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US5672458A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Laser dye or pigment removal imaging process

Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
•
Filing: 1996-07-29
•
Granted: 1997-09-30
•
Expires: 2016-07-29
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Abstract

Abstract A process of forming a single color, ablation image having improved abrasion resistance comprising: a) imagewise-heating by means of a laser an ablative recording element comprising a support having thereon an image layer comprising an image dye or pigment dispersed in a polymeric binder, which causes the image layer to ablate imagewise, the image layer having a near infrared-absorbing material associated therewith to absorb at a given wavelength of the laser used to expose the element, the image dye or pigment absorbing in the region of from about 300 to about 700 nm; b) removing the ablated material to obtain an image in the ablative recording element; c) either charging the imaged, ablative recording element to a given polarity or applying a voltage across the surface of the element which is attracted to a conductive surface behind the element; d) applying colorless, charged particles to the element which causes them to be electrostatically attracted to the surface of the image layer; and e) heat-fusing the particles to obtain a protective overcoat over the entire surface of the image layer.

Inventors

  • 👤 Lee William Tutt
  • 👤 Mitchell Stewart Burberry
  • 👤 Vito A. DePalma
  • 👤 William Keith Goebel
  • 👤 Scott Eric Tunney

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 22:57
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G17/00; B; B41; B41M; B41M5/00; B41M5/24; B41M7/00; B41M7/0027; H; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/02; H05K3/06; H05K3/061; H05K3/065; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S430/00; Y10S430/146

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 179 words
A process of forming a single color, ablation image having improved abrasion resistance comprising: a) imagewise-heating by means of a laser an ablative recording element comprising a support having thereon an image layer comprising an image dye or pigment dispersed in a polymeric binder, which causes said image layer to ablate imagewise, said image layer having a near infrared-absorbing material associated therewith to absorb at a given wavelength of the laser used to expose said element, said image dye or pigment absorbing in the region of from about 300 to about 700 nm; b) removing said ablated material to obtain an image in said ablative recording element; c) either charging said imaged, ablative recording element to a given polarity or applying a voltage across the surface of said element which is attracted to a conductive surface behind said element; d) applying colorless, charged particles to said element which causes them to be electrostatically attracted to the surface of said image layer; and e) heat-fusing said particles to obtain a protective overcoat over the entire surface of said image layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 179 words
A process of forming a single color, ablation image having improved abrasion resistance comprising: a) imagewise-heating by means of a laser an ablative recording element comprising a support having thereon an image layer comprising an image dye or pigment dispersed in a polymeric binder, which causes said image layer to ablate imagewise, said image layer having a near infrared-absorbing material associated therewith to absorb at a given wavelength of the laser used to expose said element, said image dye or pigment absorbing in the region of from about 300 to about 700 nm; b) removing said ablated material to obtain an image in said ablative recording element; c) either charging said imaged, ablative recording element to a given polarity or applying a voltage across the surface of said element which is attracted to a conductive surface behind said element; d) applying colorless, charged particles to said element which causes them to be electrostatically attracted to the surface of said image layer; and e) heat-fusing said particles to obtain a protective overcoat over the entire surface of said image layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 19 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said infrared-absorbing material is a dye which is contained in said image layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 10 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said support is transparent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein a barrier layer is present between said support and said image layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 11 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said polymeric binder comprises nitrocellulose.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 16 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said colorless particles comprise either a polyester or poly(styrene-co-butyl acrylate).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 30 words
The process of claim 1 wherein step c) was performed by applying a voltage across the surface of said element which is attracted to a metal surface behind said element.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3820987A Cited
JPS5023826A Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2000-09-29 2001-03-31 2001-09-30 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2004-09-29 2005-03-31 2005-09-30 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2008-09-29 2009-03-31 2009-09-30 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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