Film Or Film Coating Improvement Ingredient Containing, E.g., Wetting Agent, Coating Aid, Plasticizer, Antistatic Agent, Etc. Patents (Class 430/631)
  • Patent number: 6399289
    Abstract: Disclosed is a silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material comprising, on a support, a unit blue-sensitive layer including at least one blue-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer containing a yellow coupler, a unit green-sensitive layer including at least one green-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer containing a magenta coupler, and a unit red-sensitive layer including at least one red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer containing a cyan coupler, at least one of the unit blue-, green-, and red-sensitive layers comprising not less than two color-sensitive layers differing in sensitivity, of which a highest-sensitivity layer being positioned farthest from the support, wherein the light-sensitive material has at least one layer containing a high-boiling organic solvent, at least 50% by weight of which is occupied by a high-boiling organic solvent having a viscosity of not less than 300 mPas at 25° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichiro Hosokawa, Hisashi Mikoshiba, Yasuhiro Kato
  • Patent number: 6391537
    Abstract: There is disclosed a nanoparticulate dispersion of a silver carboxylate particles having on the surface of the particles a surface modifier which is a nonionic oligomeric surfactant based on vinyl polymer with an amido function. In particular, the surface modifier is acrylamide, methacrylamide or derivatives thereof. Also disclosed are various compositions including the dispersions including oxidation-reduction imaging forming compositions, thermographic elements and photothermographic compositions and elements. The preferred carboxylate is a silver salt of a long chain fatty acid such as silver behenate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Mark Lelental, Alan R. Pitt, David A. Dickinson, James L. Wakley, Peter J. Ghyzel
  • Publication number: 20020058213
    Abstract: A silver halide photosensitive material in which a noncoloring compound is used as a high-boiling-point organic solvent for dissolving components of the silver halide photosensitive material that have low solubility in water. Preferably, the silver halide photosensitive material has a hydrophilic colloid layer containing a hydrophilic polymer and the noncoloring compound is contained in the hydrophilic colloid layer. The silver halide photosensitive material produces durable colored images, reduces the formation of stains, improves storability, alleviates fogging and soft-toning of emulsion during storage, inhibits migration of a dispersion medium, is inexpensive, and is produced from materials that cause little damage to the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Inventors: Hisashi Mikoshiba, Hiroyuki Yoneyama, Naoto Matsuda
  • Patent number: 6387611
    Abstract: There is disclosed an oxidation-reduction imaging forming composition comprising an aqueous based dispersion of (i) nanoparticulate silver carboxylate particles having on the surface of the particles a surface modifier which is a phosphoric acid ester and (ii) an organic reducing agent. In particular, the surface modifiers can be mixtures of mono- and di-esters of orthophosphoric acid and hydroxyl-terminated, oxyethylated long-chain alcohols or oxyethylated alkyl phenols or derivatives thereof. Also disclosed are various compositions including the dispersions including oxidation-reduction imaging forming compositions, thermographic elements and photothermographic compositions and elements. The preferred carboxylate is a silver salt of a long chain fatty acid such as silver behenate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Mark Lelental, David A. Dickinson, James L. Wakley, Michael W. Orem, Peter J. Ghyzel
  • Patent number: 6379879
    Abstract: A color photographic recording material having at least one spectrally sensitized silver halide emulsion layer, characterized in that said silver halide emulsion layer contains an oil former having a pKa value of less than 18 and a DIR coupler and the material contains at least one color coupler, wherein the color coupler and/or the DIR coupler have specific structures, is distinguished by an increased interimage effect in comparison with the prior art without sensitivity being reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Jörg Hagemann, Günter Helling, Heinz Wiesen, Ralf Wirowski, Ralf Büscher
  • Publication number: 20020015927
    Abstract: The present invention provides a thermally processed image recording material having, on a support, an image-forming layer containing at least (a) a silver salt of an organic acid, (b) a reducing agent and (c) a photosensitive silver halide and at least one protective layer provided on the image-forming layer and comprising polymer latex as binders of the image-forming layer and the protective layer, wherein at least one of the image-forming layer and the protective layer contains a viscosity enhancer that increases viscosity of its aqueous solution when the solution is heated and temperature of the solution exceeds a certain transition temperature, and the viscosity enhancer is a polymer selected from the group consisting of polymers containing a (meth)acrylamide derivative represented by the following formula (1) or (2) in an amount of 50 weight % or more as constituent units: 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Inventor: Takashi Naoi
  • Publication number: 20020012888
    Abstract: A photothermographic material is disclosed, comprising a support provide thereon an image forming layer containing a light sensitive silver halide, an organic silver salt and a reducing agent and at least a component a layer, wherein the component layer contains a compound capable of trapping a material causing odor and is provided farther from the support than image forming layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Inventor: Yasunori Wada
  • Patent number: 6329128
    Abstract: An infrared photosensitive element comprising: a support bearing an infrared radiation-sensitive silver halide material; and an antihalation layer comprising a basic antistatic agent, an acid having a pKa less than 4.2 in an amount equal to at least 1.0% mole equivalent of acid to 1 mole equivalent of amine in said antistatic agent, and sufficient antihalation dye to provide a transmission optical density at the wavelength of maximum absorbence of said dye of at least 0.2 after coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Randall H. Helland, Charles W. Gomez, William D. Ramsden
  • Patent number: 6326132
    Abstract: A photothermographic material for laser exposure excellent in granularity and having no blocking trouble, which comprises a support having provided thereon at least one image formation layer containing at least one silver halide, and at least one non-image recording protective layer provided on the side far away from the support of said image formation layer, wherein said protective layer contains a matte agent composed of an inorganic compound and an organic polymer compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ichizo Toya, Munehisa Fujita
  • Patent number: 6326134
    Abstract: A process for forming a silver halide photographic emulsion is disclosed comprising precipitating silver halide grains in an aqueous dispersing medium to which has been added silver and halide salt solutions while agitating the dispersing medium, wherein the precipitation is done in the presence of an antifoamant compound of the formula RO(CH2CH2O)nH wherein R represents an alkyl or alkenyl group containing 10 to 25 carbon atoms, or mixtures thereof, and n represents a mean value of from 2 to 4. The antifoamant material may be delivered to the aqueous dispersing medium as a small particle dispersion, made with the same peptizer used for manufacturing the emulsion or another stabilizer. A further embodiment of the invention is directed towards a silver halide photographic material comprising a support upon which is coated at least one light sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, comprising a silver halide emulsion precipitated in accordance with the described process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Lloyd A. Lobo, Sridhar Sadasivan, John W. Boettcher, Seshadri Jagannathan, Jerzy A. Budz, David C. Gliottone
  • Patent number: 6312882
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for preparing a light-sensitive silver halide emulsion comprising tabular grains containing colloidal silica sol as a protective colloid, said tabular grains having an average grain thickness of not more than 0.3 &mgr;m, an average aspect ratio of more than 12:1, a total projective area of said tabular grains of at least 50% and a coverage degree by silica sol particles within the range from 50 to 2000%, comprising following steps: precipitating in a reaction medium silver halide by means of a double-jet or triple-jet technique applied to aqueous solutions of silver nitrate and halide salts in colloidal silica having an average particle size in the range from 0.003 &mgr;m to 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventor: Ann Verbeeck
  • Patent number: 6309812
    Abstract: There is disclosed an emulsified dispersion of photographic hydrophobic compound fine grains (with a proviso of excluding silver halides), which comprises an added water-soluble monovalent- or polyvalent-metal salt. The emulsified dispersion whose particle size is small, is excellent in the stability of the particle size with the lapse of time. There is also disclosed a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, which contains the emulsified dispersion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Aogaki, Masahiro Fukuoka
  • Publication number: 20010034385
    Abstract: A hydrophobically capped oligomeric acrylamide or pyrrolidone is employed as a dispersant for hydrophobic materials in an aqueous medium containing a hydrophilic colloid, e.g. gelatin. The hydrophobic materials include photographic addenda such as color couplers or solid particle dyes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Alan R. Pitt, Trevor J. Wear, Danuta Gibson, Ian M. Newington, Mary C. Brick, John W. Boettcher, Gary N. Barber
  • Publication number: 20010031436
    Abstract: There is disclosed a nanoparticulate dispersion of a silver carboxylate particles having on the surface of the particles a surface modifier which is a nonionic oligomeric surfactant based on vinyl polymer with an amido function. In particular, the surface modifier is acrylamide, methacrylamide or derivatives thereof. Also disclosed are various compositions including the dispersions including oxidation-reduction imaging forming compositions, thermographic elements and photothermographic compositions and elements. The preferred carboxylate is a silver salt of a long chain fatty acid such as silver behenate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Mark Lelental, Alan R. Pitt, David A. Dickinson, James L. Wakley, Peter J. Ghyzel
  • Patent number: 6303284
    Abstract: A process for forming a silver halide photographic emulsion is disclosed comprising precipitating silver halide grains in an aqueous dispersing medium to which has been added silver and halide salt solutions while agitating the dispersing medium, wherein the precipitation is done in the presence of an antifoamant which comprises a hydrophobic group containing nonionic mono- or di-saccharide compound having an HLB number of between 2 and 12. The antifoamant material may be delivered to the aqueous dispersing medium as a small particle dispersion, made with the same peptizer used for manufacturing the emulsion or another stabilizer. A further embodiment of the invention is directed towards a silver halide photographic material comprising a support upon which is coated at least one light sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, comprising a silver halide emulsion precipitated in accordance with the described process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Lloyd A. Lobo, Sridhar Sadasivan, Seshadri Jagannathan, Jerzy A. Budz, David C. Gliottone, John W. Boettcher
  • Publication number: 20010029001
    Abstract: There is disclosed an oxidation-reduction imaging forming composition comprising an aqueous based dispersion of (i) nanoparticulate silver carboxylate particles having on the surface of the particles a surface modifier which is a phosphoric acid ester and (ii) an organic reducing agent. In particular, the surface modifiers can be mixtures of mono- and di-esters of orthophosphoric acid and hydroxyl-terminated, oxyethylated long-chain alcohols or oxyethylated alkyl phenols or derivatives thereof. Also disclosed are various compositions including the dispersions including oxidation-reduction imaging forming compositions, thermographic elements and photothermographic compositions and elements. The preferred carboxylate is a silver salt of a long chain fatty acid such as silver behenate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Mark Lelental, David A. Dickinson, James L. Wakley, Michael W. Orem, Peter J. Ghyzel
  • Patent number: 6287754
    Abstract: Thermally processable imaging elements in which the image is formed by imagewise heating or by imagewise exposure to light followed by uniform heating are comprised of a support, a thermographic or photothermographic imaging layer, a protective overcoat layer which is an outermost layer on the same side of the support as the imaging layer, a backing layer which is an outermost layer on the side of the support opposite to the imaging layer, and an electroconductive agent in at least one layer of the element. Each of the protective overcoat layer and the backing layer contains a fluorosurfactant in an amount sufficient to serve as a triboelectric charge control agent and effective in providing essentially the same triboelectric charging characteristics to the backing layer as to the protective overcoat layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Sharon Marilyn Melpolder, Christopher Edwin Wheeler
  • Patent number: 6225036
    Abstract: A multicolor photographic element comprising a support bearing a cyan dye image-forming unit comprising at least one red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer having associated therewith at least one cyan dye-forming coupler, a magenta dye image-forming unit comprising at least one green-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer having associated therewith at least one magenta dye-forming coupler, a yellow dye image-forming unit comprising at least one blue-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer having associated therewith at least one yellow dye-forming coupler, wherein at least one of said emulsion layers comprises tabular grains having {111} major faces containing greater than 50 mole percent bromide, and accounting for greater than 50 percent total grain projected area precipitated in a peptizer that is a water dispersible cationic starch, and contains a fragmentable electron donating sensitizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Joe E. Maskasky, Kenneth J. Reed, Victor P. Scaccia, James A. Friday
  • Patent number: 6221571
    Abstract: A silver halide light sensitive photographic element is disclosed comprising a support bearing at least one cyan image forming hydrophilic colloid layer comprising cyan image dye forming coupler of Formula I and benzoic acid ester or diester high boiling solvent of Formula II. wherein Ra is an alkyl group, Rb is a ballast group, and X is hydrogen or a coulping-off group. wherein: each m is independently 0, 1, 2 or 3; each R1 is an individually selected alkyl group with up to four carbon atoms; n is 1 to 7; each R2, R3, R4 and R5 may be the same or different and is individually selected from hydrogen or an alkyl group with up to four carbon atoms; p is 0 to 3; q is 1 to 7; r is 0 or 1; and the log P of the solvent is at least 4.0. The photographic elements of the invention provide high cyan coupler reactivity and form deep cyan dye hues upon photographic processing without degrading cyan dye dark stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Paul L. Zengerle, Gary N. Barber
  • Patent number: 6214529
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of reducing fog in a silver halide emulsion comprising taking a high fogging emulsion which has been chemically sensitized and cooled, holding the high fogging emulsion in the form of a melt in preparation for coating on a support, and prior to or during said holding, contacting the emulsion with an isothiazolin-one compound represented by the following formula wherein R1 is a substituent; and Z contains the carbon atoms necessary to form a substituted or unsubstituted non-aromatic ring. It also relates to silver halide photographic elements containing such emulsions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Jon N. Eikenberry, Kenneth G. Harbison
  • Patent number: 6210872
    Abstract: A novel optical film capable of readily vitrifying the tendency and state of liquid crystal alignment, excellent in the ability to retain the alignment state, and suitable for the application to optical elements. The film is produced from a liquid-crystal material containing as the essential ingredient a liquid-crystal polyester having structural units (A) and (B) as the essential unit, exhibiting a vitrified state at a temperature lower than the liquid-crystal transition point, and having a logarithmic viscosity number (&eegr;) of 0.04-0.4 dl/g as measured at 30° C. in a phenol/tetrachloroethane solvent (60/40 by weight), wherein each X represents independently O or C═O; each Y represents independently a group selected from among F, Cl, Br and 1-4C alkyls; and n is 0 or 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Nippon Mitsubishi Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Hosaki, Yoshihiro Kumagai, Tadahiro Kaminade
  • Patent number: 6190854
    Abstract: A thermally developable material comprising a support, an image forming layer containing organic silver salts, and a component layer provided on the image forming layer side, wherein a smooster value on the surface of said image forming layer side of said thermally developable material is not more than 40 mm Hg, and said image forming layer or said component layer contains a fluorine containing surfactant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Sampei
  • Patent number: 6187528
    Abstract: A photothermographic recording material comprising a support and a photo-addressable thermally developable element comprising photosensitive silver halide in catalytic association with a substantially light-insensitive organic silver salt, an organic reducing agent for the substantially light-insensitive organic silver salt in thermal working relationship therewith and a water-soluble or water-dispersible binder, characterized in that the substantially light-insensitive organic silver salt is a silver salt of an organic carboxylic acid, the photo-addressable thermally developable element further comprises a non-ionic or anionic surfactant and the photo-addressable thermally developable element is coatable from an aqueous medium and is capable of producing stable images without a wet-processing step; a process for producing the photothermographic recording material and a photothermographic recording process therefor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Herman Uytterhoeven, Yvan Gilliams, Jan Gilleir
  • Patent number: 6174658
    Abstract: Disclosed is a silver halide photographic light sensitive material which has each of at least one silver halide photographic light sensitive emulsion layer and non-lightsensitive hydrophilic colloid layer, and solid fine particles of compound demonstrating fluorescent whitening effect in at least one of the silver halide photographic light sensitive emulsion layer and non-lightsensitive hydrophilic colloid layer. A silver halide photographic light sensitive material having an image excellent in sharpness and improved in whiteness and bright value of print is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventor: Katsumasa Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 6171774
    Abstract: A silver halide photographic light sensitive material is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Kunimasa Hiyama, Kazuhiro Murai
  • Patent number: 6165703
    Abstract: A silver halide color photographic material comprises at least one silver halide emulsion comprising silver halide grains having associated therewith at least two dye layers comprising(a) an inner dye layer adjacent to the silver halide grain and comprising at least one dye, Dye 1, that is capable of spectrally sensitizing silver halide and(b) an outer dye layer adjacent to the inner dye layer and comprising at least one cyanine dye, Dye 2,wherein one of Dye 1 or Dye 2 has at least one anionic substituent and one of Dye 1 or Dye 2 has at least one cationic substituent and wherein the dye layers are held together by more than one non-covalent force; the outer dye layer adsorbs light at equal or higher energy than the inner dye layer; and the energy emission wavelength of the outer dye layer overlaps with the energy absorption wavelength of the inner dye layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Richard L. Parton, Thomas L. Penner, Andrei Andrievsky, William J. Harrison
  • Patent number: 6162597
    Abstract: A polyester support having an adjacent subbing layer which comprises a polymer or copolymer of glycidyl acrylate and/or glycidyl methacrylate improves the adhesion of a photothermographic imaging layer containing a poly(vinyl butyral) binder coated from an organic solvent. The subbing layer can be applied in the form of an aqueous dispersion in the prescence of a coalescing agent. Such a subbing layer does not adversely affect sensitometry in a photothermographic or thermographic element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Charles L. Bauer, Cathy A. Fleischer
  • Patent number: 6143484
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for stabilizing a photographic coating melt. The photographic melt includes an aqueous medium and a dispersed liquid organic phase containing an ultraviolet ray absorbing compound, and an emulsion containing silver halide particles having an average equivalent circular diameter of from 0.03 to 0.10 microns. The photographically useful ultraviolet ray absorber compound is soluble in a liquid organic phase and substantially insoluble in water. The method includes the step of adding to the emulsion containing silver halide particles a sufficient amount of surfactant to passify surfaces of the silver halide particles. The present invention is also a method of preparing a photographic coating melt. A dispersion is prepared which includes an aqueous medium, a dispersed liquid organic phase and an ultraviolet ray absorber compound wherein the ultraviolet ray absorber compound is soluble in the dispersed liquid organic phase and substantially insoluble in water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Kurt M. Schroeder, Jayme D. Ribeiro, Gary L. Slater, Timothy J. Hubert
  • Patent number: 6136520
    Abstract: A photographic element is disclosed. The element comprises fine composite particles composed of fine inorganic particles bonded with a high boiling point compound. An excellent photographic element which exhibits high sensitivity, minimum fog, improved pressure resistance, no roller marks, and sufficient layer strength, all under low-replenished processing, protecting environmental pollution is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Takamuki
  • Patent number: 6130033
    Abstract: A (photo)thermographic recording material comprising a (photo-addressable) thermosensitive element on one side of a water resistant support and an outermost backside layer on the other side of the water resistant support, the (photo-addressable) thermosensitive element comprising 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 in catalytic association with the substantially light insensitive organic silver salt) and a binder and the outermost backside layer comprising polymeric beads, characterized in that an outermost layer on the side of the water resistant support with the (photo-addressable) thermosensitive element does not contain a fluorine-containing polymeric surfactant and the static frictional coefficient between the outermost layer on the side of the water resistant support with the (photo-addressable) thermosensitive element and the o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Geert Defieuw, Wim Mues, Dirk Quintens, Ivan Hoogmartens
  • Patent number: 6120981
    Abstract: Disclosed is a photographic element comprising a light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer having associated therewith a dye-foaming coupler compound and a sulfonamido compound (a) bearing on the sulfur atom of the sulfonamido group an alkyl group and (b) bearing on the nitrogen atom of the sulfonamido group both a hydrogen atom that exhibits a pKa value of less than 9 and a second substituent that is either (1) an aryl group containing one or more electron withdrawing substituents for which the sum of the Hammett's values (.SIGMA..sigma..sub.p) is greater than 0.5, or (2) a heteroaryl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: David Hoke, Jared B. Mooberry, Kathleen M. Yahn, Kevin P. Dockery, David T. Southby
  • Patent number: 6114079
    Abstract: The present invention is an imaging element including a support having a frontside and a backside, an imaging layer superposed on the frontside of said support, and a print-retaining, electrically-conductive layer superposed on the backside of the support. The electrically-conductive layer includes a film-forming binder comprising the latex polymeric addition product of from 20 to 65 mol % of styrene, from 30 to 78 mol % of n-butyl methacrylate, and from 2 to 10 mol % of the sodium salt of 2-sulfoethyl methacrylate. and at least about 60 weight percent composite electrically conductive particles. The composite electrically-conductive particles have a layer of electrically-conductive metal-containing crystallites overlying a nonconductive substrate particle. The electrically-conductive layer is formed by dispersing the composite electrically-conductive particles using polymeric milling media having a mean particle size less than 350 .mu.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Paul A. Christian, Debasis Majumdar, Ibrahim M. Shalhoub, Dennis J. Eichorst
  • Patent number: 6096492
    Abstract: A colour photographic material which contains an OH-functional polylactone in at least one layer is distinguished by improved maximum densities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert NV
    Inventors: Beate Weber, Markus Geiger, Jorg Hagemann
  • Patent number: 6071688
    Abstract: An additive is added to a coating composition on a support by vaporizing the additive on to the coating composition. The additive preferably reacts with the coating composition in either the wet or dry state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Scott C. Moose, Charles L. Bauer, Gregory W. Keyes
  • Patent number: 6068967
    Abstract: A silver halide photographic material is disclosed which comprises a support having provided thereon at least one light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, wherein at least one photographic layer in the photographic material contains a high molecular weight compound having a repeating unit represented by formula (I) and a solid fine particle dispersion of a dye: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; R.sub.2 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group; R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 each represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; and M.sub.1 and M.sub.2 each represents a hydrogen atom or a cation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichi Suzuki, Tomokazu Yasuda
  • Patent number: 6045987
    Abstract: There is disclosed a silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material which comprises a compound of the formula (I) contained in at least one hydrophilic colloid layer on a support: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each represent an aliphatic group, an aromatic group, or a heterocyclic group; R.sup.3 represents a substituent; m and n are each an integral number of 0 to 5, provided that m+n.ltoreq.5; and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may bond together to form a ring. The light-sensitive material is excellent in the solubility and dispersion stability of photographic reagents, good in color reproduction, and excellent in the fastness of dye images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Shimada, Hiroyuki Yoneyama
  • Patent number: 6045986
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of forming a dispersion of solid particles of a dye in a gelatin medium which includes the steps of milling the solid dye in the present of a glycerophospholipid dispersant in an aqueous medium and diluting the resulting dispersion with an aqueous solution containing a gelatin. In addition, a photographic element is provided comprising a support having coated thereon at least one silver halide emulsion layer and at least one additional gelatin layer that contains a dispersion of solid particles of a dye and a glycerophospholipid dispersant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Tulalip Consultoria Commerial Sociedade Unipessoal S.A.
    Inventors: Philip I. Mayo, Valerie Millar, Mark P. Kirk
  • Patent number: 6022680
    Abstract: A silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material comprising a support having provided thereon at least one silver halide emulsion layer, wherein the silver halide emulsion layer contains at least one cyan dye forming coupler and at least one polymer latex represented by the following formula (I):--(A).sub.x --(B).sub.y -- (I)wherein A represents a repeating unit derived from at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer having at least one --COOM group (wherein M represents a hydrogen atom or a cation) in its molecule; B represents a repeating unit derived from at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer which does not have the --COOM group; and x and y represent weight percentages of A and B, respectively, x represents a number of from 25 to 85, y represents a number of from 75 to 15, and x+y=100.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Yamanouchi, Masashi Ogiyama, Osamu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6020117
    Abstract: A thermographic or photothermographic element is disclosed having a surface coating containing a film-forming binder overlying at least one major surface of the element. An alkoxysilane containing at least one saturated hydrocarbon substituent having at least 8 carbon atoms is confined to the surface coating to act as a friction reducing compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Charles L. Bauer, Michael J. Ritz
  • Patent number: 5998120
    Abstract: A process for making a direct dispersion of a photographically useful material is discloses comprising: mixing (i) an aqueous phase comprising a gelatin solution and (ii) a liquid organic phase comprising a photographically useful material under conditions of high shear or turbulence to form a fine dispersion of the organic phase having an average particle size of less than 0.5 micron dispersed in the aqueous phase; wherein the gelatin solution comprises a mixture of a first gelatin having an isoelectric point pH of less than or equal to 5.2 and a second gelatin having an isoelectric point pH of greater than or equal to 6.0. In accordance with the invention, the use of blends of a first gelatin having an pI of less than or equal to 5.2, such as a conventional lime processed gelatin, and a second gelatin having an pI of greater than or equal to 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Richard W. Connelly, James S. Honan, Andrew M. Howe
  • Patent number: 5989802
    Abstract: Recording materials and a method of manufacturing said materials by coating hydrophilic colloidal layer compositions on a support by slide-hopper or curtain-coating techniques, followed by drying, said materials comprising a support and one or more light-sensitive and/or heat-sensitive layer(s) having a hydrophilic colloidal coating composition comprising no gelatin(in the case of (photo)thermographic materials) or gelatin in low amounts in order to provide a ratio by weight of gelatin to silver halide expressed as an equivalent amount of silver nitrate in the range from 0.05 to 0.4 (in the case of a light-sensitive silver halide photographic material) and thickening agents composed of synthetic clay and anionic macromolecular polyelectrolytes and wherein said synthetic clay is present in an amount of at least 85% by weight versus a total amount of thickening agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert, N.V.
    Inventor: Hubert Vandenabeele
  • Patent number: 5989758
    Abstract: There are provided liquid crystalline polyesters comprising 4'-hydroxy-4-stilbenecarboxylic acid type units, dicarboxylic acid units acting as a mesogen such as 4,4'-stilbenecarboxylic acid and catechol units as essential ingredients, and a liquid crystalline polyester composition comprising said polyesters and optically active liquid crystalline polyesters consisting essentially of 4,4'-stilbenedicarboxylic acid type units and aliphatic diol units having asymmetric carbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Nippon Oil Company, Limited
    Inventors: Shinichi Komatsu, Suzushi Nishimura, Akira Takagi, Shinichiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5981159
    Abstract: A photographic element is disclosed comprising a support bearing at least one light sensitive silver halide emulsion layer comprising a dispersion of a dye-forming coupler and a water-insoluble polymer, wherein the polymer has a glass transition temperature of less than 75.degree. C. and is formed from at least 30 wt % monomer units which provide the polymer with functional groups that are hydrogen bond donors. The combination of such relatively low T.sub.g polymers with couplers in photographic elements leads to both decreased pressure sensitivity and improved image-dye light stability, as well as a decreased tendency toward dye smear or thermal induced change. The advantages of the invention are particularly useful for yellow coupler dispersions used in photographic color paper elements on reflective supports, although they will also be useful for motion picture print film and other projection or display films on transparent or diffuse supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Ralph Bendt Nielsen, David Francis Bates, Brian Thomas
  • Patent number: 5981156
    Abstract: A method of making a thermally processable imaging element which comprises:i) forming a solution of poly(vinyl alcohol) in water;ii) adding matte particles to the resulting aqueous medium;iii) adding a compound of the formula I or formula II to the aqueous medium in an amount sufficient to inhibit agglomeration of the matte particles: ##STR1## wherein: the substituents are as described in the specification; iv) coating an image recording layer onto one side of a support;v) coating the aqueous medium containing the matte particles as an overcoat layer over the image recording layer or as backing layer on the side of the support opposite the image recording layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Sharon M. Melpolder, Peter J. Cowdery-Corvan, Alfred J. Alton
  • Patent number: 5972591
    Abstract: The invention is generally accomplished by providing a photographic element and a process of its formation wherein a gelatin silver halide emulsion is provided with a thickener comprising a copolymer of the structure whereinA comprises about 10 to about 20 parts by weight of said copolymer, andB comprises about 80 to about 90 parts by weight of said copolymer.It is particularly preferred that the copolymer be provided in a hardener layer to minimize the amount of gelatin needed and thus reduce the reaction of hardener with gelatin. The invention finds a preferred use in curtain coating wherein there is a greater need for high viscosity materials, particularly at the bottom of a group of layers in order to minimize distortions of the layers as they are applied in the curtain coating process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Marianne Yarmey, Wayne Arthur Bowman, Stephen Joseph Kozak, Gary Francis Mitchell, Glenn Thomas Pearce, Melvin David Sterman
  • Patent number: 5948606
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a photographic material comprising, in addition to the conventional light-sensitive silver halide layers, a protective top layer.According to the invention, the protective layer comprises, in combination, a surface-active fluorinated polyether and a vinyl polymer.This protective top layer enables the appearance of marks during photographic processing to be prevented without modifying the sensitometric results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Yannick Begel, Francois Jean-Marie Bredoux, Gerard Maurice Droin
  • Patent number: 5935773
    Abstract: A colour photographic silver halide material with a support, at last one silver halide emulsion layer containing at least one yellow coupler and at least one silver halide emulsion layer containing a cyan coupler applied thereon, in which material the silver halide emulsion layer, of which there is at least one, containing at least one yellow coupler and/or the silver halide emulsion layer, of which there is at least one, containing at least one cyan coupler contains a compound of the formula (I) ##STR1## in which R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 mean alkyl, alkenyl or acyl andn means 6, 7 or 8,is distinguished by improved stability of the image dyes produced by processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert AG
    Inventors: Jorg Hagemann, Gunter Helling
  • Patent number: 5928850
    Abstract: A silver halide photographic light-sensitive material is disclosed. The light-sensitive material comprises a dispersion material which is obtained by emulsifying a mixture of a yellow coupler represented by the formula and a polymer compound that is insoluble in water and soluble in an organic solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Murai, Shigeo Tanaka, Kunimasa Hiyama
  • Patent number: 5912109
    Abstract: Imaging elements, such as photographic, electrostatographic and thermal imaging elements, comprised of a support, an image-forming layer and an electrically-conductive layer consisting essentially of electrically-conductive fine particles, such as antimony-doped tin oxide particles and, as a binder, water-insoluble polymer particles. The use of water-insoluble polymer particles of an appropriate shear modulus as a binder in the electrically-conductive layer provides a layer with a high degree of conductivity at low concentrations of electrically-conductive fine particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Charles Chester Anderson, Yongcai Wang, Mario Dennis DeLaura
  • Patent number: 5905021
    Abstract: Imaging elements, such as photographic, electrostatographic and thermal imaging elements, comprised of a support, an image-forming layer and an electrically-conductive layer consisting essentially of electrically-conductive fine particles, such as antimony-doped tin oxide particles and, as a binder, water-insoluble polymer particles containing sulfonic acid groups. The use of water-insoluble polymer particles containing sulfonic acid groups as a binder in the electrically-conductive layer provides a layer with a high degree of conductivity at low concentrations of electrically-conductive fine particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Charles Chester Anderson, Yongcai Wang, Mario Dennis DeLaura