Patents Examined by Richard L. Schilling
  • Patent number: 6949333
    Abstract: The present invention provides a photosensitive silver halide photographic emulsion comprising a silver iodide content of 41 mol % or more and 100 mol % or less and including a silver halide to which reduction sensitization is applied in the course of particle formation, and silver halide photographic emulsion comprising 41 mol % to 100 mol % of silver iodide and subjected to at least one of chalcogen sensitization and gold sensitization to the insides of particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Mifune
  • Patent number: 6946240
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an imaging element comprising a support, an imaging layer, and at least one layer comprising a clay nanocomposite wherein said nanocomposite comprises a splayant and at least one natural clay particle having an aspect ratio of from 20:1 to 500:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: YuanQiao Rao, Joseph S. Sedita
  • Patent number: 6946232
    Abstract: An image-receiving element for use in photographic and photothermographic diffusion transfer film units of the type where the image-receiving element is designed to be removed, or “peeled-apart” from a photosensitive element following exposure and photographic processing. The present image-receiving element comprises, in sequence, a support, an image-receiving layer and a strip-coat layer which serves to facilitate separation of the image-receiving element from the photosensitive element after photographic processing. The strip-coat layer comprises an anion of poly(acrylic acid), or a salt thereof, complexed with a cationic quaternary salt. In a preferred embodiment, the strip coat layer may include an ethoxylated alcohol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Polaroid Corporation
    Inventors: Gerard Gomes, Gary S. LaPointe, James J. Manning
  • Patent number: 6942957
    Abstract: Thermally imageable, positive working, multilayer imageable elements useful as lithographic printing plate precursors are disclosed. The elements comprise a substrate; an underlayer over the substrate; a top layer over the underlayer, and a photothermal conversion material. The top layer comprises a binder and an ionic liquid. A preferred binder is poly(methyl methacrylate).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Kodak Polychrome Graphics LLC
    Inventors: Kevin B. Ray, S. Peter Pappas, John Kalamen
  • Patent number: 6942956
    Abstract: A process of transferring a protection layer from a dye-donor receiver after thermal dye transfer. In one embodiment, the transferable protection layer contains inorganic particles, a polymeric binder, organic particles and an organic gloss-enhancing agent that enhances the gloss of the final print. The transferred protection layer that provides a higher gloss to an image after transfer. A laminate containing such a gloss-enhancing agent has been found to enable printing at lower line times, faster printing, for thermal prints withwhile maintaining high gloss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: William H. Simpson, Jacob J. Hastreiter, Robert F. Mindler
  • Patent number: 6942950
    Abstract: Disclosed is a protective transparent overcoat comprising a protective polymer and a surfactant compound having multiple non-end-group hydrogen bonding groups directly or indirectly bonded to the backbone chain of the surfactant compound. The coating enables simplified manufacturing of a thermal sublimation dye transfer donor of high quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Rukmini B. Lobo, David C. Boris, Scott A. Strong, Anita M. Fees
  • Patent number: 6936411
    Abstract: A silver halide industrial radiographic material comprising on at least one side of a support a hydrophilic gelatinous non-spectrally sensitized radiation-sensitive emulsion layer, having grains, coated in a total amount in the range from 6 to 20 g, expressed as an equivalent amount of silver nitrate per square meter, and at least one non-radiation sensitive protective gelatinous antistress overcoat layer thereupon, wherein a ratio of gelatin to silver, expressed as silver nitrate in the said layer arrangement is at least 0.70, wherein said gelatinous layers are hardened by a gelatin cross-linking agent in an amount in order to have a dissolving time of at least 40 minutes, said time being defined as the period of time from the moment when the silver halide photographic material, dipped into 50 ml of an aqueous solution of 1.5% by weight of sodium hydroxide at 50° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: AGFA-Gevaert
    Inventors: Marc Van de Zegel, Marleen De Vester
  • Patent number: 6936397
    Abstract: A heat transfer sheet comprising: a substrate; a light-heat conversion layer; and an image forming layer, wherein the light-heat conversion layer comprises polyamide-imide as a binder and a colorant having a water content of 3% by weight or more as measured under a condition of 23° C. and 60% RH.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideyuki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6936384
    Abstract: The present invention provides an initiator system including an infrared-absorbing compound that exhibits an electronic transition band in the near-infrared region, an initiator, and a metallocene compound. Upon exposure to infrared radiation, the initiator system is capable of producing radicals sufficient to initiate a photopolymerization reaction. Suitable infrared-absorbing compounds include indocyanine dyes, for example. Trihalomethyl triazine compounds and onium compounds are suitable initiators. Suitable metallocene compounds include ferrocenes and titanocenes. The present invention also provides an infrared-sensitive composition including an ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable component, an infrared-absorbing compound that exhibits an electronic transition band in the near-infrared region, an initiator, and a metallocene compound. The infrared-sensitive composition provides improved photospeed and sensitivity in some embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Kodak Polychrome Graphics LLC
    Inventors: Heidi M. Munnelly, Jianbing Huang
  • Patent number: 6927008
    Abstract: A photosensitive transfer material including a temporary support, a thermoplastic resin layer, an intermediate layer, and a photosensitive recording layer. The thermoplastic resin layer, the intermediate layer and the photosensitive recording layer are provided in this order on the temporary support. The thermoplastic resin layer includes a thermoplastic resin and a polyester resin, and the polyester resin is contained in the thermoplastic resin layer in an amount of at least 20% by weight and no more than 90% by weight based on a total solid content of the thermoplastic resin layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidenori Gotoh
  • Patent number: 6922979
    Abstract: After first, second, and third continuous members are bonded to each other in a laminated state, they are cut together to a predetermined length for thereby producing an instant photography film unit. A predetermined number of produced instant photography film units are stacked in a stacking station, and then automatically placed into a film pack in a packaging station. An overall process of manufacturing instant photography film units that are packaged is performed automatically and efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Shimizu, Hideaki Kataoka, Hiroaki Tanaka, Tatsuo Shiino, Takayuki Kambara, Hisashi Kikuchi, Toru Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6921614
    Abstract: This invention relates to laserable assemblages for use in laser-induced thermal transfer imaging which result in improvements in resolution and toughness in the transferred image when two binders differing in glass transition temperature are incorporated into the transfer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Gerald Donald Andrews, Graciela Beatriz Blanchet-Fincher
  • Patent number: 6919160
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an acrylic compound that can be polymerized by itself or with at least one other ethylenically unsaturated monomer to provide a polymer. The polymer may be used, for example, within a sub-200 nm photoresist composition. Also disclosed is a method to make the acrylic compound of the present invention from the raw material trifluoroacetone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Atteye Houssein Abdourazak, Thomas John Markley
  • Patent number: 6916600
    Abstract: A silver halide emulsion sheet for detecting track of charged elementary particles, in which emulsion at least one silver halide emulsion layer and at least one hydrophilic protective colloid layer are applied on both surfaces of a transparent support, and a compound selected from benzotriazoles is contained in said at least one silver halide emulsion layer. A processing method for processing the above-described silver halide emulsion sheet with a developer comprising a developing agent represented by formula (A): wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, or a heterocyclic group. A developer for use in developing the above-described silver halide emulsion sheet, comprising a developing agent represented by the above-mentioned formula (A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ken-ichi Kuwabara
  • Patent number: 6916592
    Abstract: A resist composition comprising a base polymer having a fluorinated sulfonate or fluorinated sulfone introduced therein is sensitive to high-energy radiation, has excellent transparency, contrast and adherence, and is suited for lithographic microprocessing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignees: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Central Glass Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Harada, Jun Hatakeyama, Yoshio Kawai, Masaru Sasago, Masayuki Endo, Shinji Kishimura, Kazuhiko Maeda, Michitaka Ootani, Haruhiko Komoriya
  • Patent number: 6916589
    Abstract: A method for applying an image to a receptor element, which comprises the steps of (i) providing a transfer sheet comprising a support having a first surface and a second surface, and a coating capable of receiving an image on the first surface of the support, (ii) imaging the coating, (iii) dry peeling the coating from the support in the absence of wet release prior to hand ironing, (iv) positioning the dry peeled coating on a receptor element having valleys or pores, (v) positioning a non-stick sheet on the dry peeled coating which is positioned on the receptor element having valleys or pores, and (vi) heating the non-stick sheet to drive the dry peeled coating into the receptor element having valleys or pores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Foto-Wear, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald S. Hare, Scott A. Williams
  • Patent number: 6913874
    Abstract: A photographic imaging element is disclosed comprising a support having on a front side thereof a silver halide imaging layer and an outermost protective overcoat layer comprising a film-forming binder, and on the backside thereof an outermost protective backcoat layer comprising a film-forming binder; the protective overcoat and backcoat layers each comprising a lubricant present in an amount of at least 5 mg/m2 and permanent matting agent having a Tg of at least 40° C. and an average particle size of from about 0.5 to about 3 micrometers in an amount of at least 1 mg/m2; and at least one of the protective overcoat layer or the protective backcoat layer further comprising crosslinked elastomeric polymer matte particles, wherein the crosslinked elastomeric polymer matte particles have a Tg of 20° C. or less, an average particle size of at least 90% of or greater than that of the permanent matting agent particles having a Tg of at least 40° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Christopher J. Haller, Charles C. Anderson, Eugene A. Armour, William J. Hennessey, Peter D. Rollinson
  • Patent number: 6913875
    Abstract: Print media, when rolled tightly often produces a high degree of curl when removed from a roll form. The stiffer the media, the more likely the tenancy to curl. On the other hand, media that is too thin will be too floppy for conventional handling. Incorporating some stiffening strands running along the axis of a roll of paper substrate allow the media to be roll relatively tightly but give the media a tendency to readily de-curl once it is unrolled. These strands ideally have a pitch of approximately 200 microns. The ribs result in material of greater stiffness across the width of the media than along the length and maintain adequate stiffness for handling and viewing of the printed media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research PTY LTD
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 6913866
    Abstract: A multicolor image-forming material comprising: an image-receiving sheet comprising a support and an image-receiving layer; and at least four thermal transfer sheets each comprising a support, a light-to-heat converting layer and an image-forming layer, and each having a different color, wherein an image is formed by the method comprising the steps of: superposing each one of the at least four thermal transfer sheets on the image-receiving sheet to be in a state of the image-forming layer being in contact with the image-receiving layer; and irradiating the thermal transfer sheet with a laser beam to transfer an image in an area of the image-forming layer subjected to irradiation onto the image-receiving layer, and at least one layer selected from layers comprised in the image-receiving sheet and the at least four thermal transfer sheets comprises a fluorine-series surface active agent which is a homopolymer comprising a polymerizable monomer represented by the formula (1) and having a weight average molecular
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Shimomura, Hideyuki Nakamura, Shinichi Yoshinari
  • Patent number: 6913860
    Abstract: An image forming material for forming an image on an image recording material with an image binding force being established between the image and the image recording material, the image forming material containing an image forming substance, and a binding force reducing substance which reduces the image binding force when the image is heated. A method of removing an image formed on an image recording material with a binding force being established between the image and the recording material by contacting a stripping member with the image with heating under pressure. A binding force reducing substance may be contained in the surface of the stripping member or in the image recording material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidehiro Mochizuki, Tadashi Saitou