Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm John A. Brady
  • Belt fuser wiper to remove moisture
    Patent number: 6219521
    Abstract: An image-fixing device for use in an electrophotographic process which includes a wiping member (61,62,64,67) in contact with the back-up roller of the fusing portion of the device is disclosed. This wiping member eliminates moisture condensation on the back-up roller (51). This acts to eliminate stalls and paper jams without requiring major reformulation of the compositions of the fuser belt or back-up roll or the structure of the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Leonard Burdick, Ann Marie Garland, Peter Alden Bayerle, Harald Portig, Douglas Campbell Hamilton
  • Charge generation layers comprising binder blends and photoconductors including the same
    Patent number: 6214502
    Abstract: Charge generation layers comprise a charge generation compound and a binder which comprises polyvinylbutyral and phenolic resol. Dual layer photoconductors comprise the charge generation layer in combination with a substrate and a charge transport layer, in which the charge generation layer comprises a charge generation compound and a binder which comprises polyvinylbutyral and phenolic resol. Dual layer photoconductors comprise the charge generation layer in combination with a substrate and a charge transport layer, in which the charge generation layer comprises a charge generation compound and a binder which comprises polyvinylbutyral and a resin selected from the group consisting of phenol novolac and polyhydroxystyrene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Kasturei Rangan Srinivasan, Ronald Harold Levin, Garry D. Hinch, Gregory Walter Haggquist
  • Label support
    Patent number: 6213460
    Abstract: A label support for an integrated label, which includes a label portion and a thinner paper portion, includes a base having a support surface with its rear end higher than its front. When the label support is supported by a support surface of a media support tray, its front end is closest to an inclined dam of the media support tray. The label support has at least its rear end spaced from the support surface of the media support tray. In one embodiment, the base of the label support has a first substantially horizontal portion connected by an inclined portion to a second substantially horizontal portion, which rests on the support surface of the media support tray. This embodiment extends for less than the length of the support surface of the media support tray for sliding along the support surface of the media support tray to accommodate varying lengths of the integrated label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Paul Cahill, Louann Behymer Samuels
  • Ink jet printhead having improved reliability
    Patent number: 6213587
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an inkjet printhead with improved reliability. The printhead comprises a transducer, a chamber, and a plate. At least a portion of the transducer is arranged within the chamber, and the plate is provided with at least one aperture capable of cooperating with the chamber to allow ink to be ejected therefrom. The plate has a thickness of less than 62 microns and the transducer can be selectively energized with a power density less than 2.159 GW/m2 to cause droplets of the ink to be ejected. In one embodiment, the plate is separated from the transducer by a distance of less than 28 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles S. Whitman
  • Adhesive bonding laminates
    Patent number: 6210522
    Abstract: An adhesive bonding laminate includes a first thermoplastic adhesive film that is capable of adhesively bonding to an epoxy coating and a second thermoset adhesive film that is capable of adhesively bonding to a passivated surface of a substrate. The first thermoplastic adhesive film is adhesively bonded to the second thermoset adhesive film. Ink jet printheads, ink jet print cartridges and methods of attaching a flexible circuit to substrate employ the adhesive bonding laminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeanne Marie Saldanha Singh, Paul Timothy Spivey
  • Encapsulant for leads in an aqueous environment
    Patent number: 6203871
    Abstract: An article, specifically an inkjet printhead, having electrical leads in an aqueous environment in which the leads are encapsulated in a thoroughly cured mixture of 88 parts bis-phenol A epoxy oligomer, 11 parts epoxy novolac oligomer, and 1 part triarylsulfonium hexafluoroantimonate salts. No special atmosphere is required during manufacture and the uncured mixture has a long pot life. The cured mixture has excellent resistance to an aqueous environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventor: Girish Shivaji Patil
  • Ink jet print head containing a radiation curable resin layer
    Patent number: 6193359
    Abstract: An ink jet print head having ink passage ways formed in a radiation cured resin layer which is attached to a substrate and to a phenoxy butryal surface of a nozzle plate. The passageways are connected in fluid flow communication to an ink discharging outlet provided by an orifice plate. In order to form the passage ways in the resin layer, a resin composition is exposed to a radiation source in a predetermined pattern to cure certain regions of resin layer while other regions which provide the passage ways remain uncured. The uncured regions are removed from the resin layer leaving the desired passage ways. The resin composition to be used for forming the radiation curable layers is a resin composition including: a first difunctional epoxy compound; a second multifunctional crosslinking epoxy compound; a photoinitiator; a reactive silane, and a non-photoreactive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Girish Shivaji Patil, Paul Timothy Spivey, Gary Raymond Williams
  • Direct nozzle plate to chip attachment
    Patent number: 6190492
    Abstract: Separate adhesive is avoided in the manufacture of a thermal ink jet printhead by positioning a thermoplastic nozzle plate (1) on a semiconductor circuit chip (3) and electrically firing the ink ejection resistors (5) in a controlled amount to melt the lower surface in contact with the chip while not damaging the body of the nozzle plate. The resistors are fired in their intended pattern of operation during use so not to damage the resistors. Additional resistors may be added just for this bonding operation if needed with particular chip designs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: John Clowry Byrne, Steven Robert Komplin, Ashok Murthy
  • Method for singulating and attaching nozzle plates to printheads
    Patent number: 6183064
    Abstract: A method for making an inkjet printhead nozzle plate from a composite strip containing a nozzle layer and an adhesive layer is disclosed. The adhesive layer is coated with a polymeric sacrificial layer prior to laser ablating the flow features in the composite strip. A method is also provided form improving adhesion between the adhesive layer and the sacrificial layer. Once the composite strip containing the sacrificial layer is prepared, the coated composite strip is then laser ablated to form flow features in the strip in order to form the nozzle plates. After forming the flow features, the sacrificial layer is removed individual inkjet printhead nozzle plate are separated from the composite strip by singulating the nozzle plates with a laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashok Murthy, Richard Earl Corley, Tonya Harris Jackson, Steven Robert Komplin, Gary Raymond Williams
  • Control of thermal heating in a belt fuser
    Patent number: 6185389
    Abstract: An electrophotographic printing apparatus which eliminates overheating of the fuser belt when narrow gauge print media is utilized is disclosed. In this apparatus, a detection means determines whether a sheet of narrow gauge recording medium is being fed into the printer. When it is, the fuser heater is deactivated turned to a present lower temperature or is turned off when the narrow gauge recording medium exits the fusing nip. A preferred apparatus additionally contains means which measures the temperature of the heater once it is deactivated at predetermined intervals and, for each measurement, determines the amount of time required to bring the heater back up to the optimum fusing temperature. The preferred embodiment also includes a means for determining the amount of time it will take for the next piece of print media to travel from its current position to the fuser nip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Keith Bartley, James Douglas Gilmore, Cyrus Bradford Clarke, Douglas Campbell Hamilton, Kevin D. Schoedinger
  • Process for reducing blockage in nozzle holes for ink jet printing
    Patent number: 6179417
    Abstract: Blockage of the holes in an ink jet nozzle is greatly reduced by immersing the polyether polyurethane foam from the ink jet cartridge in cold water for a period of at least six hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwina Floyd Lowry, Paul Timothy Spivey
  • Toner cartridge with pre-doctoring comminuator
    Patent number: 6181904
    Abstract: A toner cartridge has a comminuator that prevents the buildup of toner behind the doctor blade that meters the toner delivered to the developer roller for later image development and printing. The comminuator is mounted to, and for movement with, an agitator adjacent to an exit port of the toner hopper. A paddle that rotates within the toner hopper contacts the agitator and generates joint movement of the agitator and comminuator. The comminuator comprises a plurality of spaced blades held by a coupler mounted to the agitator. Alternatively, the comminuator comprises a wire mounted in opposing connectors mounted to the agitator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris Anthony Burdette, Jerry Wayne Calia, Alan Stirling Campbell, Todd Lucas Janes, Benjamin Keith Newman
  • Apparatus for corrugating materials
    Patent number: 6181908
    Abstract: An apparatus for corrugating material includes an upper shaft rotating about a first longitudinal axis and a lower shaft rotating about a second longitudinal axis. Either the upper shaft, the lower shaft, or both shafts are constructed of a flexible material. At least one upper corrugation roll is secured to the upper shaft, and at least one lower corrugation roll is secured to the lower shaft. The upper corrugation roll and the lower corrugation roll are interspersed relative to each other and spaced such that the material is fed between the upper and the lower corrugation roll to corrugate the material. Materials of varying rigidities may be passed between the upper and lower corrugation rolls such that lighter weight material is corrugated while heavier weight material deflects the flexible shaft(s) to reduce corrugation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Leemhuis, Daniel J. Westhoff
  • Method and apparatus for compensating for a darkness shift during the life of an electrophotographic printer cartridge
    Patent number: 6175375
    Abstract: An improved EP printer will automatically compensate for printer output darkness shift over the usage life of one or more components of the print engine. In many EP print engines, the printer output darkness without correction will gradually change as the components are used, and typically, the darkness will increase to an extent that is perceptible. The printer output darkness can be controlled using a EP operating point that changes certain operating parameters, such as the laser diode current, the duty cycle of the video data signals driving the laser diode, and other voltage parameters including the charge roller voltage, or the developer bias voltage. It is desirable to make adjustments over the usage life of these components, so as to maintain the initial printer output darkness throughout the life of the major system components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Anthony Able, Cyrus Bradford Clarke, Mark Edwin Kirtley Lund, Daniel George Mlejnek, George Peter Olson, Gregory Lawrence Ream, Thomas Campbell Wade
  • Electrostatic fuser with post-nip electrically biased discharge member
    Patent number: 6173151
    Abstract: An image-fixing device for use in an electrophotographic process which includes an electrode (discharge member) on the exit side of a fuser mechanism is disclosed. This mechanism eliminates toner offset without requiring reformulation of the fuser or pressure rollers or restructuring of the fuser, and without compromising the release properties of those rollers. The preferred electrode has a saw-tooth configuration and is placed close to, but not contacting, the pressure roller and the back side of the printed page. A voltage, typically from about 200 to about 1,000 volts is applied to that electrode; the voltage has a polarity which is opposite the charge of the toner on the printed page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory L. Ream, Steven A. Curry
  • Ink jet heater chip module including a nozzle plate coupling a heater chip to a carrier
    Patent number: 6170931
    Abstract: A heater chip module is provided comprising a rigid carrier, a nozzle plate and a heater chip. The carrier is adapted to be secured to a container for receiving ink. The carrier includes an opening extending completely through the carrier. The opening has an outer periphery. A nozzle plate is coupled to the carrier and extends out beyond the outer periphery of the opening so as to substantially cover the opening. A heater chip is positioned within the opening and is coupled directly to the nozzle plate. The heater chip is coupled to the carrier only by way of the nozzle plate. Thus, the heater chip does not directly contact the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Lemark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Edward Anderson, Ashok Murthy
  • Toner cartridge having encoded wheel
    Patent number: 6169860
    Abstract: One aspect of the invention is directed to a toner cartridge including a sump for carrying a supply of toner. An agitator is rotatably mounted in the sump, and the agitator has a first end and a second end. An encoded wheel is coupled to the first end of the agitator. The encoded wheel is structured and adapted to include a first preselected cartridge characteristic indicia having a first extent, a stop indicia having a second extent larger than the first extent and a start indicia having a third extent larger than the second extent. Each indicia may be in the form of a slot. Preferably, the start indicia is positioned between about a 5:00 o'clock position and a 6:00 o'clock position. The stop indicia is positioned at about a 9:00 o'clock position. At least one preselected cartridge characteristic indicia is positioned between the start indicia and the stop indicia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Alan Curry, Benjamin Keith Newman, Earl Dawson Ward, II, Phillip Byron Wright
  • Method of cleaning toner resin from a printing device
    Patent number: 6165280
    Abstract: An assembly is provided for cleaning toner resin from the operating parts of a printing device. The assembly comprises a porous member impregnated with a silicone copolymer and a rigid member with a supporting base to mount said porous member. The assembly is preferably a two-part kit having a brush member for wiping components of the printing device and a pad member mountable for stationary positioning within said printing device for scrubbing components of the printing device as they move relative to the mounted pad. The silicone copolymer has the formula ##STR1## where x represents from about 98.8 molar percent to about 99.5 molar percent, y represents from about 0.5 molar percent to 1.2 molar percent and R comprises from about 70% by weight to about 100% by weight of a C.sub.15 -C.sub.60 alkyl group and from about 0% by weight to about 30% by weight of a C.sub.2 -C.sub.14 alkyl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Oral Aulick, George Nicholas Powers, Mark Stephen Weisman, Jr.
  • Variable spread spectrum clock
    Patent number: 6167103
    Abstract: A digital spread spectrum clock circuit is made variable by employing RAM memory (29), and a multiplexer (39) to receive initiation data before the circuit is ready to run normally. A second counter (17) and an adder (25) each receiving the contents of programmable registers (17 and 25) permit wide variation in operation although RAM memory is of relatively small size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith Bryan Hardin
  • Thermal ink jet printer
    Patent number: 6161918
    Abstract: A thermal ink jet printer has two columns of nozzles in its nozzle plate parallel to the direction of motion of each sheet of media. When the sheet of media is thin such as bond paper having a thickness of 0.1 mm, for example, all of the nozzles are available for printing. When the sheet of media is thick such as an envelope having a thickness of 0.5 mm, for example, one-fourth of the nozzles are available for printing, and these are the nozzles first passed by the sheet of media during its advancement. Each sheet of media has the same feed rate although it takes four times as long for the thick sheet of media to be printed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Allen Bailey, John Booth Bates, Scott Michael Heydinger