophotography engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventor: Cumar Sreekumar
  • Patent number: 10115134
    Abstract: A method for printing a print job including a plurality of document pages includes receiving a target cost for printing the print job. The printing system is used to print a portion of the print job including one or more document pages using an initial set of printing parameters. An estimated total cost for printing the print job is determined including an actual cost determined for printing the portion of the print job and an estimated cost for printing a remainder of the print job. A data processing system is used to automatically determine adjusted printing parameters to be used for printing a subsequent portion of the print job if the estimated total cost exceeds the target cost. The printing system is then used to print the subsequent portion of the print job using the adjusted printing parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Terry Anthony Wozniak, Steven T. DiLullo, Jennifer S. Pennington, Joseph P. Mangan, William Mansfield
  • Patent number: 10113978
    Abstract: An interfacial electric field intensity of a surface is measured by covalently binding a monolayer of a voltage sensitive chromophore to the surface and irradiating it with actinic radiation while it is in contact with a liquid and measuring a first fluorescence emission spectrum. A solution of the voltage sensitive chromophore dissolved in a sample of the liquid is also irradiated with actinic radiation and a second fluorescence emission spectrum is measured. The first and second fluorescence emission spectra are compared to determine the interfacial electric field intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Allan Wexler, Steven C. Switalski, Grace Ann Bennett, Kimberly S. Lindner
  • Patent number: 10093818
    Abstract: An aqueous organic pigment dispersion contains a green copper phthalocyanine pigment and an azo-coupled ?-ketoamide pigment. It also includes an organic pigment dispersant at 40 weight % to 100 weight %, based on the sum of the weights of the organic pigments. This aqueous organic pigment dispersion can be combined with a humectant to provide an aqueous green inkjet ink composition. The weight ratio of the green copper phthalocyanine pigment to the azo-coupled ?-ketoamide pigment is from 1:1 to 10:1. The median particle diameter of each of the green copper phthalocyanine pigment and the azo-coupled ?-ketoamide pigment is less than 85 nm. At least 95% of the total particles of each of the green copper phthalocyanine pigment and the azo-coupled ?-ketoamide pigment have a particle diameter of less than 150 nm. The aqueous green inkjet ink compositions can be used in various inkjet printing methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Barbara Boland Lussier, Daniel Talbot Linehan
  • Patent number: 10093817
    Abstract: An aqueous dispersion contains pigment colorant particles that are present in an amount of at least 5 weight % and up to and including 80 weight %; a dispersing polymer that is a hexyloxy benzoic acid polymer; and an aqueous medium. The weight ratio of the pigment colorant particles to the dispersing polymer is from 19:1 to and including 2:1. Such aqueous dispersions can be incorporated into aqueous inkjet ink compositions that can be used for forming opaque images such as white images using inkjet printing methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Charles Leo Bauer, Tamara K. Jones, Grace Ann Bennett
  • Patent number: 10087331
    Abstract: A method for providing electrically-conductive silver-containing metal in a thin film or one or more thin film patterns on a substrate. Electrically-conductive metallic silver is provided from a non-hydroxylic-solvent soluble silver complex represented by the following formula (I): (Ag+)a(L)b(P)c?? (I) wherein L represents an ?-oxy carboxylate; P represents a 5- or 6-membered N-heteroaromatic compound; a is 1 or 2; b is 1 or 2; and c is 1, 2, 3, or 4, provided that when a is 1, b is 1, and when a is 2, b is 2. A photosensitizer can also be present. The reducible silver ions in the photosensitive thin film or photosensitive thin film pattern can be photochemically converted to electrically-conductive metallic silver in the thin films or thin film patterns by irradiation with electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength within the range of at least 150 nm and up to and including 700 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Deepak Shukla, Jerome Robert Lenhard, Mark R. Mis, Kevin M. Donovan
  • Patent number: 10087338
    Abstract: An aqueous organic pigment dispersion contains a green copper phthalocyanine pigment and an azo-coupled ?-ketoamide pigment. It also includes an organic pigment dispersant at 40 weight % to 100 weight %, based on the sum of the weights of the organic pigments. The weight ratio of the green copper phthalocyanine pigment to the azo-coupled ?-ketoamide pigment is from 1:1 to 10:1. The median particle diameter of each of the green copper phthalocyanine pigment and the azo-coupled ?-ketoamide pigment is less than 85 nm. At least 95% of the total particles of each of the green copper phthalocyanine pigment and the azo-coupled ?-ketoamide pigment have a particle diameter of less than 150 nm. This dispersion can be used to prepare aqueous green inkjet ink compositions that can be used in various inkjet printing methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Barbara Boland Lussier, Daniel Talbot Linehan