Graining Or Roughening Chemically Or Electrolytically Patents (Class 205/214)
  • Patent number: 10899050
    Abstract: The present subject matter relates to fabrication of micro-arc oxidation (MAO) based insert-molded components. In an example implementation, a method of fabricating a MAO based insert-molded component comprises forming an insert-molded component and oxidizing the insert-molded component through MAO. The insert-molded component has a metal body molded with a plastic body. On oxidation of the insert-molded component through MAO an oxide layer is formed on the metal body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Chi Hao Chang, Kuan-Ting Wu, Yu-Ling Lin
  • Patent number: 9034166
    Abstract: A metal surface treated to have a distinct cosmetic appearance such as an integral layer that is glossy may be used in electronic devices. The surface treatment may include polishing a metal surface, texturing the polished metal surface, polishing the textured surface, followed by anodizing the surface, and then polishing the anodized surface. The metal surface may also be dyed to impart a rich color to the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Masashige Tatebe, Howard Bujtor, Jody Akana, Jonathan P. Ive
  • Publication number: 20150101935
    Abstract: An electroplating apparatus includes a container containing plural portions and an ionic liquid plating solution that is capable of flowing therebetween. The plural portions include at least a first portion containing a counter electrode that includes coating donor material and a second portion that includes a workpiece. A porous scrubber separating the first and second portions has a plurality of metallic outer surfaces in contact with the ionic liquid plating solution. Coating, repair, and regeneration methods using an ionic liquid plating solution are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: Lei Chen
  • Patent number: 8968548
    Abstract: A method of producing a multicolor surface is described herein. The method includes the following steps: providing an aluminum-based substrate having an outer and inner surfaces; performing a mechanical process on the substrate; forming at least one fixing portion on the inner surface of the substrate; forming at least one conductive hole on the fixing portion; performing a first anodization on the substrate to form a first oxide layer that can be dyed with a first color on the outer surface of the substrate; removing at least some of the first oxide layer from the fixing portion and the outer surface of the substrate; performing a second anodization on the substrate to form a second oxide layer that can be dyed with a second color on the exposed outer surface of the substrate stripped of the first oxide layer; and removing the fixing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Catcher Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Feng-Ju Lai, Shao-Kang Hu
  • Patent number: 8595921
    Abstract: An electrode is formed using a sanding mechanism to condition the surface of the electrode for electrochemical purposes. Hazardous particles emitted during sanding are captured using jetted liquid, and may be recycled for later use. The sanded surface provides increased electrode lifespan and lead oxide adherence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: RSR Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy W. Ellis, Matthew Burr
  • Publication number: 20130299357
    Abstract: A method of producing a multicolor surface is described herein. The method includes the following steps: providing an aluminum-based substrate having an outer and inner surfaces; performing a mechanical process on the substrate; forming at least one fixing portion on the inner surface of the substrate; forming at least one conductive hole on the fixing portion; performing a first anodization on the substrate to form a first oxide layer that can be dyed with a first color on the outer surface of the substrate; removing at least some of the first oxide layer from the fixing portion and the outer surface of the substrate; performing a second anodization on the substrate to form a second oxide layer that can be dyed with a second color on the exposed outer surface of the substrate stripped of the first oxide layer; and removing the fixing portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: CATCHER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: FENG-JU LAI, SHAO-KANG HU
  • Publication number: 20130105327
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a support for a planographic printing plate including at least an alkaline etching step of dissolving an aluminum surface layer of an aluminum web with an alkaline solution during a surface roughening treatment on a surface of the aluminum web continuously traveling, the manufacturing method comprising: a circulating step of cyclically using the alkaline solution between a treatment tank for the etching and an alkaline solution reservoir during adjusting composition concentration of the alkaline solution; and a filtering step of filtering the alkaline solution cyclically used so as to remove solid matter in the alkaline solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8351092
    Abstract: Provided are bristle brush rollers having bristles implanted on their surfaces. A gap exists between the bristle brush rollers and reading surfaces of scanners for allowing a medium to pass through. When transfer rollers transfer the medium in the medium transfer direction, the bristle brush rollers regulate a surface opposite to a to-be-read surface of the medium in order to guide the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Nidec Sankyo Corporation
    Inventor: Naohito Nakayama
  • Patent number: 7850837
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preparing an aluminum support for lithographic printing plate, the aluminum support for a lithographic printing plate obtained by the method and a presensitized plate using the same, characterized in that anodizing treatment is performed on an aluminum plate after hydrochloric acid electrolytic graining treatment if necessary, nitric acid electrolytic graining treatment are performed on the aluminum plate at a specified ratio of quantities of electricity, and with this method, a lower-purity aluminum plate could be used and a obtained support for a lithographic printing plate is excellent in press life and scum resistance when a lithographic printing plate is prepared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Matsuura, Akio Uesugi, Hideki Miwa, Atsuo Nishino, Hirokazu Sawada
  • Publication number: 20090084683
    Abstract: A method for making a lithographic printing plate support is disclosed which comprises the steps of: (i) providing an aluminum support; (ii) graining said support in an electrolyte composition; and (iii) anodizing said grained support; wherein said electrolyte composition comprises an effective concentration of a benzoic acid derivative or a sulphonic acid derivative.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: Agfa Graphics NV
    Inventors: Paola Campestrini, Herman Terryn, Thanasis Dimogerontakis
  • Publication number: 20090029283
    Abstract: Disclosed is a manufacturing method of an aluminum support for a planographic printing plate material, which comprises electrolytically surface-roughening an aluminum plate in an electrolytic solution containing mainly hydrochloric acid at current density of from 35 to 150 A/dm2 and at a quantity of electricity of from 600 to 1500 A·second/dm2, employing AC, etching the surface-roughened aluminum plate so that the dissolution amount of the aluminum is from 3 to 5 g/m2, electrolytically surface-roughening the resulting aluminum plate in an electrolytic solution containing mainly hydrochloric acid at current density of from 15 to 30 A/dm2 and at a quantity of electricity of from 100 to 400 A·second/dm2, employing AC, desmutting smut produced on the aluminum plate in an acidic solution containing mainly phosphoric acid, so that the amount of the smut remaining undissolved is from 0.05 to 0.3 g/m2, and anodizing the desmutted aluminum plate in that order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA MEDICAL & GRAPHIC, INC.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Takagi
  • Patent number: 7413844
    Abstract: A lithographic printing plate support capable of obtaining a presensitized plate which is excellent in scumming resistance and scratch resistance and achieves a good balance between sensitivity and press life, and a method of manufacturing the support are provided. The support includes a surface which has an arithmetic mean roughness Ra of 0.36 to 0.50 ?m; not more than 3.0 recesses with a depth of at least 4 ?m per 400 ?m square region; and a surface area ratio ?S5(0.02-0.2) determined from Sx5(0.02-0.2) denoting the actual surface area of a 5 ?m square surface region as determined by three-point approximation based on data obtained by extracting 0.02 to 0.2 ?m wavelength components from three-dimensional data on the surface region measured with an atomic force microscope at 512×512 points and S0 denoting the geometrically measured surface area of the surface region, of 50 to 90%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Matsuura, Hirokazu Sawada, Akio Uesugi
  • Patent number: 7338741
    Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor comprises: an aluminum support that has been subjected to an alkali metal silicate treatment; and an image-recording layer comprising (A) an infrared absorbent, (B) a polymerization initiator and (C) a polymerizable compound, the image-recording layer being removable with at least one of a printing ink and a fountain solution, wherein the aluminum support has a surface where the amount of the Si element attached to the surface in the alkali metal silicate treatment is 1 mg/m2 to less than 10 mg/m2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Norio Aoshima, Yoshinori Hotta
  • Patent number: 7332259
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for manufacturing an aluminum support for a light sensitive planographic printing plate material, the process comprising the steps of surface-roughening an aluminum plate, anodizing the surface-roughened aluminum plate, surface treating the anodized aluminum plate with an aqueous polyvinyl phosphonic acid solution, and drying the resulting plate at from 150 to 230° C. to obtain the aluminum support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Medical & Graphic, Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Takagi
  • Patent number: 7296517
    Abstract: A roll for metal rolling has a roughened surface formed by an electrolytic treatment in an electrolytic solution while using the roll as an anode. When the roll is used to emboss an aluminum plate, it is possible to obtain an aluminum plate with an uneven structure having regulated positions of levels of peaks and a larger number of the peaks. A presensitized plate formed by use of the aluminum plate as a support has excellent printing performances particularly in the number of printed sheets and sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Atsuo Nishino, Hirokazu Sawada, Akio Uesugi
  • Patent number: 7201830
    Abstract: The invention concerns an anode for gas evolution in electrochemical applications comprising a titanium or other valve metal substrate characterized by a surface with a low average roughness, having a profile typical of a localized attack on the crystal grain boundary. The invention further describes a method for preparing the anodic substrate of the invention comprising a controlled etching in a sulfuric acid solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: De Nora Elletrodi S.p.A.
    Inventors: Corrado Mojana, Ulderico Nevosi
  • Patent number: 7169284
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a conductive polyethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT) polymer coated electrode adapted for use as a cathode electrode of an electrolytic capacitor and a method of manufacturing the same. According to the present invention, a metal foil substrate is placed in an aqueous solution of a doped 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) monomer and a co-solvent, to dissolve the EDOT monomer, and a current is applied until the desired thickness of the polymer coating is electrochemically deposited. Additionally, an organic acid is added to the aqueous solution to act as an oxidizer. In order to improve the uniformity and adherence of the coating a surfactant may also be added. In a preferred embodiment, the EDOT monomer and cosolvent are first mixed, and then added to a water solution of oxidizer and dopant. The polymer film is deposited electrochemically onto the substrate by applying a DC current between 0.05 mA/cm2 and 5.0 mA/cm2 for 1 to 60 minutes, more preferably between about 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: Naixiong Jiang, Timothy Marshall, Melissa Moore, Christopher R. Feger, Thomas F. Strange
  • Patent number: 7029597
    Abstract: A process for selectively etching a surface of an anodized aluminum article. A preferred process includes: providing an aluminum sheet or web including first and second sides having anodized finishes; etching the first side to improve the adhesion capabilities of that side but not etching the second side so that the second side retains its anodized finish. The anodized aluminum may be colored before etching, thus the second side retains its color after etching. In a more preferred embodiment, sodium hydroxide or phosphoric acid is used to etch the anodized aluminum. Optionally, the etching of the second side is prevented by administering gas or liquid over the second side, masking the second side with a protective film, or shielding the second side with a shield. Further, the gas or liquid administered over the second side may be controlled to increase or decrease the rate of etching on the first side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Lorin Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory S. Marczak, Rick A. Minner
  • Patent number: 7029820
    Abstract: Disclosed is a support for a lithographic printing plate obtainable by performing at least graining treatment on an aluminum plate, having on its surface thereof, a grain shape with a structure in which a grained structure with medium undulation of 0.5 to 5 ?m average aperture diameter and a grained structure with small undulation of 0.01 to 0.2 ?m average aperture diameter are superimposed, and a presensitized plate provided with an image recording layer on the support for a lithographic printing plate. By using this presensitized plate, a balance between scum resistance and press life when a lithographic printing plate is produced therefrom, which has been in a trade-off relation in the past, can be maintained at a high level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Hotta, Hisashi Hotta, Tadashi Endo
  • Publication number: 20040157154
    Abstract: A photosensitive composition comprising, a polymerizable compound having an ethylenically unsaturated group, a metallic arene compound, and an acid generating agent, wherein, the polymerizable compound is a multifunctional acrylate compound containing an amide bond and a secondary or tertiary amine group in the molecule, and the acid generating agent is a compound containing a trihalomethyl group, a dihalomethyl group or a dihalomethylene group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2004
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Takaaki Kuroki, Kazuyoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6764587
    Abstract: A process for producing an aluminum support for a planographic printing plate, the process comprising the steps of: (a) preparing an aluminum plate; (b) disposing said aluminum plate in an aqueous acidic solution; and (c) electrochemically surface-roughening said aluminum plate using an alternating current, wherein a ratio QC/QA of a cathode-time quantity of electricity of said aluminum plate QC to an anode-time quantity of electricity of said aluminum plate QA is from 0.95 to 2.5. An aluminum support for a planographic printing plate formed by the process. A planographic printing master plate comprising at least a positive-type or negative-type light-sensitive layer on the aluminum support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Sawada, Akio Uesugi, Atsuo Nishino, Yoshitaka Masuda
  • Patent number: 6716569
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a preparation method for a lithographic printing plate, which comprises forming a presensitized plate by coating a photosensitive layer or thermosensitive layer on an aluminum substrate treated with an aqueous solution after optionally anodized and developing the presensitized plate with a developer comprising no silicate, wherein the aqueous solution comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of nitrite group-containing compound, fluorine atom-containing compound and phosphorous atom-containing compound, in the proviso that when the at least one compound is fluorine atom-containing compound, the treated aluminum substrate has a surface which satisfies the formula: 0.30≦A/(A+B)≦0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Hotta, Atsushi Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 6664019
    Abstract: A method of making improved aluminum printing plates comprising graining the aluminum plates, de-smutting them by treating them with nitric acid solution, then rinsing with hot water, acetating the aluminum plates, and silicating the aluminum plates. The plates are then coated with a photoresist, pattern exposed and developed. The printing plates of the invention have improved characteristics; they have excellent adhesion of the resist in image areas, and ink repellency in non-image areas. The developed printing plates have excellent durability without baking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Printing Developments Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey G. Zaloom, Bruce Holman, III, Zhengzhe Song, David C. Tanck
  • Patent number: 6596150
    Abstract: Disclosed is a production method of an aluminum support for a lithographic printing plate, capable of stable and low-cost production of an aluminum support for a lithographic printing plate, the support being scarcely subject to generation of treatment unevenness called streaks or grainy unevenness ascribable to the different in the aluminum dissolving rate due to the difference in the orientation of the crystal grain. The aluminum support is produced by surface graining and then polishing an aluminum plate or by polishing an aluminum plate while etching it in an aqueous acid or alkali solution. The aluminum plate may be subjected to polishing and then to anodization or may be subjected to polishing, to surface graining, again to or not to polishing and then to anodization. A production method for producing a high-quality support for a lithographic printing plate, free of local unevenness is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuo Nishino, Yoshitaka Masuda, Hirokazu Sawada, Akio Uesugi, Masahiro Endo
  • Patent number: 6551760
    Abstract: A lithographic printing plate having an average curvature in a rolling direction of 1.5×10−3 mm−1 or less, a curvature distribution in a crosswise direction of 1.5×10−3 mm−1 or less, and a curvature in a direction perpendicular to said rolling direction of 1.0×10−3 mm−1 or less and a method for producing the printing plate are disclosed. A method for producing a support for a lithographic printing plate is also disclosed, which comprises roughening a surface of an aluminum web having a center line average surface roughness of 0.15 to 0.35 &mgr;m and a maximum surface roughness of 1 to 3.5 &mgr;m by at least one of mechanical surface roughening, chemical etching and electrochemical surface roughening, and then applying anodization thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akio Uesugi, Masahiro Endo
  • Patent number: 6540901
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the manufacture of a substrate for use in the production of lithographic printing plates, the process comprising the steps of: (a) providing an aluminum substrate; (b) graining at least one surface of the substrate; (c) applying an anodic layer to the at least one grained surface; (d) treating the at least one grained and anodized surface with an aqueous solution comprising at least one salt of a metal from Group IB, IIB, IVA, IVB, VB, VIA, VIB, VIIB or VIII of the Periodic Table; and (e) treating the at least one treated surface with an aqueous solution comprising at least one orthophosphate salt of an alkali metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: AGFA-Gevaert
    Inventors: Felton Rudolph Mayers, Tu Vinh Chau
  • Patent number: 6533917
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method for producing an aluminum support for lithographic printing plates, comprising subjecting an aluminum plate in sequence to (1) a surface roughening treatment, (2) a heat treatment, (3) a treatment of dissolving from 0.01 to 5 g/m2 of said aluminum plate, and then (4) an anodization treatment; a method for producing an aluminum support for lithographic printing plates, comprising subjecting an aluminum plate to an electrochemical surface roughening treatment both before and after an electrolytic treatment in an aqueous neutral salt solution using the aluminum plate as a cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuo Nishino, Yoshitaka Masuda, Akio Uesugi
  • Publication number: 20020157952
    Abstract: A method of treating an acid treatment solution which includes steps of adding sulfuric acid to an acid treatment solution which contains therein non-alkaline metal ions to produce sulfate, and recovering the regenerated acid treatment solution from the acid treatment solution to which the sulfuric acid has been added by separating the sulfate therefrom. Also, a device for realizing the method, and a method of fabricating a support for a planographic printing plate using the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toru Kimura, Tsuyoshi Hirokawa, Toru Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 6447982
    Abstract: A litho strip for use as an offset printing plate is described which has a composition of 0.05-0.25% Si, 0.30-0.40% Fe, 0.10-0.30% Mg, max. 0.05% Mn, and max. 0.04% Cu. The strip is produced from a continuous cast ingot of the above composition which is hot rolled to a thickness of up to 2-7 mm. The residual resistance ratio of the hot rolled strip is RR=10-20. The cold rolling is carried out with or without intermediate annealing, wherein the degree of rolling reduction after intermediate annealing is >60%. The further processing up to the EC roughening takes place with the microstructure adjusted in the rolling process at <100° C. The litho strip is characterized by a high thermal stability, a good roughening behavior in the EC processes, and a high reverse bending fatigue strength perpendicular to the rolling direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: VAW Aluminium AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang von Asten, Bernhard Kernig, Barbara Grzemba
  • Publication number: 20020056648
    Abstract: A process for producing an aluminum support for a planographic printing plate, the process comprising the steps of: (a) preparing an aluminum plate; (b) disposing said aluminum plate in an aqueous acidic solution; and (c) electrochemically surface-roughening said aluminum plate using an alternating current, wherein a ratio QC/QA of a cathode-time quantity of electricity of said aluminum plate QC to an anode-time quantity of electricity of said aluminum plate QA is from 0.95 to 2.5. An aluminum support for a planographic printing plate formed by the process. A planographic printing master plate comprising at least a positive-type or negative-type light-sensitive layer on the aluminum support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Sawada, Akio Uesugi, Atsuo Nishino, Yoshitaka Masuda
  • Publication number: 20010038908
    Abstract: A substrate for a planographic printing plate and a method of fabrication thereof. After a surface roughening treatment and before an anodizing treatment, an aluminum alloy plate to be used as the substrate is washed in an alkali solution, and then in an acidic solution. After surface-roughening, overlap points of Fe and Si macularly distributed at the surface of the aluminum alloy plate have a surface coverage of not more than 0.5%, and there are no more than 800 per 1 mm2 of overlap points which have sizes larger than 1.6×10−7 mm2. The planographic printing plate of the present invention has excellent printing capabilities in that, irrespective of printing conditions, soiling does not occur at a non-image portion of the planographic printing plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventors: Masaya Matsuki, Yoshinori Hotta, Hirokazu Sawada, Akio Uesugi
  • Patent number: 6261438
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for electrochemically roughening a support is disclosed to minimize the occurrence of surface discharges or electrical discharges on the support. A DC voltage acts on the support at the start of the movement of the support through the electrolyte bath. Subsequently, a three-phase or single-phase current acts on the support in the roughening zone. Three-phase electrodes are arranged in the electrolyte bath and are connected to the secondary of a three-phase transformer. The primary of the three-phase transformer is connected, via control transformers to a three-phase power transformer. A DC electrode is located upstream of the three-phase electrodes in the direction in which the support is transported through the bath. The DC electrode may be connected to the positive pole of a DC source while the negative pole of this DC source makes contact with the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert NV
    Inventors: Georg Haby, Günter Hultzsch, Klaus Joerg, Uwe Gartmann, Jörg Kaden, Hermann Idstein
  • Patent number: 6165630
    Abstract: A method for applying a zinc layer onto an aluminum or aluminum alloy sheet, comprising pretreating the surface and applying the layer by electrolytic galvanizing, the pretreating comprises electrochemical graining of the surface, for example in a solution having a pH less than 3 with an alternating current applied between the sheet and an electrode. In an alternative method, the pretreating includes applying a preliminary zinc layer by immersing the surface in a zinc-containing alkaline solution, applying a potential to the sheet and reversing the polarity of said potential at least once. The sheets are useful for building cladding sheets and automotive panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Corus Bausysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Horst Gehlhaar, Martinus Godefridus Johannes Spanjers, Joop Nicolaas Mooij, Wilhelmus Jacobus Van Der Meer
  • Patent number: 6143160
    Abstract: An aqueous acid plating bath for the electro-deposition of a zinc or zinc alloy deposit on a substrate which includes zinc ions and an additive of the general formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are selected from the following functional groups hydroxyl, carbonyl, carboxylic acid or its salt; R.sub.3 is selected from the following groups hydrogen, hydroxyl, carbonyl, carboxylic acid or its salts; R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are electron withdrawing groups, such as but not totally inclusive, halides, sulfonic acid or its salts, triflouromethyl, cyano, and amino groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Pavco, Inc.
    Inventor: Leonard L. Diaddario, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6103087
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a presensitized planographic printing plate comprising a support, and provided thereon, a light sensitive layer, the support having small pits with an average opening size of 0.2 to 0.8 .mu.m and a depth to size ratio of 0.2 or less, and large pits, the method comprising the steps of (a) chemically, mechanically or electrolytically graining the surface of an aluminum or its alloy, (b) electrolytically surface roughening the resulting aluminum or alloy in an acidic electrolyte solution, (c) chemically surface roughening the electrolytically surface roughened aluminum or alloy, (d) anodizing the chemically surface roughened aluminum or alloy, and (e) providing a light sensitive layer on the anodized aluminum or alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventor: Takahiro Mori
  • Patent number: 6045681
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of surface-roughening an aluminum support comprising the step of electrolytically surface-roughening an aluminum support in an electrolyte solution, supplying an alternating current with an alternating waveform having a positive polarity period and a negative polarity period in one cycle, and comprising arriving at the largest current value from a zero current value in the positive polarity period of one cycle and then falling, followed by rising to a current maximum in one cycle, wherein the time t.sub.1, which is required to arrive at the largest current value, has the following relationships:1 millisecond<t.sub.1 .ltoreq.10 milliseconds, and1 millisecond<t.sub.1 .ltoreq.one third of the positive polarity period time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventor: Takahiro Mori
  • Patent number: 6024858
    Abstract: An aluminum support for a planographic printing plate is produced by (1) etching a surface of an aluminum plate chemically in an acidic or alkaline aqueous solution, (2) roughening the surface of the aluminum plate electrochemically in an acidic aqueous solution by applying DC voltage to form honeycomb pits having an average diameter from 0.5 to 10 .mu.m and to leave plateau portions, (3) etching the surface of the aluminum plate to render the plateau portions less than 10% of the surface, (4) roughening the surface of the aluminum plate electrochemically in an acidic aqueous solution using direct current or alternating current to form honeycomb pits having an average diameter from 0.1 to 2 .mu.m, (5) etching the surface of the aluminum plate chemically, and (6) anodizing the surface of the aluminum plate in an acidic solution. A low current density starting zone, or soft starting zone, may be provided at a first roughening stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuo Nishino, Akio Uesugi
  • Patent number: 6015649
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a support of a presensitized planographic printing plate is disclosed, the method comprising electrolytically surface-roughening an aluminum plate or an aluminum alloy plate in an acidic electrolyte solution, the surface-roughening step comprising plural pairs of first high surface-roughening rate steps and second low or zero surface-roughening rate steps, the first step and the second step being carried out alternately, wherein an average quantity of electricity of 100 C/dm.sup.2 or less is applied at one of the first steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventor: Takahiro Mori
  • Patent number: 5895563
    Abstract: An iron immersion composition of matter is disclosed comprising a compound having a divalent or trivalent iron ion, a compound having a fluoride ion, and a compound having an acid hydrogen ion. A process for treating an aluminum substrate to improve the adhesion of metal layers to the substrate is also disclosed comprising contacting the substrate with the acidic iron immersion composition to produce an iron immersion coating on the alloy, and contacting the iron immersion coating with an etchant to substantially remove the coating and produce a microporous surface on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Atotech USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshihisa Muranushi
  • Patent number: 5873771
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a lithographic printing plate support made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, in which the surface of the support is mechanically roughened by graining it with a brush comprising bristles which have a bending elastic modulus of 10,000 to 40,000 kg/cm.sup.2 and a nerve of 500 g or less per bristle, whereby generation of defective products due to defects such as scratching which aluminum itself has can be prevented and a lithographic printing plate support having scumming reduction even on squeezing water out can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akio Uesugi
  • Patent number: 5832834
    Abstract: An aluminum support for a lithographic printing plate used in off-set printing or the like is disclosed, having a surface shape determined using an atomic force microscope (AFM) such that when measured within the measurement range of 100 .mu.m square with the resolution in the horizontal (X, Y) direction being 0.1 .mu.m, assuming that the surface area obtained by an approximate three-point problem is .alpha. and the upper projected area is .beta., the .alpha./.beta. value (specific surface area) is from 1.15 to 1.5, and when measured within the measurement range of 240 .mu.m square with the resolution in the horizontal (X, Y) direction being 1.9 .mu.m, the average surface roughness is from 0.35 to 1.0 .mu.m and the ratio of the sum of the surface area where the gradient of 30.degree. or more to the total surface area is from 5 to 40%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuo Nishino, Kiyotaka Fukino, Akio Uesugi
  • Patent number: 5811215
    Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a method for preparing a hydrophilic surface of an aluminum lithographic base comprising the steps of roughening and anodizing a side of an aluminum foil and sealing said side of the aluminum foil with hot water within a temperature range from 70.degree. C. to 100.degree. C. for at least 5 seconds and rinsing said side of the aluminum foil with water characterized in that between said hot water treatment and said rinsing said side of the aluminum foil is treated with an aqueous silicate solution within a temperature range from 70.degree. C. to 100.degree. C. for at least 5 seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert, N.V.
    Inventors: Marc Van Damme, Joan Vermeersch
  • Patent number: 5755949
    Abstract: A plate-, foil- or web-shaped workpiece of aluminum or an alloy thereof is subjected, in an electrolyte bath, to an alternating current at a frequency of 0.1 to 25 Hz. During the AC treatment, an anodic potential is imposed on the workpiece, in the range of 0 to 5 Volts. The total charge input is 10 to 60 kC/m.sup.2. Prior to the electrochemical graining, the workpiece is mechanically grained. After the graining steps, an etching treatment as well as an anodical oxidation and, thereafter, a hydrophilization are performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: AGFA-Gevaert AG
    Inventor: Martin Philip Amor
  • Patent number: 5731124
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preparing an aluminium foil comprising the steps of roughening an aluminium foil and subsequently anodizing said aluminium foil characterized in that after said anodization said aluminium foil is cleaned using an aqueous bicarbonate containing solution. The present invention further provides a mono-sheet silver salt diffusion transfer material having as a support the alumium foil obtainable from the above defined method. The step of cleaning in the bicarbonate containing solution improves the adhesion of an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei to the aluminum foil as revealed from the increased amount of silver precipitated in the image receiving layer when the aluminum foil provided with an image receiving layer is used in a diffusion transfer reversal (DTR) process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: AGFA-Gevaert, N.V.
    Inventors: Marcus Jonckheere, Paul Coppens
  • Patent number: 5643434
    Abstract: Process for the electrolytic deposition of composite nickel onto the face of a part of a motor vehicle, in particular the bore of a casing or engine block of an internal combustion engine comprising at least three successive stages, the first being an electrochemical activation stage where the part is brought to anodic polarity in a bath containing a halogenated acid salt of nickel, the second being a stage of superactivation of the surface and the third being a stage of electrolytic deposition of a nickel layer containing particles of solid substances where the part is brought to cathodic polarity in a nickel-plating bath containing a charge of solid particles of which the diameter is advantageously between 0.5 and 5 microns and which can be of silicon carbide or any other hardening element, optionally mixed with particles of graphite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Aluminum Pechiney
    Inventors: Mohamed Benmalek, Marc Santarini
  • Patent number: 5556531
    Abstract: A process for the treatment of a material having an aluminum oxide layer comprising (a) treating the aluminum oxide layer with an aqueous solution of a pure and crystalline alkali metal silicate, and (b) rinsing the treated aluminum oxide layer with ion-containing water. A substrate so produced is useful in offset printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert AG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Wiedemann
  • Patent number: 5547522
    Abstract: A support for a planographic printing plate support in which variations in the quality of the material of the aluminum support are reduced to thereby improve the yield in an electrolytic graining treatment and which is excellent in susceptibility to graining, has no stripe irregularities, and excellent appearance, and a method for producing such a planographic printing plate. An aluminum plate material is formed through a twin-roller continuous casting apparatus and subjected to cold rolling. Successively, the plate is subjected to heat treatment so as to form a surface portion of a depth of at least 15 .mu.m in the thickness direction having no recrystallization in the surface layer. If necessary, the plate may be subjected to cold rolling again as final rolling. Thereafter, the plate is subjected to correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaya Matsuki, Hirokazu Sawada, Akio Uesugi
  • Patent number: 5470636
    Abstract: A magnetic recording medium having a substrate made of aluminum or aluminum alloy and an anodic-oxide film, e.g., alumite film, formed by effecting the anodic oxidation process, wherein the surface of the alumite film has protruding portions formed in addition to micro-irregularities which are formed in response to the cell-pore structure of the alumite film and height of the protruding portions is higher than that of the micro-irregularity, and density of the protruding portions is ranging from 10.sup.2 to 10.sup.7 per one square millimeter, these protruding portions are formed by processing the alumite film in the fluorine-contained solution (e.g., hydrofluoric acid) or in solution containing one of the acid (HCl), base (NaOH) and strong-acid salt ((NH.sub.4)SO.sub.4), Cr film and magnetic film are sequentially formed on the alumite film by the sputtering process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Yukio Wakui, Yoshiki Nishitani, Kenichi Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 5437779
    Abstract: A method of making a-magnetic record medium comprising the steps of: texturing a surface of a substrate by a first surface treatment; electrolyzing the surface of the textured substrate in an electrolyte of an acidic solution by applying an electric potential on the nonmagnetic substrate by a second surface treatment; and forming an undercoating layer and a magnetic layer on the surface of the electrolyzed substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoo Shige, Yasushi Makabe, Masataka Yokoyama
  • Patent number: RE40788
    Abstract: A litho strip for use as an offset printing plate is described which has a composition of 0.05-0.25% Si, 0.30-0.40% Fe, 0.10-0.30% Mg, max. 0.05% Mn, and max. 0.04% Cu. The strip is produced from a continuous cast ingot of the above composition which is hot rolled to a thickness of up to 2-7 mm. The residual resistance ratio of the hot rolled strip is RR=10-20. The cold rolling is carried out with or without intermediate annealing, wherein the degree of rolling reduction after intermediate annealing is >60%. The further processing up to the EC roughening takes place with the microstructure adjusted in the rolling process at <100° C. The litho strip is characterized by a high thermal stability, a good roughening behavior in the EC processes, and a high reverse bending fatigue strength perpendicular to the rolling direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Hydro Aluminium Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Von Asten, Bernhard Kernig, Barbara Grzemba