Patents by Inventor Tom Cloots

Tom Cloots has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11801700
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of decorated natural leather including the steps of: attaching a crusted leather (45) with its corium side by an adhesive (46) to a temporary carrier (47); inkjet printing the crusted leather (45) on its grain side with one or more pigmented inkjet inks; wherein the surface area of the temporary carrier (47) is larger than the surface area of the crusted leather (45).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: AGFA NV
    Inventors: Jens Lenaerts, Dieter Jancart, Johan Loccufier, Tom Cloots
  • Patent number: 11548305
    Abstract: An inkjet printing method for manufacturing decorative laminate panels ordered by a customer includes i) providing an inkjet printing device with a print job including one or more decorative patterns and an identification code assigned to the one or more decorative patterns; and ii) printing the one or more decorative patterns with one or more inkjet inks and applying the identification code on a substrate web, wherein the substrate web is a paper substrate and the one or more inkjet inks are aqueous pigmented inkjet inks are printed on the substrate web before impregnation with a thermosetting resin; or the one or more inkjet inks are UV curable inkjet inks and the substrate web is a thermoplastic substrate web based on a material selected from the group consisting of polyvinylchloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyethylene-terephthalate (PET) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: AGFA NV
    Inventors: Pascal Meeus, Tom Cloots
  • Patent number: 11260687
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for decorating natural leather with a decorative image includes applying on a crusted leather a base coat containing a pigment for providing a chromatic colour or an achromatic colour different from black, inkjet printing a colour image on the base coat using one or more pigmented UV curable inkjet inks, optionally applying a protective top coat on the image, and optionally applying a heat pressing or embossing step, wherein the chromatic colour or the achromatic colour different from black of the base coat and the inkjet printed colour image are used in combination to provide the decorative image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: AGFA NV
    Inventors: Jens Lenaerts, Pantelis Yiannakou, Tom Cloots, Dieter Jancart
  • Publication number: 20210213768
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of decorated natural leather including the steps of: attaching a crusted leather (45) with its corium side by an adhesive (46) to a temporary carrier (47); inkjet printing the crusted leather (45) on its grain side with one or more pigmented inkjet inks; wherein the surface area of the temporary carrier (47) is larger than the surface area of the crusted leather (45).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Jens Lenaerts, Dieter Jancart, Johan Loccufier, Tom Cloots
  • Patent number: 10549508
    Abstract: A method for producing laminated safety glass includes the steps of applying imagewise a thermally reducible composition including a organic metal salt on a glass surface or a thermoplastic polymeric surface, and heating at least the imagewise applied thermally reducible composition to form a metal from the organic metal salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: AGFA NV
    Inventors: Tom Cloots, Johan Loccufier, Guido Fransen
  • Patent number: 10518562
    Abstract: An inkjet printing device includes a flatbed table for supporting on its support surface heavy-weight substrates to print on; and ball transfer units, arranged in the support surface, for transporting and/or positioning substrates on the flatbed table; wherein the inkjet printing device includes a drive module for moving away the ball transfer units from the support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: AGFA NV
    Inventors: Joris Van Garsse, Tom Cloots
  • Patent number: 10369815
    Abstract: An inkjet printing device includes a vacuum flatbed table configured to support large and flat substrates with applied vacuum power and while printing, in a hold down area, against the vacuum flatbed table; a removable flat substrate support device configured to support large and flat substrates while printing; and a vacuum belt connected to a plurality of pulleys and wrapped around the vacuum flatbed table; wherein the vacuum flatbed table is configured for coupling the removable flat substrate support device stationary to the vacuum flatbed table by applied vacuum power; and the vacuum belt is sandwiched between the removable flat substrate support device and the vacuum flatbed table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: AGFA NV
    Inventor: Tom Cloots
  • Patent number: 9840091
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing decorative workpieces includes the step of nesting a set of decorative patterns digitally printed on a decoration layer to reduce the waste of decoration layer. To perform a corresponding relief for the nested decorative patterns on a nested decorative workpiece, the relief provided by a digital relief apparatus is in a correct match with the nested decorative workpiece. If the printing zone of the digital printer has a failure zone, the nesting method prevents arranging of the decorative patterns in this failure zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignees: AGFA GRAPHICS NV, UNILIN BVBA
    Inventors: Tom Cloots, Laurent Meersseman, Joris Van Garsse
  • Publication number: 20160303831
    Abstract: A method for producing laminated safety glass includes the steps of applying imagewise a thermally reducible composition including a organic metal salt on a glass surface or a thermoplastic polymeric surface, and heating at least the imagewise applied thermally reducible composition to form a metal from the organic metal salt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Tom Cloots, Johan Loccufier, Guido Fransen
  • Patent number: 7357965
    Abstract: A method of making a liquid crystal alignment layer comprising the steps of: (i) providing a layer on a substrate, the layer comprising a polythiophene according to formula (I): wherein R1 and R2 each independently represent hydrogen or a C1-C4 alkyl group or together represent a C1-C4 alkylene group or a cycloalkylene group; and (ii) mechanically rendering the layer liquid crystal aligning; a liquid crystal alignment layer obtainable by the above-mentioned method; a liquid crystal device incorporating the above-mentioned liquid crystal alignment layer; a liquid crystal display comprising the above-mentioned liquid crystal alignment layer or the above-mentioned liquid crystal device; and the use of the polythiophene according to formula (I) for aligning liquid crystals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert, N.V.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Tahon, Tom Cloots, Roger Bäuerle
  • Patent number: 7247342
    Abstract: An electroluminescent device comprising a transparent or translucent support, a transparent or translucent first electrode, a second conductive electrode and an electroluminescent phosphor layer sandwiched between the transparent or translucent first electrode and the second conductive electrode, wherein the first and second electrodes each comprises a polymer or copolymer of a 3,4-dialkoxythiophene, which may be the same or different, in which the two alkoxy groups may be the same or different or together represent an optionally substituted oxy-alkylene-oxy bridge; a display comprising the above-mentioned electroluminescent device; a lamp comprising the above-mentioned electroluminescent device; manufacturing processes for the above-mentioned electroluminescent devices; and the use of such devices for the integrated backlighting of static and dynamic posters and signage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Peter Willaert, Tom Cloots, Roger Van den Bogaert
  • Patent number: 7214405
    Abstract: A method of making a liquid crystal alignment layer comprising the steps of: (i) providing a layer on a substrate, the layer comprising a polythiophene according to formula (I): wherein R1 and R2 each independently represent hydrogen or a C1–C4 alkyl group or together represent a C1–C4 alkylene group or a cycloalkylene group; and (ii) mechanically rendering the layer liquid crystal aligning; a liquid crystal alignment layer obtainable by the above-mentioned method; a liquid crystal device incorporating the above-mentioned liquid crystal alignment layer; a liquid crystal display comprising the above-mentioned liquid crystal alignment layer or the above-mentioned liquid crystal device; and the use of the polythiophene according to formula (I) for aligning liquid crystals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert, N.V.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Tahon, Tom Cloots, Roger Bäuerle
  • Publication number: 20070026135
    Abstract: A method of making a liquid crystal alignment layer comprising the steps of: (i) providing a layer on a substrate, the layer comprising a polythiophene according to formula (I): wherein R1 and R2 each independently represent hydrogen or a C1-C4 alkyl group or together represent a C1-C4 alkylene group or a cycloalkylene group; and (ii) mechanically rendering the layer liquid crystal aligning; a liquid crystal alignment layer obtainable by the above-mentioned method; a liquid crystal device incorporating the above-mentioned liquid crystal alignment layer; a liquid crystal display comprising the above-mentioned liquid crystal alignment layer or the above-mentioned liquid crystal device; and the use of the polythiophene according to formula (I) for aligning liquid crystals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Applicant: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Tahon, Tom Cloots, Roger Bauerle
  • Patent number: 7026079
    Abstract: A process for preparing a substantially transparent conductive layer configuration on a support, the layer configuration comprising in any order at least a first layer containing an intrinsically conductive polymer optionally containing structural units represented by formula (I): wherein n is larger than 1 and each of R1 and R2 independently represents hydrogen or an optionally substituted C1-4 alkyl group or together represent an optionally substituted C1-4 alkylene group or an optionally substituted cycloalkylene group, preferably an ethylene group, an optionally alkyl-substituted methylene group, an optionally C1-12 alkyl- or phenyl-substituted ethylene group, a 1,3-propylene group or a 1,2-cyclohexylene group; and a second layer consisting of a non-continuous layer of conductive silver, the process comprising the step of: preparing the second layer by a photographic process; and light emitting diodes, photovoltaic devices, transistors and electroluminescent devices comprising a layer configuration pr
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: AGFA Gevaert
    Inventors: Frank Louwet, Tom Cloots, Hieronymus Andriessen
  • Patent number: 6916553
    Abstract: An electroluminescent device comprising a transparent or translucent support, a transparent or translucent first electrode, a second conductive electrode and an electroluminescent phosphor layer sandwiched between the transparent or translucent first electrode and the second conductive electrode, wherein the first and second electrodes each comprises a polymer or copolymer of a 3,4-dialkoxythiophene, which may be the same or different, in which the two alkoxy groups may be the same or different or together represent an optionally substituted oxy-alkylene-oxy bridge; a display comprising the above-mentioned electroluminescent device; a lamp comprising the above-mentioned electroluminescent device; manufacturing processes for the above-mentioned electroluminescent devices; and the use of such devices for the integrated backlighting of static and dynamic posters and signage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: AGFA-Gevaert
    Inventors: Peter Willaert, Tom Cloots, Roger Van den Bogaert
  • Patent number: 6887556
    Abstract: A material for making a conductive pattern, the material comprising a support and a heat-differentiable element, the heat-differentiable element comprising an outermost layer containing a polyanion and an intrinsically conductive polymer and optionally a second layer contiguous with the outermost layer, characterized in that the outermost layer and/or the optional second layer contains hydrophobic thermocoagulable latex particles in a weight ratio range with respect to the intrinsically conductive polymer in the range of 20:1 to 1:5, the hydrophobic thermocoagulable latex particles are capable upon heating of increasing the conductivity of the heated parts of the outermost layer relative to the unheated parts of the outermost layer and/or changing the removability of the heated parts of the outermost layer relative to the unheated parts of the outermost layer and the heat-differentiable element does not comprise a di- or polyhydroxy organic compound or an aprotic compound with a dielectric constant, ?, ?15; a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Johan Lamotte, Frank Louwet, Tom Cloots, Huub Van Aert
  • Publication number: 20050042556
    Abstract: A process for preparing a substantially transparent conductive layer configuration on a support, the layer configuration comprising in any order at least a first layer containing an intrinsically conductive polymer optionally containing structural units represented by formula (I): wherein n is larger than 1 and each of R1 and R2 independently represents hydrogen or an optionally substituted C1-4 alkyl group or together represent an optionally substituted C1-4 alkylene group or an optionally substituted cycloalkylene group, preferably an ethylene group, an optionally alkyl-substituted methylene group, an optionally C1-12 alkyl- or phenyl-substituted ethylene group, a 1,3-propylene group or a 1,2-cyclohexylene group; and a second layer consisting of a non-continuous layer of conductive silver, the process comprising the step of: preparing the second layer by a photographic process; and light emitting diodes, photovoltaic devices, transistors and electroluminescent devices comprising a layer configuration p
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Applicant: AFGA-GEVAERT
    Inventors: Frank Louwet, Tom Cloots, Hieronymus Andriessen
  • Publication number: 20040096695
    Abstract: An electroluminescent device comprising a transparent or translucent support, a transparent or translucent first electrode, a second conductive electrode and an electroluminescent phosphor layer sandwiched between the transparent or translucent first electrode and the second conductive electrode, wherein the first and second electrodes each comprises a polymer or copolymer of a 3,4-dialkoxythiophene, which may be the same or different, in which the two alkoxy groups may be the same or different or together represent an optionally substituted oxy-alkylene-oxy bridge; a display comprising the above-mentioned electroluminescent device; a lamp comprising the above-mentioned electroluminescent device; manufacturing processes for the above-mentioned electroluminescent devices; and the use of such devices for the integrated backlighting of static and dynamic posters and signage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: AGFA-GEVAERT
    Inventors: Peter Willaert, Tom Cloots, Roger Van Den Bogaert
  • Publication number: 20040043162
    Abstract: A method of making a liquid crystal alignment layer comprising the steps of: (i) providing a layer on a substrate, the layer comprising a polythiophene according to formula (I): 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Applicant: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Tahon, Tom Cloots, Roger Bauerle
  • Publication number: 20040041969
    Abstract: A method of making a liquid crystal alignment layer comprising the steps of: (i) providing a layer on a substrate, the layer comprising a polythiophene according to formula (I): 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Applicant: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Tahon, Tom Cloots, Roger Bauerle