US 6,769,467 B2Granted

Apparatus for applying a matte finish to photographs and article

AssigneeEastman Kodak Company

InventorsSergio Escobedo, Scott Matthew Dennis

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Disclosed is an embosser for producing matte finish photographs from a glossy finish photograph. The embosser receives a sheet of glossy prints as generated by an inkjet printer with a clear laminate over the print to protect the inkjet generated photographic image. Pressure and embossing rollers biased to spaced apart positions within the embosser are selectively operable to move one against the other to create a nip through which the laminated print passes. At the option of an operator the laminated print may be allowed to pass between the spaced apart rollers undisturbed thereby generating a glossy photograph. At the option of the operator the rollers are moved one against the other to create the nip so that passage of the print now results in an embossment of the lamination thereby producing a matte finish photograph. Also disclosed is a method for alternatively generating a glossy or matte finish print and a matte finished print wherein the matte finish is formed in situ.

Claims8

Dependent claims

Apparatus for selectively producing either a laminated matte finish photographic print or a laminated glossy finish photographic print comprising:

a) a laminator for applying a clear protective laminate over a photographic image having a glossy finish surface to produce a laminated glossy finish photograph;
b) an embosser arranged to receive the laminated glossy finish photograph from the laminator and including means for moving the laminated glossy finish photograph along a path of travel from an inlet to an exit;
c) a heated embossing roller arranged at one side of the path of travel, the roller having a textured matte finish generating outer surface;
d) means for selectively pressing the clear protective laminate against the heated embossing roller for embossing the laminate with a texture that produces a matte finish generating a value below 40 on a 20° reflectivity scale thereby selectively converting the laminated glossy finish photograph to the laminated matte finish photographic print;
and
e) a gloss/matte finish print selector controlling the actuation of the means for selectively pressing the clear protective laminate against the heated embossing roller.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/066,235Filed 2 Feb 2002
Published: US 2003/0148067 A17 Aug 2003
Granted: 3 Aug 2004
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification19 codes

G03D 15/06
Apparatus for treating processed material: applying varnish or other coating
B41J 11/46
Controlling printing material conveyance for accurate alignment of the printing material with the printhead; Print registering: by marks or…
B41J 11/663
Applications of cutting devices: controlling cutting, cutting resulting in special shapes of the cutting line, e.g. controlling cutting positions,…
B41J 11/68
Applications of cutting devices: cutting parallel to the direction of paper feed