Patents by Inventor Andrew W. Hays
Andrew W. Hays 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).
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Patent number: 9004651Abstract: An ink jet printhead including a thermo-pneumatic actuator array for ejecting ink from an array of nozzles. The actuator array may include a plurality of channels in fluid communication with a plurality of working fluid chambers. After completing formation of the actuator array, working fluid may be injected into a working fluid inlet on an exterior of the actuator array and into the plurality of working fluid chambers through the plurality of channels.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2013Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Peter J. Nystrom, Andrew W. Hays
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Patent number: 9004652Abstract: An ink jet printhead including a thermo-pneumatic actuator array for ejecting ink from an array of nozzles. The actuator array may include the use of a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) semiconductor wafer including a device layer, a handle layer, and a dielectric layer that physically separates the device layer from the handle layer to simplify printhead formation. During an exemplary process, the SOI wafer is attached to a heater wafer and a nozzle plate is attached to the dielectric layer such that, during use of the printhead, the device layer functions as an actuator membrane. Deflection of the device layer during use of the printhead creates a pressure within an ink chamber which causes ejection of ink from one of the nozzles of the array of nozzles.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2013Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Peter J. Nystrom, Andrew W. Hays, Peter M. Gulvin
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Publication number: 20150097897Abstract: An ink jet printhead includes a nozzle plate including a nozzle, a recess in the nozzle plate, and a compliant layer that covers the recess and forms a sealed pocket that may be filled with air or another gas during use of the printhead. During actuation of a piezoelectric element during the ejection of ink from the nozzle, the sealed pocket attenuates an acoustic energy generated by the piezoelectric element, thereby reducing crosstalk to adjacent nozzles by the acoustic energy.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2013Publication date: April 9, 2015Applicant: XEROX CORPORATIONInventors: Gary D. Redding, Mark A. Cellura, Peter J. Nystrom, Andrew W. Hays
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Patent number: 8992857Abstract: A mixing method and device are disclosed. The mixing method includes providing a drop generating device including a first drop ejector, a second drop ejector and a collector. The mixing method also includes ejecting a plurality of drops of a first reactant from the first drop ejector and ejecting a plurality of drops of a second reactant from the second drop ejector and collecting the drops with the collector.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2013Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: David Allen Mantell, Peter Michael Gulvin, Pinyen Lin, Andrew W Hays
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Publication number: 20150070440Abstract: An ink jet printhead including a thermo-pneumatic actuator array for ejecting ink from an array of nozzles. The actuator array may include the use of a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) semiconductor wafer including a device layer, a handle layer, and a dielectric layer that physically separates the device layer from the handle layer to simplify printhead formation. During an exemplary process, the SOI wafer is attached to a heater wafer and a nozzle plate is attached to the dielectric layer such that, during use of the printhead, the device layer functions as an actuator membrane. Deflection of the device layer during use of the printhead creates a pressure within an ink chamber which causes ejection of ink from one of the nozzles of the array of nozzles.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2013Publication date: March 12, 2015Applicant: XEROX CORPORATIONInventors: Peter J. Nystrom, Andrew W. Hays, Peter M. Gulvin
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Publication number: 20150070441Abstract: An ink jet printhead including a thermo-pneumatic actuator array for ejecting ink from an array of nozzles. The actuator array may include a plurality of channels in fluid communication with a plurality of working fluid chambers. After completing formation of the actuator array, working fluid may be injected into a working fluid inlet on an exterior of the actuator array and into the plurality of working fluid chambers through the plurality of channels.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2013Publication date: March 12, 2015Applicant: XEROX CORPORATIONInventors: Peter J. Nystrom, Andrew W. Hays
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Patent number: 8950849Abstract: In some aspects of the present application, an inkjet printing device is disclosed that can comprises an enclosed module configured to store ink and provide a path for ink flow; and an annular structure surrounding the path for ink flow, wherein the annular structure comprises a first polymer structure; a void structure arranged to surround the first polymer structure; and a second polymer structure arranged to surround the void structure.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2012Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Andrew W. Hays, Jun Ma
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Publication number: 20140295064Abstract: A nanoprinthead including an array of nanotip cantilevers, where each nanotip cantilever includes a nanotip at an end of a cantilever, and a method for forming the nanoprinthead. Each nanotip may be individually addressable through use of an array of piezoelectric actuators. Embodiments for forming a nanoprinthead including an array of nanotip cantilevers can include an etching process from a material such as a silicon wafer, or the formation of a metal or dielectric nanotip cantilever over a substrate. The nanoprinthead may operate to provide uses for technologies such as dip-pen nanolithography, nanomachining, and nanoscratching, among others.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2013Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: XEROX CORPORATIONInventors: Peter J. Nystrom, Andrew W. Hays, Bijoyraj Sahu
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Patent number: 8801164Abstract: A method and structure for depriming an ink jet printhead. To deprime ink from a printhead at a location between a nozzle (aperture) and a particulate filter (rock screen), a force (pressure) is applied to the ink. The pressure can either be a positive pressure applied to the nozzle from the outside of the aperture plate or a negative pressure (vacuum) applied at a location upstream from the particulate filter. Because openings within the particulate filter are each smaller than the nozzle, there exists a force which is sufficient to move a meniscus of the ink from the nozzle back to the particulate filter, but which is insufficient to move the meniscus beyond the particulate filter, for example due to a surface tension of the meniscus of the ink.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2011Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Andrew W Hays, Antonio L Williams
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Patent number: 8746848Abstract: Systems and methods of ejecting ink drops from an inkjet printer are disclosed. The systems and methods can include a printhead with one or more actuators with associated nozzles and membranes. A voltage waveform can be applied to the actuators to fill the actuators with a volume of ink and eject the ink through the nozzles as ink drops. The voltage waveform can have associated pre-fill voltage to fill the actuator with ink and a firing voltage to eject the ink. The actuator membranes can have multi-height dimples to protect the membranes from contacting electrodes and reduce the electric field.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2013Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Andrew W Hays, Richard P Germain, Joseph A Degroot, Peter J Nystrom, Jun Ma
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Patent number: 8714722Abstract: A structure and method including a filter assembly, wherein the structure can be an ink jet printhead including the filter assembly. The filter assembly can include a first filter layer having a plurality of pores therein, wherein the pores have a first pitch, and a second filter layer having a plurality of pores therein, wherein the pores in the second filter layer have a second pitch which is different than the first pitch. The structure can include a fluid path through the filter assembly. An area of overlap of the pores in the first filter layer with the pores in the second filter layer, in a vertical direction perpendicular to a plane of the filter assembly, can include a periodicity.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2012Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Andrew W. Hays, Jun Ma, Peter J. Nystrom, Bradley J. Gerner
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Publication number: 20140120229Abstract: A method for printing a three-dimensional crystalline structure such as a chocolate layer wherein, after printing, the material has a desired crystal structure. An embodiment can include printing a liquid first layer of material with a printer onto a second layer of material having a crystal structure. Subsequently, the printed liquid first layer is processed to solidify the first layer. During the processing of the printed liquid first layer, the second layer functions as a crystal seed layer through physical contact with the printed liquid first layer and the second layer crystallizes with the crystal structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2012Publication date: May 1, 2014Applicant: XEROX CORPORATIONInventors: David Allen Mantell, Andrew W. Hays, Zahra C. Langford
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Patent number: 8702216Abstract: A printhead for printing ink includes a particulate filter manufactured from a polymer sheet such as a polyimide sheet. Filter openings within the particulate filter can be formed using a mask and a laser beam to ablate exposed portions of the polymer sheet. Embodiments of the present teachings can result in the formation smaller filter openings at a smaller pitch within the polymer sheet than, for example, stainless steel particulate filters, and thus more openings which cover a larger percentage of the filter surface for a given filter size, which can result in a reduction of fluid pressure within the printhead. Thus smaller filter openings for improved filtering of smaller particulates can be formed while maintaining a sufficient ink flow at a sufficiently low pressure within the printhead during operation.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2011Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Terrance L Stephens, James D. Padgett, John R. Andrews, Andrew W. Hays
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Patent number: 8696098Abstract: A printhead having a circulation device to create a directed flow of ink and a separator to divert particulate matter, which can be present in the ink, to a location where the particulate matter falls out of the directed flow. The circulation device can include a heater configured to provide the directed flow of ink and the separator can include a divider to provide a location for particulate matter to be separated and screened from the ink and a bin to catch particulate matter falling from the ink during circulation.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2011Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventor: Andrew W. Hays
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Patent number: 8696091Abstract: Apparatus and methods for heating a printer jet stack. The apparatus includes a first layer and a second layer disposed generally parallel to the first layer. The apparatus also includes a heating layer including a thermal epoxy configured to generate heat when an electrical current is applied thereto. The heating layer is disposed between and bonds together the first layer and the second layer.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2012Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Bradley James Gerner, Peter J. Nystrom, Andrew W. Hays
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Publication number: 20140022320Abstract: A structure and method including a filter assembly, wherein the structure can be an ink jet printhead including the filter assembly. The filter assembly can include a first filter layer having a plurality of pores therein, wherein the pores have a first pitch, and a second filter layer having a plurality of pores therein, wherein the pores in the second filter layer have a second pitch which is different than the first pitch. The structure can include a fluid path through the filter assembly. An area of overlap of the pores in the first filter layer with the pores in the second filter layer, in a vertical direction perpendicular to a plane of the filter assembly, can include a periodicity.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2012Publication date: January 23, 2014Applicant: XEROX CORPORATIONInventors: Andrew W. HAYS, Jun MA, Peter J. NYSTROM, Bradley J. GERNER
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Patent number: 8616675Abstract: Actuator ink chamber systems and methods of making the same and ink jet printheads. The actuator ink chamber systems and ink jet print heads having an ink chamber with a low-adhesion coating applied on at least one portion of the inner surface of the ink chamber to reduce or eliminate actuator membrane damage during ink freeze/thaw cycles.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2010Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: James M. Casella, Andrew W. Hays, Peter M. Gulvin, Jun Ma
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Publication number: 20130321532Abstract: Apparatus and methods for heating a printer jet stack. The apparatus includes a first layer and a second layer disposed generally parallel to the first layer. The apparatus also includes a heating layer including a thermal epoxy configured to generate heat when an electrical current is applied thereto. The heating layer is disposed between and bonds together the first layer and the second layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2012Publication date: December 5, 2013Applicant: XEROX CORPORATIONInventors: Bradley James Gerner, Peter J. Nystrom, Andrew W. Hays
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Patent number: 8567913Abstract: An ink jet print head includes an ink chamber defined by an electrostatically actuated membrane and a nozzle plate opposing the membrane. The nozzle plate includes a nozzle hole and a group of priming holes, the priming holes configured to maintain a substantially ink free surface on the nozzle plate during a freeze thaw cycle of ink in the ink chamber. A method for accommodating expansion and contraction of ink during a freeze thaw cycle of ink in an ink chamber is also provided. The method includes providing a group of priming holes in a nozzle plate of the ink chamber, the group of priming holes maintaining a substantially ink free surface on the nozzle plate during the freeze thaw cycle.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2010Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: James M. Casella, Andrew W. Hays, Peter M. Gulvin, Jun Ma
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Patent number: 8567934Abstract: A printhead including a jetstack configured to include a multi-plane filter laminate. The multi-plane filter laminate includes a first rock screen subassembly and a second rock screen subassembly. Each subassembly is configured to include an upstream pocket layer, a downstream pocket layer aligned with the upstream pocket layer, and a rock screen plate sandwiched between the upstream and downstream pocket layers, the rock screen plate configured with through holes over an entire exposed surface area thereof. A portion of the rock screen plate of the first subassembly is configured to overlay the rock screen plate of the second subassembly.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2011Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventor: Andrew W. Hays