Heat Applied After Imaging Patents (Class 430/350)
  • Patent number: 6376159
    Abstract: A (photo)thermographic recording material comprising a substantially colourless support and a (photo-addressable) thermosensitive element containing a substantially light-insensitive organic silver salt, an organic reducing agent for the substantially light-insensitive organic silver salt in thermal working relationship therewith (, photosensitive silver halide is catalytic association with the substantially light-insensitive organic silver salt) and a binder, characterized in that a blue pigment or dye having a maximum absorption wavelength of from 550 to 700 nm is present in the thermosensitive element and/or any other layer on either side of the support which provides a background for viewing in transmission images produced with the (photo) thermographic recording material; and a (photo)thermographic recording process therefor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventor: Hans Strijckers
  • Publication number: 20020042032
    Abstract: A photothermographica material is disclosed, comprising an organic silver salt and a light sensitive silver halide, wherein the photothermographic material contains a hydrophilic binder of 0.5 to 2 g per mol of the organic silver salt and the organic silver salt having been formed in the presence of the silver halide of 7×1015 to 3×1017 grains per mol of the organic salt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2001
    Publication date: April 11, 2002
    Applicant: KONICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiko Maeda, Tetsuo Shima, Kazuyoshi Goan
  • Publication number: 20020042031
    Abstract: A photothermographic image-recording material having a good adhesion between a subbing layer and a support or an image-forming layer is described, which comprises a support, at least one subbing layer comprising a polyester provided on at least one side of the support and an image-forming layer provided on the subbing layer, wherein the polyester is a polyester having a glass transition temperature of from 40° C. to 100° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Publication date: April 11, 2002
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Haraoka, Sadao Fujikura
  • Patent number: 6368778
    Abstract: Photothermographic materials provide images having improved image stability due to the presence of certain image stabilizing compounds in a silver-containing layer. These image stabilizing compounds are fluorenone, fluorene, coumarin, naphthalic acid imide, pyrazoline, or anthracene compounds. In particular, they reduce image browning that may occur from the presence of various components in the materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Steven H. Kong, Paul G. Skoug, Kumars Sakizadeh
  • Patent number: 6368779
    Abstract: Photothermographic materials have increased photospeed provided by certain organic solvent-soluble thiourea compounds that can be represented by the following Structure I, II, or III: wherein in Structure I, R1, R2, R3 and R4 are independently alkyl, cycloalkyl, allyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl or heterocyclic groups, or R1 and R2 taken together, R3 and R4 taken together, R1 and R3 taken together or R2 and R4 taken together, can form a 5- to 7-membered heterocyclic ring, in Structure II, R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are independently alkyl, cycloalkyl, allyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl or heterocyclic groups, or R3 and R5 taken together, R4 and R5 taken together, R1 and R3 taken together or R2 and R4 taken together, can form a substituted or unsubstituted 5- to 7-membered heterocyclic ring, and in Structure III, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 are independently alkyl, cycloalkyl, allyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl or heterocyclic groups, or R3 and R6 taken together, R4 and R5 taken together, R1 and R3 taken togethe
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Doreen C. Lynch, Sharon M. Simpson, Steven M. Shor, Brian C. Willett, Chaofeng Zou
  • Publication number: 20020039708
    Abstract: A method for thermally forming images for plate making, which comprises forming an image for plate making by using a thermally processed image recording material comprising a silver salt of an organic acid, a reducing agent, a color image forming material and an organic binder on a support, wherein the image consists essentially of a developed silver image and a color forming dye image and the color forming dye image shows an absorbance for ultraviolet region higher than that for visible region and has a transmission density of 0.3 or more for the region of 360-450 nm. There are provided a thermally processed image recording material and method for thermally forming images that provide significant difference of ultraviolet absorption between image areas and non-image areas suitable for printing plate making.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Publication date: April 4, 2002
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazunobu Katoh, Toyohisa Oya
  • Publication number: 20020039707
    Abstract: A photothermographic material is disclosed, comprising a support having thereon an image recording layer comprising an organic silver salt, a silver halide, a reducing agent and a binder, wherein the outermost surface of the image recording layer side of the photothermographic material exhibits a difference in center-line mean roughness of not more than 10 nm between before and after being subjected to thermal processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Publication date: April 4, 2002
    Inventor: Narito Goto
  • Patent number: 6365331
    Abstract: A thermal film structure includes at least first and second imaging layers which have different processing characteristics. That is, the first imaging layer is processable at a first temperature while the second imaging layer is processable at a second temperature which is higher than the first temperature. The first and second imaging layers can be coated on or integrated into the film structure. This permits the addition of metadata on the low temperature layer which can be obtained without effecting the development of images on the high temperature layer. Also disclosed is a method for processing the thermal film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Gary L. House, David H. Levy
  • Patent number: 6361928
    Abstract: A method of defining a mask pattern for a photoresist layer in semiconductor fabrication. The method coats a photoresist layer containing an additive on a dielectric layer. The photoresist layer has an opening formed therein. The additive is 2,2′-azo-bis-isobutyronitride (AIBN) or phenyl-azo-triphenylmethane. The photoresist layer is exposed and developed. Then, a hard baking step is performed. A UV curing or a hot curing step is performed on the photoresist layer. As a result, the additive in the photoresist layer reacts to form nitrogen (N2) gas. Nitrogen gas makes the photoresist layer expand. The opening is decreased by the expansion of the photoresist layer. The dielectric layer is etched according to the expanded photoresist layer so that a via or a trench, which is smaller than a conventional one, is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Jin-Sheng Yang, Tzung-Han Lee
  • Publication number: 20020028414
    Abstract: A silver salt photothermographic material is disclosed, comprising at least a light sensitive layer and at least a light insensitive layer, the light sensitive layer comprising organic silver salt grains, a light sensitive emulsion containing light sensitive silver halide grains and medium, a reducing agent and a binder, wherein at least one of the light sensitive layer and the light insensitive layer contains a silver-saving agent and the photothermographic material which has been subjected to thermal development at 123° C. for 13.5 sec. exhibits an average contrast of 2.0 to 6.0 within the density range of 0.25 to 2.0 on a characteristic curve of the photothermographic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2001
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yanagisawa, Socmen Ho Kimura
  • Publication number: 20020028412
    Abstract: This invention comprises an imaging element comprising an imaging layer having associated therewith a phenolic activating agent in combination with a blocked color-forming agent of Structure I: 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Inventors: Xiqiang Yang, Zbyslaw R. Owczarczyk, David T. Southby
  • Patent number: 6350568
    Abstract: A photothermographic image recording element has on a support a photosensitive layer containing a non-photosensitive organic silver salt, a photosensitive silver halide, and a binder, wherein the organic silver salt has been formed in the presence of a tertiary alcohol. The photosensitive layer and/or a layer disposed adjacent thereto contains a nucleating agent. Alternatively, the photosensitive layer contains the silver halide which has been formed independent from the organic silver salt and added during preparation of a coating solution, and the main binder is a polymer latex having a Tg of −30° C. to 40° C. The element shows low fog, high contrast, and high sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuki Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 6348302
    Abstract: An image-forming method using an exposure head having plural beam light sources that correspond to each exposure point and that emit each light with the same wavelength, to subject to exposure a light-sensitive material provided at least with a light-sensitive silver halide emulsion and a binder on a support, which method comprises arranging M sets of the beam light sources in a sub-scanning direction, perpendicular to a main scanning direction, along which the exposure head is moved, at predetermined intervals, and allowing the light-sensitive material to move in the sub-scanning direction, in steps of a distance of (the length of the exposure head in the aligned direction)/N (N≧2), to carry out superposing exposure N times, with an exposure time per exposure being 10−3 sec or less, thereby forming M×N pixels per exposure head in every M sets of exposure point, to form an image, wherein the silver halide emulsion contains Ir, in an amount to be added of 10−7 to 10−10 mol per mol of
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takuji Kosugi
  • Publication number: 20020018970
    Abstract: A heat developable photosensitive material comprising at least two layers is disclosed. The first layer is formed by coating a first coating composition containing the organic silver salt, the photosensitive silver halide, the reducing agent, polymer latex in an amount of at least 30 percent by weight of the first layer at dried state and a solvent, the solvent comprising water in an amount of at least 50 percent by weight of the solvent, and the second layer is formed by coating a second coating composition comprising a polymer latex in an amount of at least 50 percent of the second layer at dried state and a solvent, the solvent comprising water in an amount of at least 60 percent by weight of the solvent, and the second coating composition having a viscosity of from 50 to 1,000 cP at 25 ° C., and the viscosity at 5° C being at least 1.5 times higher than that at 25° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Applicant: Konica Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Hirabayashi
  • Publication number: 20020018967
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of processing color photographic film that has been imagewise exposed in a camera, said film having at least three light-sensitive units which have their individual sensitivities in different wavelength regions, each of the units comprising at least one light-sensitive silver-halide emulsion, one or more organic silver salts, a binder, and dye-providing coupler, which method in order comprises: (a) thermally developing the film step without any externally applied developing agent, comprising heating said film to a temperature greater than 80° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Inventors: Mark E. Irving, Richard P. Szajewski
  • Publication number: 20020018972
    Abstract: Blocked photographically useful groups decompose thermally via a Lossen rearrangement reaction, including, for example, compounds represented by the following structure: 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Inventors: Wojciech K. Slusarek, Xiqiang Yang, David H. Levy
  • Patent number: 6346353
    Abstract: The present invention relates to imaged elements having a protective overcoat that resists fingerprints, common stains, and spills. In particular, an overcoat composition comprising water-dispersible epoxy-functional particles is coated over an imaging element, including photographic elements and recording media. In one embodiment, a photographic element includes a support, at least one silver halide emulsion layer superposed on the support and a processing-solution-permeable protective overcoat overlying the silver halide emulsion layer that, after fusing, becomes water-resistant in the final product. The present invention is also directed to a method of making a print involving developing the photographic element and subsequently fusing the overcoat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Yongcai Wang, Kevin M. O'Connor, Tiecheng A. Qiao
  • Publication number: 20020015903
    Abstract: A photosensitive material comprising a substrate and a reversibly decolorable colored layer disposed thereon, wherein the reversibly decolorable colored layer is reversibly colored and decolored, the reversibly decolorable colored layer is in a colored state at 25 ° C., and a temperature at which the color density of the reversibly decolorable colored layer is reduced to 50% based on that at 25 ° C. is 50 to 120 ° C. A method for forming an image using the photosensitive material is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shunichi Ishikawa, Yoshiharu Yabuki
  • Publication number: 20020015902
    Abstract: An overcoat composition for imaging products containing: 30-95 weight %, based on the dry laydown of the overcoat, of a hydrophobic polymer, said hydrophobic polymer being homopolymers or copolymers containing at least 30% by weight, based on the total weight of monomers, of the monomer described in structurel; and 5 to 70 weight %, based on the dry laydown of the overcoat, of gelatin: 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 1999
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Inventors: HWEI-LING YAU, LAN B. THAI, JIN-SHAN WANG, TIENTEH CHEN
  • Publication number: 20020012886
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel blocked phenylenediamine developer useful, in reactive association, for enabling, on development, a non-magenta color, for example a cyan color, from a dye-forming coupler. In one embodiment, the developer has the property that the dye color formed with the coupler is distinctly different from the color formed by the same coupler with an oxidized form of the conventional developer 4-(N-ethyl-N-2-hydroxyethyl)-2-methylphenylenediamine. The invention is also directed to a light-sensitive silver-halide color photographic element comprising the blocked developing agent according to the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Richard P. Szajewski, Lyn M. Irving
  • Publication number: 20020009683
    Abstract: Bisphenol-phosphorus compound complexes represented by the following general formula (1) are disclosed (R1 to R4 represent hydrogen atom or a group that can be a substituent on a benzene ring; L represents —S— group or a —CHR5— group where R5 represents hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; and R6 to R8 represent an alkyl group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group etc.). The present invention provides reducing agents that can realize thermally processed image recording materials that can provide sufficient image density at a practical reaction temperature (specifically 100-140° C.) and within a practical reaction time (specifically 1-30 seconds), and can sufficiently suppress the coloration of white portions when the materials are stored in a dark place after the development.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Inventors: Makoto Suzuki, Yasuhiro Yoshioka
  • Publication number: 20020009677
    Abstract: A light sensitive silver halide color photographic element having a common chromogenic coupler and a distinct developer associated with each color forming layer unit is disclosed. In a first embodiment, the light sensitive silver halide color photographic element has a red light sensitive silver halide layer unit and a first blocked coupling developer, a green light sensitive silver halide layer unit and a second blocked coupling developer and a blue light sensitive silver halide layer unit having a third blocked coupling developer and wherein each layer unit has the same chromogenic coupler. In a second embodiment, the light sensitive silver halide color photographic element has a red light sensitive silver halide layer unit and a first blocked coupling developer, a green light sensitive silver halide layer unit and a second blocked coupling developer and a blue light sensitive silver halide layer unit having a third blocked coupling developer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Inventors: Richard P. Szajewski, Lyn M. Irving
  • Patent number: 6339211
    Abstract: A temperature differential over a length of a fuser can result from a thermal load applied to the fuser by media having a dimension, corresponding to a longitudinal axis of the fuser, less then the length of the fuser. The temperature on regions of the surface of the fuser contacting the media is lower than on regions of the surface not contacting the media. With feedback used to control the fuser surface temperature near its center, the fuser surface temperature in regions not contacting the media can become hot enough to damage the fuser. With a heat pipe included in the fuser, heat flows from the higher temperature regions on the surface of the fuser to the lower temperature regions on the surface of the fuser, thereby reducing the peak magnitude of the fuser surface temperature and the magnitude of the temperature differential over the length of the fuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Wayne E Foote, David J Arcaro, Kenneth E Heath, B. Mark Hirst, Mark Wibbels
  • Patent number: 6338932
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for applying an image to a fabric, which comprises the steps of (i) hand ironing an imaged copier or printer transfer material having a support sheet and a transfer coating to a receptor element having valleys on the surface of the receptor element, (ii) peeling away the support sheet to obtain an imaged receptor element, (ii) placing a tack-free overlay sheet over the imaged receptor element, and (iv) pressing the overlay sheet by hand ironing to drive the coating into the valleys of the receptor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Foto-Wear!, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald S. Hare, Scott A. Williams
  • Patent number: 6335153
    Abstract: Provided is a method for producing image using a photothermographic material in which the photothermographic material is exposed with a laser light using an image producing apparatus having a recording section and heat developing section, and then developed by heating, the photothermographic material containing elsewhere at least on one plane of the a support at least one kind of photosensitive silver halide, a non-photosensitive organic silver salt, a reducing agent for silver ion and a binder; characterized in that the photosensitive silver halide contains an iridium compound, and the image producing apparatus has an exposure corrective control means for correctively controlling exposure output according to a temperature profile of photothermographic material within the apparatus. This method can provide an image with a stable quality while not being affected by environmental conditions during the image production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ichizo Toya
  • Publication number: 20010055490
    Abstract: A heat development system of forming an image by exposing and heat developing a sheet-form heat developable light-sensitive material by using a heat development image-forming apparatus comprising a conveying member, a light-sensitive material-supplying member and an image exposure member, said heat developable light-sensitive material comprising a support and a light-sensitive layer comprising a binder, an organic silver salt, a reducing agent for a silver ion, and light-sensitive silver halide grains.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Inventor: Takayoshi Oyamada
  • Patent number: 6333143
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method for forming an image on a light-sensitive material having on a base at least a light-sensitive silver halide emulsion and a binder, which comprises, subjecting at least one light-sensitive layer to exposure to light, by using an exposure head that has a plurality of different light sources for emitting lights in respective specific wavelength regions correspondingly to adjacent exposure picture elements, to form an image, wherein, in the specific wavelength regions from the shortest wavelength to the longest wavelength for the respective plurality of light sources to be used, the change in sensitivity of the light-sensitive material in the spectral sensitivity curve obtained by plotting the sensitivities of the light-sensitive material in terms of the specific wavelength regions including the wavelengths in centers of gravity of respective light sources is 0.01 log E/nm or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Shibata, Yuji Mihara
  • Publication number: 20010051319
    Abstract: A photothermographic material comprising at least (a) a photosensitive silver halide, (b) a reducible silver salt, (c) a reducing agent represented by the following formula (1), (d) a binder, and (e) a phenol compound represented by the following formula (2) on the same side of a support: 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Publication date: December 13, 2001
    Inventors: Toyohisa Oya, Kazunobu Katoh
  • Patent number: 6329127
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a heat-developable photosensitive material of less heat development temperature and humidity dependency, which is unlikely to be affected by uneven temperature distribution in heat development apparatuses and humidity condition, and can stably form uniform images, in particular, a heat-developable photosensitive material of improved stability of coating solutions overtime, which can form uniform ultrahigh contrast images without unevenness, which are suitable for mechanical processes, and exhibit suppressed fluctuation of photographic performance depending on the storage condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Ito, Katsuyuki Watanabe, Kazunobu Katoh, Minoru Sakai
  • Patent number: 6329113
    Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging member comprising a base wherein said base comprises at least one layer of heat shrinkable sheet and at least one strength layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert P. Bourdelais, Peter T. Aylward, Alphonse D. Camp, Geoffrey Mruk
  • Patent number: 6319657
    Abstract: An image forming method is disclosed, comprising the steps of processing image data or setting an exposure condition so that an image size is enlarged or reduced, imagewise exposing a photothermographic material to laser to form an image enlarged or reduced based on the processed image data or the set exposure condition, and subjecting the exposed photothermographic material to thermal development, in which the photothermographic material comprises an organic silver salt, a photosensitive silver halide, a reducing agent, and a contrast increasing agent or a quaternary onium salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Hirabayashi
  • Publication number: 20010041301
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for applying an image to a fabric, which comprises the steps of (i) hand ironing an imaged copier or printer transfer material having a support sheet and a transfer coating to a receptor element having valleys on the surface of the receptor element, (ii) peeling away the support sheet to obtain an imaged receptor element, (ii) placing a tack-free overlay sheet over the imaged receptor element, and (iv) pressing the overlay sheet by hand ironing to drive the coating into the valleys of the receptor element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Applicant: FOTO-WEAR!, INC.
    Inventors: Donald S. Hare, Scott A. Williams
  • Publication number: 20010041313
    Abstract: A photothermographic material disclosed, comprising on a support a light sensitive layer containing an organic silver salt, light sensitive silver halide grains and a solvent, wherein the organic silver salt comprises tabular organic silver salt grains exhibiting an average needle ratio of not less than 1.1 and less than 10.0, the light sensitive silver halide grains having been subjected to chemical sensitization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Inventor: Hideki Takiguchi
  • Patent number: 6316172
    Abstract: There is disclosed a heat-developable photographic light-sensitive material, wherein the degree of warp at the edge portion of each of four sides of the light-sensitive material after heat development is in the range of from 0 mm/50 cm to 4 mm/50 cm. Further, there is disclosed a heat-development method thereof. The heat-developable photographic light-sensitive material can exhibits such an excellent effect that the planar property after a heat development is good, and consequently the problem of printing blur does not occur, not only in ordinary use but also even in use as a light-sensitive material for printing. Further, the heat-development method can exerts an excellent effect as a method for maintaining excellent planar property and consequently restraining the occurrence of the printing blur problem, when the heat-developable photographic light-sensitive material is subjected to heat development.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyokazu Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20010038977
    Abstract: A heat-developable image-recording material comprising, on a support, a silver-supplying layer containing an organic silver salt, a reducing agent and an organic binder, and a separate photosensitive layer containing a photosensitive silver halide, the heat-developable image-recording material further containing an electron-transfer agent; and a method for forming an image by heat development comprising; imagewise exposing the heat-developable image-recording material and then heat-developing, whereby development of the photosensitive layer forms a silver image in the silver-supplying layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventor: Kazunobu Katoh
  • Publication number: 20010038980
    Abstract: A photothermographic material is disclosed, comprising a support, an image forming layer containing organic silver salt grains, light sensitive silver halide grains and a reducing agent and a surface protective layer on the image forming layer, wherein the element composition on the surface of image forming layer side, obtained by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy exhibits a ratio of the number of carbon elements to the number of oxygen elements of not more than 9.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventor: Kiyokazu Morita
  • Patent number: 6306573
    Abstract: A recording material comprising a support, a thermosensitive element and a protective layer therefor, the thermosensitive element comprising a substantially light-insensitive organic silver salt, an organic reducing agent therefor in thermal working relationship therewith and a binder, wherein the thermosensitive element further comprises in reactive association with the substantially light-insensitive organic silver salt and the organic reducing agent a substituted, exclusive of groups having an exclusively electron withdrawing character, or unsubstituted compound with an unsaturated 5-membered heterocyclic ring annulated with an aromatic ring system, the ring consisting of nitrogen and carbon atoms with at least one of the nitrogen atoms having a hydrogen atom and none of the carbon atoms being directly linked to a sulfur atom or being part of a carbonyl-group; a production process therefor and a thermal image recording process utilizing the recording-material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Bartholomeus Horsten, Johan Loccufier, Geert Defieuw, Luc Leenders
  • Publication number: 20010031430
    Abstract: A photothermographic material is disclose, comprising a light-sensitive silver halide, an organic silver salt, a reducing agent, a thiuronium salt and a binder, wherein the photothermographic material further contains at least one of compounds represented by formulas such as 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Inventors: Shinji Kudo, Keiko Chigusa, Hiroshi Kashiwagi
  • Publication number: 20010028996
    Abstract: An emulsion comprising a substantially light-insensitive organic silver salt, photosensitive silver halide in catalytic association with the substantially light-insensitive organic silver salt and a binder, wherein the emulsion further comprises a polyhalide compound selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium polyhalides, quaternary phosphonium polyhalides and ternary sulphonium polyhalides, which satisfies a test specified in the description, or a product of a reaction between the polyhalide compound and a reducing species present in said emulsion; a process for producing a photothermographic recording material, capable of image formation without preliminary heating prior to exposure, comprising a photo-addressable thermally developable element incorporating the emulsion; and a photothermographic recording process utilizing the photothermographic recording material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Applicant: Agfa Gevaert
    Inventors: Johan Loccufier, Ivan Hoogmartens, Hans Strijckers
  • Publication number: 20010029000
    Abstract: A photothermographic material comprising a defined amount of a compound represented by the following general formula as a reducing agent is disclosed. In the following general formula, R1 and R1′ each independently represent an alkyl group, at least one of which is a secondary or tertiary alkyl group; R2 and R2′ each independently represent hydrogen atom or a group that can be a substituent on benzene ring; L represents —S— group or a —CH(R3)— group where R3 represents hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; and X and X′ each independently represent hydrogen atom or a group that can be a substituent on benzene ring. The photothermographic material is characterized by providing sufficient image density by heat development, and showing good silver color tone and little change with time after the development.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Yoshioka, Kouta Fukui, Makoto Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6300044
    Abstract: A production method for a photothermographic recording material comprising the steps of: (i) providing a support; (ii) coating the support with a photo-addressable thermally developable element comprising a substantially light-insensitive organic silver salt, photosensitive silver halide in catalytic association with the substantially light-insensitive organic silver salt, a reducing agent in thermal working relationship with the substantially light-insensitive organic silver salt and a binder, characterized in that the photosensitive silver halide is formed by reacting an aqueous emulsion of particles of the substantially light-insensitive organic silver salt with at least one onium salt with halide or polyhalide anion(s) and that the photo-addressable thermally developable element is coated from an aqueous dispersion medium; and a recording process therefor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Herman Uytterhoeven, Yvan Gilliams, Johan Loccufier, Sabine Emmers, Ronny De Clercq
  • Patent number: 6297476
    Abstract: A thermally developing apparatus is provided with a heating device to heat a thermally developable material; a supplier for supplying the thermally developable material in a predetermined supplying direction to the heating device; the heating device having plural regions aligned in a direction substantially perpendicular to the supplying direction of the thermally developable material by the supplier; plural heaters each provided separately to one of the plural regions and to heat a corresponding one of the plural regions of the heating device; and a controller to control heat generation of the plural heaters, the controller controlling at least one of the plural heaters in accordance with a size of the thermally developable material which is a length substantially perpendicular to the supplying direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Teruo Kashino, Akira Taguchi, Hirofumi Okabe, Yasuaki Tamakoshi, Masaya Shimoji
  • Publication number: 20010021493
    Abstract: A photothermographic material comprising, on one surface of a support, at least one kind of photosensitive silver halide, a silver salt of an organic acid, a reducing agent for silver ions, and a binder, wherein (1) said material further comprises two or more kinds of organic polyhalogenated compounds, and (2) a melting point of a mixture which consists of the organic polyhalogenated compounds in the same content ratio as the content ratio of said compounds in the photothermographic material is in the range of from −10° C. to 50° C. relative to a heat development temperature for the photothermographic material. The photothermographic material of the present invention shows high sensitivity and superior storability before heat development, and the material can be used for medical images, photoengraving and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Publication date: September 13, 2001
    Inventor: Kouta Fukui
  • Patent number: 6288370
    Abstract: A is moved, the heating members heat treatment apparatus 18 for subjecting a sheet A, which must be subjected to heat treatment, to heat treatment by transferring the sheet along the surface of a heating member, the heat treatment apparatus incorporating: at least two heating members 120, 320 fixedly aligned in a direction in which the sheet A, which are arranged to subject the sheet A to heat treatment which is performed at a predetermined temperature; transferring mechanism for sliding and transferring the sheet A along the surface of each heating member; and a pressing mechanism 122, 322 for pressing at least a portion of the sheet A which is being transferred, against the surfaces of the heating members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaharu Ogawa, Nobuyuki Torisawa
  • Patent number: 6284442
    Abstract: A black and white monosheet thermographic recording material having a spectrophotometrically determined maximum absorption for visible light between 570 and 650 nm and comprising a support and a thermosensitive element, said thermosensitive element containing a substantially light-insensitive organic silver salt, an organic reducing agent therefor in thermal working relationship therewith and a binder, wherein the substantially light-insensitive black and white monosheet thermographic recording material contains at least two colorants with maximum absorption at a wavelength between 450 nm and 700 nm, none of the at least two colorants is an antihalation dye, and at least one of the at least two colorants is incorporated in the support; and photothermographic and thermographic recording processes therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Guy Michel Van Ackere, Geert Defieuw, Ivan Hoogmartens, Johan August Loccufier
  • Publication number: 20010018169
    Abstract: A processing method which thermally develops a thermally developable photosensitive material which is exposed imagewise, comprising the step of thermally developing said thermally developable photosensitive material using heating element which intermittently heats and has duration time of surface temperature of not less than 250° C. to be not more than 1 second, wherein said thermally developable photosensitive material comprising a support having thereon one layer or plural layers; containing organic silver salt, photosensitive silver halide grains and a reducing agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 1999
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Inventor: TAKESHI SAMPEI
  • Patent number: 6280912
    Abstract: The present invention provides an overcoat for a photographic element that allows for appropriate diffusion of photographic processing solutions. The overcoat comprises 10 to 50% by weight of a enzyme-degradable biopolymer and 50 to 90% by weight of hydrophobic particles (by weight of dry laydown of the entire overcoat). An enzyme is applied to the element before, during, or after conventional photoprocessing. According to one embodiment of the invention, the photographic element can be exposed and processed using normal photofinishing equipment, with no modifications, to provide an imaged element together with a protective, water-resistant layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Thomas H. Whitesides, Amy Jasek, Hwei-Ling Yau, Jill E. Fornalik
  • Publication number: 20010014433
    Abstract: A photothermographic material is disclosed, comprising a support having on one side of the support a light-sensitive layer containing a light-sensitive silver halide, an organic silver salt, a reducing agent and a binder, and at least one protective layer, wherein the light-sensitive layer has a silver content of 0.10 to 0.45 g/cm3 and a dry thickness of 1 to 10 &mgr;m, and a total dry protective layer thickness being 3 to 20 &mgr;m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2001
    Publication date: August 16, 2001
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Takamuki
  • Patent number: 6274298
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a photographic element comprising a support, at least one silver halide emulsion layer superposed on the support, and a processing-solution-permeable protective overcoat overlying the silver halide emulsion layer. The processing solution permeable overcoat is composed of a polyester ionomer. The present invention is also directed to a method of making a photographic print involving developing the photographic element. The imaged photographic element exhibits water, stain, and wet-abrasion resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Mridula Nair, Tamara K. Jones, Joseph S. Sedita, David M. Teegarden, Bobbi A. Wohlschlegel
  • Patent number: 6274297
    Abstract: A production process for a photothermographic recording material thermally developable under substantially water-free conditions comprising the steps of: (i) providing a support; (ii) producing one or more aqueous dispersions or solutions containing together a substantially light-insensitive organic silver salt, photosensitive ex-situ silver halide in catalytic association with the substantially light-insensitive organic silver salt, a reducing agent in thermal working relationship with the substantially light-insensitive organic silver salt and a binder; (iii) coating the one or more aqueous dispersions or solutions onto the support to form layers which upon drying become a photo-addressable thermally developable element; and (iv) drying the layers, wherein the photo-addressable thermally developable element contains between 0.2 and 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Herman Uytterhoeven, Luc Bastiaens, Luc Vissers, Yvan Gilliams, Chris Van Roost