Patents by Inventor Allison H. Caudill

Allison H. Caudill has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4357093
    Abstract: A clamping device for securing a photoconductor in the form of a closed loop, flexible sleeve on a drum having a channel on the drum periphery, and with the channel running substantially parallel to the drum central axis, along the length of the drum, is disclosed. The clamping device comprises an elongated bar having a cross-sectional configuration for fitting within the channel, means for latching the bar to the drum when the bar is in position within the channel, and an electrically conducting spring positioned relative to the bar and the sleeve for making an electrical connection between the photoconductor sleeve and the drum, and for applying variable tension to the sleeve in response to forcing of the sleeve partially into the channel by the bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1982
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Allison H. Caudill, William H. Bruce, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4304273
    Abstract: A magnetic brush developer having a toner dispenser cooperable with a removable toner container of the bottle type so that transfer of toner to the dispenser occurs without spillage or exposure of the toner to the external environment. The bottle and dispenser have mating interfaces which must be properly located, and then rotated, before dumping of toner from the bottle to the dispenser can occur. The dispenser interface is positioned in a slidable cover so that the bottle's toner content can be evenly distributed along the length of the dispenser, this length corresponding substantially to the length of the developer's development zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1981
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Allison H. Caudill, Lowell M. Simson, James W. Stanley
  • Patent number: 4161923
    Abstract: A magnetic-brush developer for use in an electrophotographic machine wherein the magnetic brush is used to transport toner-coated carrier particles to an elevated development zone from a pickup zone. A path for so moving the carrier is provided between the magnetic brush roll and an overflow plate, the lower end of which also serves as a doctoring blade. The carrier is moved to the top of the roll where a doctoring blade limits the amount of carrier entering the development zone. Excess carrier is accumulated in an expanded spatial area near the doctoring blade and returned to the vicinity of the pickup zone by falling back between the overflow plate and the housing. An area is provided near the doctoring blade at the top of the roll where no magnetic field is present. The overflow plate is made of non-magnetic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1979
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jerry J. Abbott, William J. Bernardelli, John A. Thompson, Allison H. Caudill
  • Patent number: 4133610
    Abstract: An electrophotographic machine of the transfer type in which tetrafluoroethylene-coated carrier beads transport toner particles to a development zone by virute of the triboelectric attraction between positive toner and negative tetrafluoroethylene. At the development zone, the carrier beads are crushed together and occasionally a piece of tetrafluoroethylene is worn off of the surface of the beads and carried along on the surface of the photoconductor. These tetrafluoroethylene-wear products are subjected to high level preclean corona current to reverse the triboelectric negative polarity thereof. In that manner, a positive wear product is made to act as though it was toner and is therefore carried out of the machine on copy paper. In a similar manner, paper dust and other contaminants on the photoconductor surface are subjected to a high level preclean corona current to receive a positive charge for being carried out of the machine on the copy paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1979
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William J. Bernardelli, Allison H. Caudill, John A. Thompson
  • Patent number: 3999514
    Abstract: An auger fed magnetic brush developer wherein two parallel augers continuously recirculate the developer mix and cause the mix to be enriched with toner prior to its being returned to the magnetic brush roll.A supply auger communicates with the brush roll along its entire length and directly elevates the mix to a lower part of the brush roll's surface. This supply auger includes four flutes of a pitch equal to one-half the length of the brush roll. This auger flute arrangement insures that a uniform supply of mix is presented to the brush roll along its entire length. In addition, this supply auger construction insures that a uniform supply of enriched mix is presented to the brush roll along its entire length, since the gradually depleting carrier tends to be presented to the brush roll a minimum number of times, for example three, prior to its exiting one end of the supply auger.The carrier exiting the supply auger enters a turnaround compartment whereat new toner is added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1975
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1976
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jerry J. Abbott, Charles A. Campbell, Allison H. Caudill, John A. Thompson