Patents by Inventor Donald E. Thresh

Donald E. Thresh 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: 10759158
    Abstract: What is disclosed is an object holder for securely retaining an object while it is being printed in a direct-to-object print system and a direct-to-object print system configured to use various embodiments of the object holder of the present invention. In one embodiment, the object holder comprises a metallic shuttle mount configured to slideably traverse a support member positioned parallel to a plane formed by at least one printhead configured to eject marking material on to a surface of an object. A plurality of magnetic retainers are each shaped to physically secure the object to the metallic shuttle mount while the object is being moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan Ireland, Michael N. Soures, Bruce H. Smith, Donald E. Thresh, James D. Vanbortel
  • Patent number: 10647105
    Abstract: What is disclosed is an object holder for retaining an object in a direct-to-object print system and a direct-to-object print system configured to use various embodiments of the object holder of the present invention. In one embodiment, the object holder comprises a shuttle mount configured to slideably traverse a support member positioned parallel to a plane formed by at least one printhead configured to eject marking material on to a surface of an object. A plurality of threads, at least partially comprising a flexible synthetic elastomer, are connected to the shuttle mount. The threads are joined together to form an elastic netting which can be manually expanded around the object to retain the object to the shuttle mount while the object is being printed in the direct-to-object print system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Nicholas Soures, Jonathan Ross Ireland, Bruce H. Smith, Donald E. Thresh, James D. Van Bortel
  • Patent number: 10245845
    Abstract: What is disclosed is an object holder for securely retaining an object while it is being printed in a direct-to-object print system and a direct-to-object print system configured to use various embodiments of the object holder of the present invention. In one embodiment, the object holder comprises a shuttle mount configured to slideably traverse a support member positioned parallel to a plane formed by at least one printhead configured to eject in onto a surface of an object. The mount has a plurality of receptacles, each has a shape for receiving a retainer in one of a plurality of orientations. A head of each retainer is shaped to retain an edge of the object on the mount. A base of each retainer is shaped such that, when the base is pressed into a receptacle, the head assumes a desired orientation. The removable retainers retain the object on the shuttle mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan Ireland, Michael N. Soures, Bruce H. Smith, Donald E. Thresh, James D. Vanbortel
  • Patent number: 10183445
    Abstract: A three-dimensional object printer generates image data of an object being formed in the printer with a plurality of light sources and a plurality of optical sensor arrays. A controller receives the image data and identifies measurements of the object and of the features of the object. The controller compares the measurements to expected measurements and adds material or removes material from the object in response to the identified measurements being outside a predetermined range about the expected measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Donald E. Thresh, James D. VanBortel, Michael N. Soures, Richard B. Gruszewski
  • Publication number: 20180281463
    Abstract: What is disclosed is an object holder for securely retaining an object while it is being printed in a direct-to-object print system and a direct-to-object print system configured to use various embodiments of the object holder of the present invention. In one embodiment, the object holder comprises a shuttle mount configured to slideably traverse a support member positioned parallel to a plane formed by at least one printhead configured to eject in onto a surface of an object. The mount has a plurality of receptacles, each has a shape for receiving a retainer in one of a plurality of orientations. A head of each retainer is shaped to retain an edge of the object on the mount. A base of each retainer is shaped such that, when the base is pressed into a receptacle, the head assumes a desired orientation. The removable retainers retain the object on the shuttle mount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Jonathan IRELAND, Michael N. SOURES, Bruce H. SMITH, Donald E. THRESH, James D. VANBORTEL
  • Publication number: 20180281307
    Abstract: What is disclosed is an object holder for retaining an object in a direct-to-object print system and a direct-to-object print system configured to use various embodiments of the object holder of the present invention. In one embodiment, the object holder comprises a shuttle mount configured to slideably traverse a support member positioned parallel to a plane formed by at least one printhead configured to eject marking material on to a surface of an object. A plurality of threads, at least partially comprising a flexible synthetic elastomer, are connected to the shuttle mount. The threads are joined together to form an elastic netting which can be manually expanded around the object to retain the object to the shuttle mount while the object is being printed in the direct-to-object print system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Michael Nicholas SOURES, Jonathan Ross IRELAND, Bruce H. SMITH, Donald E. THRESH, James D. VAN BORTEL
  • Publication number: 20180281304
    Abstract: What is disclosed is an object holder for securely retaining an object while it is being printed in a direct-to-object print system and a direct-to-object print system configured to use various embodiments of the object holder of the present invention. In one embodiment, the object holder comprises a metallic shuttle mount configured to slideably traverse a support member positioned parallel to a plane formed by at least one printhead configured to eject marking material on to a surface of an object. A plurality of magnetic retainers are each shaped to physically secure the object to the metallic shuttle mount while the object is being moved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Jonathan IRELAND, Michael N. SOURES, Bruce H. SMITH, Donald E. THRESH, James D. VANBORTEL
  • Publication number: 20180243974
    Abstract: A three-dimensional object printer generates image data of an object being formed in the printer with a plurality of light sources and a plurality of optical sensor arrays. A controller receives the image data and identifies measurements of the object and of the features of the object. The controller compares the measurements to expected measurements and adds material or removes material from the object in response to the identified measurements being outside a predetermined range about the expected measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Donald E. Thresh, James D. VanBortel, Michael N. Soures, Richard B. Gruszewski
  • Patent number: 10011078
    Abstract: A three-dimensional object printer generates image data of an object being formed in the printer with a plurality of light sources and a plurality of optical sensor arrays. A controller receives the image data and identifies measurements of the object and of the features of the object. The controller compares the measurements to expected measurements and adds material or removes material from the object in response to the identified measurements being outside a predetermined range about the expected measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Donald E. Thresh, James D. VanBortel, Michael N. Soures, Richard B. Gruszewski
  • Patent number: 10005302
    Abstract: What is disclosed is an object holder for retaining an object while it is being printed in a direct-to-object print system and a direct-to-object print system configured to use various embodiments of the object holder of the present invention. In one embodiment, the object holder comprises a base plate configured to slideably traverse a support member positioned parallel to a plane formed by at least one printhead configured to eject marking material on to a surface of an object. A shaft passes through the base plate. A back support is fixed to an end of the base plate. A side plate is slideably attached to the base plate. The back support and side plate collectively provide support to the shaft. A suction cup is connected to one end of the shaft for holding an object to the shaft while the object is being moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: James D. Vanbortel, Michael Nicholas Soures, Donald E. Thresh, Jonathan Ireland, Bruce H. Smith
  • Publication number: 20170095977
    Abstract: A three-dimensional object printer generates image data of an object being formed in the printer with a plurality of light sources and a plurality of optical sensor arrays. A controller receives the image data and identifies measurements of the object and of the features of the object. The controller compares the measurements to expected measurements and adds material or removes material from the object in response to the identified measurements being outside a predetermined range about the expected measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: Donald E. Thresh, James D. VanBortel, Michael N. Soures, Richard B. Gruszewski