John Kalamen

US Patent:

6794107, Sep 21, 2004

Filed:

Jan 23, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/349794

Inventors:

Ken-Ichi Shimazu - Briarcliff Manor NY
Kevin B. Ray - Fort Collins CO
John Kalamen - Loveland CO

Assignee:

Kodak Polychrome Graphics LLC - Norwalk CT

International Classification:

G03F 7021

US Classification:

430152, 430156, 430160, 430306

Abstract:

Vesicular images are formed by thermal imaging of imageable layers containing thermally imageable vesicular imaging compositions. The vesicular images can be used as masks for imaging printing plate precursors. In one aspect, a printing plate precursor made up of a flexible substrate; a photosensitive layer that contains a negative working photosensitive composition; an optional barrier layer; and the imageable layer is thermally imaged to produce an integral mask. Blanket exposure through the mask with ultraviolet and/or visible radiation followed by development produces a printing plate. The method is especially suited for the production of flexographic printing plates.

US Patent:

6806020, Oct 19, 2004

Filed:

Aug 21, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/933864

Inventors:

Neil Haley - Wellington CO
John Kalamen - Loveland CO

Assignee:

Kodak Polychrome Graphics LLC - Norwalk CT

International Classification:

G03F 7021

US Classification:

430175, 430157, 430176, 4302701, 430302

Abstract:

The present invention provides a thermally imageable composition, which includes an acid curable composition, an acid generator, a strong acid and optionally an infrared absorber. The present invention further provides an imageable element, which includes a substrate and a thermally imageable composition according to the present invention coated on a surface of the substrate. Also provided are methods of producing an imaged element according to the present invention.

US Patent:

6939663, Sep 6, 2005

Filed:

Jul 8, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/615358

Inventors:

Ting Tao - Fort Collins CO, US
Scott A. Beckley - Windsor CO, US
John Kalamen - Loveland CO, US
Kevin Barry Ray - Fort Collins CO, US

Assignee:

Kodak Polychrome Graphics LLC - Norwalk CT

International Classification:

G03F007/004
G03F007/016

US Classification:

4302701, 430171, 4302781, 430302, 430309, 430401, 430434, 430435, 430494, 430944, 430945, 430964

Abstract:

The present invention provides a thermally sensitive composition that may be coated as a water-borne material onto a substrate to yield a printing plate precursor having an imageable coating. The thermally sensitive composition comprises a sulfated phenolic resin. The sulfated phenolic resin may be a sulfated novolak resin or a sulfated resole resin, for example. The thermally sensitive composition may include a water-soluble binder, such as polyvinyl pyrrolidone, and a radiation-absorbing component. The invention also provides a printing plate precursor that is developed in water after imaging. The precursor does not require chemical development with a developing solution containing organic solvents or inorganic additives. The imaged precursor is on-press-developable when used with a fountain solution. Methods for making and using the precursor are also provided.

US Patent:

6942957, Sep 13, 2005

Filed:

Jul 17, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/621640

Inventors:

Kevin B. Ray - Fort Collins CO, US
S. Peter Pappas - Juno Beach FL, US
John Kalamen - Loveland CO, US

Assignee:

Kodak Polychrome Graphics LLC - Norwalk CT

International Classification:

G03F007/039
G03F007/11
G03F007/30

US Classification:

4302711, 4302761, 430302, 430326, 430330, 430964

Abstract:

Thermally imageable, positive working, multilayer imageable elements useful as lithographic printing plate precursors are disclosed. The elements comprise a substrate; an underlayer over the substrate; a top layer over the underlayer, and a photothermal conversion material. The top layer comprises a binder and an ionic liquid. A preferred binder is poly(methyl methacrylate).

US Patent:

6981446, Jan 3, 2006

Filed:

Jul 8, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/615002

Inventors:

Kevin Barry Ray - Fort Collins CO, US
John Kalamen - Loveland CO, US

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

B41C 1/10

US Classification:

101466, 347 96

Abstract:

The present invention provides a method of imaging a printing plate precursor in which a printing plate precursor including a substrate and an image forming layer is imagewise contacted with a catalyst, for example, by imagewise ink-jet application. The image forming layer is then heated and developed in a suitable developer liquid such that portions of the image forming layer that are contacted with the catalyst resist development while portions of the image forming layer that are not contacted with the catalyst are removed during development.

US Patent:

7014983, Mar 21, 2006

Filed:

Oct 5, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/958957

Inventors:

Jayanti Patel - Fort Collins CO, US
Ting Tao - Fort Collins CO, US
Scott Beckley - Windsor CO, US
John Kalamen - Loveland CO, US

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

G03F 7/039
G03F 7/11
G03F 7/30

US Classification:

4302711, 430302, 430330, 430905, 430907, 430910, 430964

Abstract:

Multilayer, thermally imageable elements useful as lithographic printing plate precursors are disclosed. The imageable elements comprise a substrate, an underlayer over the substrate, an underlayer over the substrate, and a top layer over the underlayer. The top layer contains a co-polymer that alkylene glycol side chains, polyalkylene glycol side chains, side chains that have silyl groups substituted with three alkoxy and/or phenoxy groups, and/or side chains that have alkyl ammonium side chains. The imageable elements have excellent resistance to press room chemicals.

US Patent:

7056639, Jun 6, 2006

Filed:

Aug 20, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/922377

Inventors:

Eiji Hayakawa - Utsunomiya, JP
Jianbing Huang - Trumbull CT, US
Thomas R. Jordan - Windsor CO, US
Yasushi Miyamoto - Tatebayashi, JP
Jeffrey J. Collins - Greeley CO, US
Neil F. Haley - Wellington CO, US
John Kalamen - Loveland CO, US

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

G03F 7/21
G03F 7/30

US Classification:

430157, 430175, 430176, 4302701, 430302

Abstract:

The present invention provides an imageable composition including an acid curable composition, an acid generator, an infrared absorber having a counter anion derived from a non-volatile acid, and a strong acid such as a sulfonic acid. The imageable composition may include components such as a crosslinkable binder or a colorant. In one embodiment, the imageable composition further includes a colorant having a counter anion derived from a non-volatile acid. The present invention further provides an imageable element, which includes a substrate and an imageable coating on a surface of the substrate. Also provided is method of producing an imaged element according to the invention.

US Patent:

7060416, Jun 13, 2006

Filed:

Mar 4, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/072486

Inventors:

Kevin B. Ray - Fort Collins CO, US
Anthony Paul Kitson - Evans CO, US
John Kalamen - Loveland CO, US

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

G03F 7/38
G03F 7/40
G03F 7/11
G03F 7/075
G03F 7/039
B41N 1/14

US Classification:

4302851, 4302701, 4302711, 430302, 430944, 101456, 1014631, 101467, 525103, 526243, 526245, 526248, 526262

Abstract:

Alkali soluble copolymers, imageable elements useful as lithographic printing plate precursors that contain the alkali soluble copolymers, and methods for forming images using the imageable elements are disclosed. The alkali soluble copolymers comprise, in polymerized form: (a) N-phenylmaleimide, N-cyclohexylmaleimide, N-benzylmaleimide, or a mixture thereof; (b) acrylamide, methacrylamide, or a mixture thereof; (c) acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, or a mixture thereof; and (d) one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of monomers of the structure: CH═C(R)-Z-X—NHC(O)NH—Y—R′, in which: X is —[C(CH)]— or —[(CH)]—, in which n is 0 to 12; Y is o-, m-, or p- —[CH]—; Z is —[C(O)O]—, —[C(O)NH]—, or o-, m-, or p- [—CH]—; R is hydrogen or Cto Calkyl; R′ is —OC(O)—OR″, —OC(O)—Ar, or —OSO—Ar; R″ is Cto Calkyl, Cto Carylalkyl, Cto Caryl, Cto Calkenyl, or trimethylsilyl; Ar is CHT, in which Ar has a total of six to ten carbon atoms; each T is independently selected from the group consisting of Cto Calkyl, fluoro, chloro, bromo, iodo, trifluoromethyl, methoxy, and cyano; and n′ is an integer from 0 to 5; and in which the copolymer is soluble in alkaline solutions having a pH greater than at least about 11.