The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 18, 2025
Filed:
Apr. 27, 2022
Miraclon Corporation, Oakdale, MN (US);
Elsie Anderson Fohrenkamm, St. Paul, MN (US);
Muluken N Taye, St. Paul, MN (US);
Huiqun Wang, St. Paul, MN (US);
Mohammad Zaki Ali, Mendota Heights, MN (US);
MIRACLON CORPORATION, Oakdale, MN (US);
Abstract
A mask element for flexographic printing is provided. The mask element can be used for preparing a mask that has a mask image. The mask element can include: a transparent polymeric carrier sheet; a barrier layer on the transparent polymeric carrier sheet, wherein the barrier layer comprises non-crosslinked nitrocellulose; and an imaging layer on the barrier layer, wherein the imaging layer includes a non-silver halide thermally-ablatable material comprising non-crosslinked nitrocellulose, carbon black, and an infrared (IR) dye. In some aspects, the mask element further includes a transparent overcoat layer on the imaging layer. The mask can include: imaged regions in the imaging layer, wherein the imaged regions have optical apertures that are substantially devoid of the carbon black and non-crosslinked nitrocellulose thereof; and non-imaged regions in the imaging layer, wherein the non-imaged regions have the non-crosslinked nitrocellulose, carbon black, and infrared dye.