EP0986474A1 - Precurseurs de planches d'impression thermosensibles - Google Patents

Precurseurs de planches d'impression thermosensibles

Info

Publication number
EP0986474A1
EP0986474A1 EP98936319A EP98936319A EP0986474A1 EP 0986474 A1 EP0986474 A1 EP 0986474A1 EP 98936319 A EP98936319 A EP 98936319A EP 98936319 A EP98936319 A EP 98936319A EP 0986474 A1 EP0986474 A1 EP 0986474A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
layer
printing plate
lithographic printing
plate precursor
cover sheet
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP98936319A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0986474B1 (fr
Inventor
Allen Peter Gates
Susan Anne Wilkinson
Fredrick Claus Zumsteg, Jr.
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Agfa Gevaert NV
Original Assignee
Agfa Gevaert NV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Agfa Gevaert NV filed Critical Agfa Gevaert NV
Publication of EP0986474A1 publication Critical patent/EP0986474A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0986474B1 publication Critical patent/EP0986474B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41C—PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES
    • B41C1/00—Forme preparation
    • B41C1/10—Forme preparation for lithographic printing; Master sheets for transferring a lithographic image to the forme
    • B41C1/1008—Forme preparation for lithographic printing; Master sheets for transferring a lithographic image to the forme by removal or destruction of lithographic material on the lithographic support, e.g. by laser or spark ablation; by the use of materials rendered soluble or insoluble by heat exposure, e.g. by heat produced from a light to heat transforming system; by on-the-press exposure or on-the-press development, e.g. by the fountain of photolithographic materials
    • B41C1/1033—Forme preparation for lithographic printing; Master sheets for transferring a lithographic image to the forme by removal or destruction of lithographic material on the lithographic support, e.g. by laser or spark ablation; by the use of materials rendered soluble or insoluble by heat exposure, e.g. by heat produced from a light to heat transforming system; by on-the-press exposure or on-the-press development, e.g. by the fountain of photolithographic materials by laser or spark ablation
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41N—PRINTING PLATES OR FOILS; MATERIALS FOR SURFACES USED IN PRINTING MACHINES FOR PRINTING, INKING, DAMPING, OR THE LIKE; PREPARING SUCH SURFACES FOR USE AND CONSERVING THEM
    • B41N1/00—Printing plates or foils; Materials therefor
    • B41N1/04—Printing plates or foils; Materials therefor metallic
    • B41N1/08—Printing plates or foils; Materials therefor metallic for lithographic printing
    • B41N1/086—Printing plates or foils; Materials therefor metallic for lithographic printing laminated on a paper or plastic base

Definitions

  • This invention relates to the formation of images directly from electronically composed digital sources and is particularly concerned with the formation of images on lithographic printing plate precursors. More particularly, the invention relates to lithographic printing plate precursors which incorporate an imaging layer comprising metallic silver, and a method of preparing lithographic printing plates which does not require the use of chemical treatments.
  • Lithographic printing is a process of printing from surfaces which have been prepared in such a way that certain areas are capable of accepting ink (oleophilic areas), whereas other areas will not accept ink (oleophobic areas).
  • the oleophilic areas form the printing areas while the oleophobic areas form the background areas.
  • Plates for use in lithographic printing processes may be prepared using a photographic material that is made imagewise receptive or repellent to ink upon photo-exposure of the photographic material and subsequent chemical treatment.
  • this method of preparation which is based on photographic processing techniques, involves several steps, and therefore requires a considerable amount of time, effort and expense.
  • Imaging systems are also available which involve a sandwich structure which, on exposure to a heat generating infra-red laser beam, undergoes selective (imagewise) delamination and subsequent transfer of materials.
  • peel-apart systems are generally used as replacements for silver halide films.
  • a digital imaging technique has been described in US Patent No 4911075 whereby a so-called driographic plate which does not require dampening with an aqueous fountain solution to wet the non-image areas during printing is produced by means of a spark discharge.
  • a plate precursor comprising an ink-repellent coating containing electrically conductive particles coated on a conductive substrate is used and the coating is ablatively removed from the substrate.
  • the ablative spark discharge provides images having relatively poor resolution.
  • Coatings which may be imaged by means of ablation with infra-red radiation have previously been proposed.
  • a proofing film in which an image is formed by imagewise ablation of a coloured layer on to a receiver sheet is described in PCT Application No 90/12342.
  • This system is, however, disadvantageous in requiring a physical transfer of material in the imaging step, and such methods tend to give rise to inferior image resolution.
  • a driographic printing plate precursor is imaged digitally by means of an infra-red diode laser or a YAG laser, and the image is formed directly through the elimination of unwanted material.
  • the technique involves exposing a plate precursor, incorporating an infra-red radiation ablatable coating covered with a transparent cover sheet, by directing the beam from an infrared laser at sequential areas of the coating so that the coating ablates and loses its ink repellancy in those areas to form an image, removing the cover sheet and ablation products, and inking the image.
  • a heat mode recording material is disclosed in US Patent No 4034183 which comprises an anodised aluminium support coated with a hydrophilic layer. On imagewise exposure using a laser, the exposed areas are rendered hydrophobic, and thereby accept ink.
  • Japanese patent application laid open to public inspection No 49-117102 (1974) discloses a method for producing printing plates wherein a metal is incorporated in the imaging layer of a printing plate precursor which is imaged by irradiation with a laser beam modulated by electric signals.
  • the plate precursor comprises a metal base, such as aluminium, coated with a resin film, which is typically nitrocellulose, and on top of which has been provided a thin layer of copper. The resin and metal layers are removed in the laser-struck areas, thereby producing a printing plate.
  • a printing plate precursor comprising a support, typically aluminium, an anodic aluminium oxide layer, and a layer of brass, silver, graphite or, preferably, copper is exposed to a laser beam of high energy density in order to render the exposed areas hydrophilic to yield a printing plate.
  • the printing plate precursor is, however, of rather low sensitivity and requires the use of a high energy laser for exposure.
  • An alternative heat mode recording material for making a lithographic printing plate is disclosed in European Patent No 609941, which comprises a support having a hydrophilic surface, or provided with a hydrophilic layer, on which is coated a metallic layer, on top of which is a hydrophobic layer having a thickness of less than 50nm.
  • a lithographic printing plate may be produced from the said material by imagewise exposing to actinic radiation, thereby rendering the exposed areas hydrophilic and repellent to greasy ink.
  • European Patent No 628409 discloses a heat mode recording material for making a lithographic printing plate which comprises a support and a metallic layer, on top of which is provided a hydrophilic layer having a thickness of less than 50nm.
  • a lithographic printing plate is produced by imagewise exposing the material to actinic radiation in order to render the exposed areas hydrophobic and receptive to greasy ink.
  • difficulties in printing will be encountered.
  • the energy is converted to heat in the image areas by interaction with the metallic layer, thereby destroying the hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity - depending on the material employed - of the topmost layer in those areas.
  • the surface of the metallic layer becomes exposed, and the success of the printing operation is dependent upon differences in hydrophilicity and oleophilicity between the metallic surface and the hydrophilic or hydrophobic layer, as the case may be. Since the metallic layer functions as the hydrophobic surface in one case, and as the hydrophilic surface in the alternative case, it would be expected that such differences in hydrophilicity and oleophilicity would not be sufficiently clearly defined so as to provide a satisfactory printing surface. Furthermore, when a hydrophilic layer is present, and the metallic surface functions as the oleophilic areas of the plate, image areas will necessarily be printed from the metallic surface; such an arrangement is known to be unsatisfactory, and to result in difficulties in achieving acceptable printing quality.
  • a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising:
  • the substrate employed in the present invention is an aluminium substrate which has been electrochemically grained and anodised on at least one surface in order to enhance its lithographic properties.
  • the aluminium may be laminated to other materials, such as paper or various plastics materials, in order to enhance its flexibility, whilst retaining the good dimensional stability associated with aluminium.
  • the metallic layer which is applied to the grained and anodised surface of the aluminium, may comprise any of several metals, specific examples of which include copper, bismuth and brass. Most preferably, however, the metallic layer comprises a silver layer.
  • the thickness of the metallic layer is preferably from 20 nm to 200 nm, most preferably from 40 nm to 100 nm
  • the metallic layer comprises a silver layer
  • the most preferred method for applying the layer involves the treatment of a silver halide photographic material according to the silver salt diffusion transfer process.
  • a silver halide emulsion layer is transformed by treatment with a so-called silver halide solvent, into soluble silver complex compounds which are then allowed to diffuse into an image receiving layer and are reduced therein by means of a developing agent, generally in the presence of physical development nuclei, to form a metallic silver layer.
  • Two such systems are available: a two sheet system in which a silver halide emulsion layer is provided on one element, and a physical development nuclei layer is provided on a second element, the two elements are placed in contact in the presence of developing agent(s) and silver halide solvent(s) in the presence of an alkaline processing liquid, and subsequently peeled apart to provide a metallic silver layer on the second element; and a single sheet system wherein the element is provided with a physical development nuclei layer, a silver halide emulsion layer is provided on top thereof, the element is treated with developing agent(s) and silver halide solvent(s) in the presence of an alkaline processing liquid, and the element is washed to remove spent emulsion layer and leave a metallic silver layer which is formed in the layer containing physical development nuclei.
  • the diffusion transfer process may be used to apply a metallic silver layer by overall exposing a positive working silver halide emulsion layer to form a latent negative image which is then developed in contact with a physical development nuclei layer to form a metallic silver layer.
  • the process may be carried out using either a single sheet or a double sheet system.
  • the transparent cover sheet or layer of material which is applied over the metallic layer allows the loosely bound debris which is produced in the image areas on exposure to be trapped and, thus, be prevented from being released to the atmosphere.
  • the method of producing a lithographic plate is made simpler and more efficient, since all the chemical products generated on exposure are contained on, or within, the cover sheet or layer and will not, therefore, present a hazard to the user or the environment; additionally, the possibility of damage being caused to the imaging exposure equipment is prevented.
  • the cover sheet or layer of the invention may be applied by covering the plate with a pre-formed sheet of a film material or, alternatively, by coating the plate with a top layer of a film-forming material which remains on the plate after exposure.
  • a cover sheet or a pre-formed film may be comprised of any suitable film material which is transparent to infra-red radiation, for example, polyethylene, polypropylene, poly(ethylene terephthalate) or a masking film having a structure and composition as described in EP-A-323880.
  • an adhesive layer may be present between the cover sheet and the metallic layer.
  • a coated top layer of infra-red transparent material may be applied from aqueous or organic solvent solution, but preferably from aqueous solution and may comprise materials such as poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(ethylene glycol), poly(vinyl phosphonic acid), gum arabic, carboxymethyl cellulose, but preferably the material of the layer should be easily removed by aqueous washing.
  • other chemicals can be added to the coating such as may enhance the press performance of the printing plate.
  • Such other chemicals may comprise a proteolytic enzyme, a silver oleophilising compound such as disclosed on pages 105 to 106 of "Photographic Silver Halide Diffusion Processes" by Andre Rott and Edith Weyde, with mercapto compounds being particularly preferred, and compounds selected to buffer the coating to a given pH.
  • the cover sheet may be conveniently removed by peeling away from the surface of the plate to leave an imaged, press ready printing plate.
  • the cover sheet containing the entrapped ablation debris may then be disposed of in a safe manner.
  • the coated layer may be removed by physically rubbing with a cloth or scrubbing either manually or automatically with a wet brush or plush fabric.
  • the plate may be mounted on the press such that removal of the coated layer, together with the ablation debris, occurs as a result of the action of the press fount solutions or other press start-up chemicals or procedures that are used in the course of normal printing operations. In this case it is preferable that the material of the coated layer is easily removed from the plate surface by the action of the press.
  • the thickness of the cover sheet may be up to 200 ⁇ m, preferably from 20 ⁇ m to 100 ⁇ m.
  • the coated top layer can be applied to give a dry coating weight of between 0.5 and 10 g/m 2 , preferably between 2 and 6 g/m 2
  • a method of preparing a lithographic printing plate comprising:
  • the precursor is imaged by a beam of radiation, preferably from a laser operating in the infra-red region of the spectrum.
  • suitable infra-red lasers include semiconductor lasers and YAG lasers, for example the Gerber Crescent 42T Platesetter with a 10 W YAG laser outputting at 1064 nm.
  • Exposure to the beam of radiation causes ablation of the metallic layer to occur in the radiation- struck areas.
  • the plate is preferably prepared for printing operations by treatment with a composition comprising a proteolytic enzyme, a silver oleophilising agent and a desensitising compound.
  • Suitable enzymes for use in the above composition may include, for example, trypsin, pepsin, ficin, papain or the bacterial proteases or proteinases.
  • Oleophilising compounds may be chosen from those disclosed on pages 105 to 106 of "Photographic Silver Halide Diffusion Processes" by Andre Rott and Edith Weyde, but mercapto compounds and cationic surfactants such as quaternary ammonium compounds are of particular value.
  • Carbohydrates such as gum arabic, dextrin and inorganic polyphosphates such as sodium hexametaphosphate provide useful desensitising compounds in these compositions.
  • compositions comprise aqueous solutions containing from 0.1% to 10.0% by weight of enzyme, from 0.05% to 5.0% by weight of oleophilising compound and from 1.0% to 10.0% by weight of desensitising compound.
  • the method of the present invention provides press ready plates showing high image quality, good press properties and high durability on press without the requirement for the use of costly intermediate film and developer chemistry and the attendant inconvenience resulting from the use of these materials.
  • a commercially available Howson SILVERLITH ® SDB printing plate available from Agfa-Gevaert Ltd., was processed without exposure through an automatic processor by means of the diffusion transfer reversal method, in accordance with the recommendation of the manufacturer, but the final stage of applying a specified finishing gum was omitted.
  • the resulting printing plate precursor comprised a grained and anodised aluminium substrate, on the anodised surface of which was coated a layer of silver.
  • a sheet of polyethylene (supplied by Samuel Grant Ltd, Leeds, UK), having a thickness of 50 ⁇ m, coated on one side with a silicone release adhesive, was firmly applied to the layer of silver on the printing plate precursor to give a well adhered covering over the plate surface.
  • the assembly was then loaded onto a Gerber Crescent 42T internal drum Laser Platesetter fitted with an extraction system containing a nozzle about 1cm away from the plate surface and an air suction pump connected to the nozzle by flexible ducting. An air sampling port was provided on the exhaust side of the pump.
  • the plate precursor was imagewise exposed to a 10 W YAG laser outputting at a wavelength of 1064 nm and peak power density of 6.5 MW/cm 2,
  • the cover sheet was then removed to reveal the anodic oxide layer of the lithographic substrate in the areas where the laser beam had impinged, and the residual debris formed during exposure was retained on the cover sheet. No adverse effects from volatile debris were observed.
  • the surface of the printing plate was treated with an aqueous solution comprising a proteolytic enzyme, an oleophilising agent and a desensitising gum prior to mounting on a printing press.
  • This treatment ensured a good start-up to printing operations with image areas showing high oleophilicity with good ink acceptance, and background non-image areas being clean and free from ink adhesion.
  • the plate produced 80,000 good quality copies on a Drent Web Offset printing press.
  • a lithographic printing plate precursor was prepared in identical fashion, except that no cover sheet was applied. On exposure, the ablated material which was released into the atmosphere created a highly unpleasant odour.
  • a Howson SILVERLITH ® printing plate was processed according to example 1 but in this case a cover sheet was not applied and, as an alternative, a range of coatings was applied to the silver layer of the printing plate precursor by means of a wire bar.
  • Gerber Crescent 42T Platesetter and imagewise exposed as in example 1.
  • the thus exposed plates were taken off the Platesetter and either mounted on a press cylinder without any further treatment or the coated top coat was removed by passing through the re-entry section of the automatic plate processor used to make the printing plate precursor in example 1.
  • This section comprised a plush covered roller onto which water was sprayed to effectively remove the top coat. Finisher was then conventionally applied to the plate by the processor as it passed from the re-entry section into the finisher section. The plates were then mounted on the press.
  • top coat Various coating weights of top coat were applied to help demonstrate the invention.
  • the effectiveness of the top coat in containing ablation was measured by standard analytical air sampling methods and also by assessing the degree of odour that could be smelt in the exhaust air. The results are summarised in Table 1.
  • Standard finisher comprises sodium hexametaphosphate, l-octyl-5-mercapto-l,2,3,4-tetrazole, an enzyme (Alcalase ® 2.5L), and buffering agents to give pH 7.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Printing Plates And Materials Therefor (AREA)
  • Photosensitive Polymer And Photoresist Processing (AREA)
  • Manufacture Or Reproduction Of Printing Formes (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un précurseur de planche d'impression lithographique comportant un substrat en aluminium granuleux et anodisé enrobé d'une couche métallique, de préférence une couche d'argent, sur laquelle on applique une feuille protectrice ou une couche transparente de matière. L'exposition, conforme à une image, du précurseur se fait au moyen d'un faisceau laser de forte intensité et permet d'obtenir directement des planches prêtes pour l'impression. Grâce à ces planches, la qualité d'image est élevée. Elles présentent de bonnes propriétés d'impression, une grande solidité au cours de l'impression et ce, sans qu'il soit nécessaire d'avoir recours à un film intermédiaire et à la technique du révélateur. La feuille protectrice ou la couche transparente permet de piéger les débris lâches qui sont produits au niveau des zones exposées après l'exposition conforme à l'image, et ainsi d'empêcher qu'ils ne soient libérés dans l'atmosphère.
EP98936319A 1997-06-03 1998-06-03 Precurseurs de planches d'impression thermosensibles Expired - Lifetime EP0986474B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9711383.1A GB9711383D0 (en) 1997-06-03 1997-06-03 Heat sensitive printing plateprecursors
GB9711383 1997-06-03
PCT/EP1998/003484 WO1998055311A1 (fr) 1997-06-03 1998-06-03 Precurseurs de planches d'impression thermosensibles

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0986474A1 true EP0986474A1 (fr) 2000-03-22
EP0986474B1 EP0986474B1 (fr) 2002-09-18

Family

ID=10813454

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98936319A Expired - Lifetime EP0986474B1 (fr) 1997-06-03 1998-06-03 Precurseurs de planches d'impression thermosensibles

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0986474B1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2002502331A (fr)
DE (1) DE69808078D1 (fr)
GB (2) GB9711383D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO1998055311A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6610458B2 (en) 2001-07-23 2003-08-26 Kodak Polychrome Graphics Llc Method and system for direct-to-press imaging
US6846608B2 (en) * 2001-11-29 2005-01-25 Kodak Polychrome Graphics Llc Method to reduce imaging effluence in processless thermal printing plates
KR100586541B1 (ko) * 2003-07-16 2006-06-07 주식회사 하이닉스반도체 유기 반사 방지막 조성물 및 이를 이용한 패턴 형성 방법

Family Cites Families (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB716402A (en) * 1952-09-05 1954-10-06 Algraphy Ltd Improvements in or relating to lithographic printing plates
US3508924A (en) * 1965-08-17 1970-04-28 Ball Corp Lithographic plate and method of making same
DE1571903A1 (de) * 1965-12-22 1970-12-17 Krause Willy Verfahren zur Herstellung von mehrschichtigen Offsetdruckplatten
IL39731A (en) * 1971-07-15 1975-07-28 Energy Conversion Devices Inc Method for producing images
JPS5237104A (en) * 1975-09-16 1977-03-22 Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd Printing plate material and method of making plate using same
EP0012673A1 (fr) * 1978-12-12 1980-06-25 Jean-Marie Nouel Nouvelle plaque offset à utilisation de plaque monométallique comportant une couche imprimante et procédé d'impression offset utilisant ladite couche
JPS6072792A (ja) * 1983-09-29 1985-04-24 Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd 平版印刷版用支持体
EP0573092A1 (fr) * 1992-06-05 1993-12-08 Agfa-Gevaert N.V. Procédé d'obtention d'une image utilisant un matériau d'enregistrement thermosensible
GB9214304D0 (en) * 1992-07-06 1992-08-19 Du Pont Uk Improvements in or relating to image formation
US5401611A (en) * 1993-02-05 1995-03-28 Agfa-Gevaert, N.V. Heat mode recording material and method for making a lithographic plate
JP2592225B2 (ja) * 1993-02-09 1997-03-19 アグフア−ゲヴエルト・ナームローゼ・フエンノートシヤツプ ヒートモード記録材料及びそれを用いたリス印刷乾版の製造法
EP0628409B1 (fr) * 1993-06-11 1997-09-10 Agfa-Gevaert N.V. Procédé pour l'enregistrement par la chaleur et procédé pour la fabrication de plaques d'impression utilisant ce procédé
US5632204A (en) * 1995-07-27 1997-05-27 Presstek, Inc. Thin-metal lithographic printing members with integral reflective layers
DE69518526T2 (de) * 1995-10-31 2001-06-13 Agfa-Gevaert N.V., Mortsel Auf der Druckpressentwicklung von lithographischen Druckplatten bestehend aus lichtempfindlichem Schichten mit Aryldiazosulphonatharzen
EP0816071B1 (fr) * 1996-07-04 2000-10-04 Agfa-Gevaert N.V. Elément d'enregistrement thermosensible et procédé pour la fabrication de plaques pour l'impression lithographiques utilisant cet élément
JPH10180976A (ja) * 1996-11-05 1998-07-07 Mitsubishi Paper Mills Ltd 平版印刷版の製版方法

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO9855311A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9711383D0 (en) 1997-07-30
GB9811828D0 (en) 1998-07-29
DE69808078D1 (de) 2002-10-24
JP2002502331A (ja) 2002-01-22
GB2325885A (en) 1998-12-09
EP0986474B1 (fr) 2002-09-18
WO1998055311A1 (fr) 1998-12-10

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6145565A (en) Laser imageable printing plate and substrate therefor
EP0986474B1 (fr) Precurseurs de planches d'impression thermosensibles
EP0986472B1 (fr) Precurseurs de planches sensibles a la chaleur
US6403282B1 (en) Heat sensitive printing plate precursors
EP0986473B1 (fr) Precurseur de planche d'impression thermosensible
EP0986476B1 (fr) Procede de preparation d'une planche d'impression lithographique
GB2325891A (en) Preparing printing plates
US6497990B1 (en) Heat sensitive printing plate precursors
WO1998055330A1 (fr) Precurseur de planche d'impression thermosensible
EP0986484A1 (fr) Procede de preparation d'une planche d'impression
EP1270216A1 (fr) Précurseurs thermosensibles pour plaques d'impression

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20000105

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT NL

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20000912

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: AGFA-GEVAERT

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT NL

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20020918

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRE;WARNING: LAPSES OF ITALIAN PATENTS WITH EFFECTIVE DATE BEFORE 2007 MAY HAVE OCCURRED AT ANY TIME BEFORE 2007. THE CORRECT EFFECTIVE DATE MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE RECORDED.SCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20020918

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20020918

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69808078

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20021024

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20021219

NLV1 Nl: lapsed or annulled due to failure to fulfill the requirements of art. 29p and 29m of the patents act
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: 746

Effective date: 20030311

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20030424

Year of fee payment: 6

EN Fr: translation not filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20030619

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20040603

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20040603