Patents by Inventor Francesc Melia

Francesc Melia 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).

  • Publication number: 20240109128
    Abstract: According to an example, a device comprises a sidewall and a base movable relative to the sidewall. The sidewall and base define an internal volume for receipt of build material in an additive manufacturing process. The example device further comprises a membrane. A first end of the membrane is attached to the base such that the membrane is movable with the base. The membrane at least partially extends along the sidewall to form a flexible barrier between the internal volume and the sidewall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Alejandro Rodriguez Romero, Gabriel De La Cal Mendoza, Albert Rodriguez Fernandez, Francesc Melia Sune
  • Patent number: 11784433
    Abstract: A connector comprises a first housing having a connection end to be inserted into an opening of a second connector, the first housing containing a first electrical contact, wherein the connection end comprises a first opening. The connector further comprises a first cover biased towards a closed position in which the first electrical contact is inaccessible via the first opening, wherein the first cover is moved from the closed position to an open position exposing the first electrical contact during insertion of the connection end into the opening of the second connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Victor Ruiz Rivas, Maria Martinez Heredia, Francesc Melia Sune
  • Publication number: 20220402206
    Abstract: A 3D printing apparatus is disclosed herein. The 3D printing apparatus comprises a non-powered compartment defining a chamber to contain build material, and a passive latching element connected to a lateral wall of the compartment to be engaged with a complementary latching element of a platform. A drive mechanism of a 3D printing device is engageable with the platform to apply an upward vertical force to the platform to move the platform upwardly. The complementary latching elements are to: passively latch the platform and the compartment together at a latched position such that upward movement of the platform causes upward movement of the compartment until the compartment is restrained at a sealing position; and to passively unlatch the platform from the compartment, upon further upward movement of the platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Albert RODRIGUEZ FERNANDEZ, Marius VALLES GONZALEZ, Gabriel DE LA CAL MENDOZA, Joaquim BRUGUE GARVI, Francesc MELIA SUNE
  • Publication number: 20220371278
    Abstract: A 3D printing apparatus is disclosed herein. The 3D printing apparatus comprises a build compartment defining a build chamber within which a 3D object is to be generated; and a non-powered platform, moveable within the build chamber, comprising a platform drive interface to engage with an external drive mechanism to cause the platform to move. The 3D printing apparatus further comprises a powder compartment located laterally adjacent to the build compartment, within which build material is to be stored for use in the generation of the 3D object. The 3D printing apparatus also comprises a locking interface to couple the 3D printing apparatus with an external hosting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Applicant: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Pau MARTIN VIDAL, Marius VALLES GONZALEZ, Gerard MOSQUERA DONATE, Albert RODRIGUEZ FERNANDEZ, Gabriel DE LA CAL MENDOZA, Francesc MELIA SUNE
  • Publication number: 20220069507
    Abstract: A connector comprises a first housing having a connection end to be inserted into an opening of a second connector, the first housing containing a first electrical contact, wherein the connection end comprises a first opening. The connector further comprises a first cover biased towards a closed position in which the first electrical contact is inaccessible via the first opening, wherein the first cover is moved from the closed position to an open position exposing the first electrical contact during insertion of the connection end into the opening of the second connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2019
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Victor RUIZ RIVAS, Maria MARTINEZ HEREDIA, Francesc MELIA SUNE
  • Publication number: 20220016844
    Abstract: This build material spreading apparatus for additive manufacturing, includes a movable spreader, a build material dispenser, and a controller to calibrate the amount of build material needed to form a layer. The controller controls the build material dispenser to dispense a predetermined amount of build material. The controller controls the movable spreader to spread the dispensed build material to form a layer. The controller determines an amount of build material remaining after spreading. The controller modifies, based on the determined amount of remaining build material, the predetermined amount of build material to be subsequently provided by the build material dispenser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Applicant: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Fernando JUAN JOVER, Gerard MOSQUERA DONATE, Berta ROIG GRAU, Francesc MELIA SUNE
  • Patent number: 10308026
    Abstract: In one example, a structure to hold a printhead includes a surface defining an opening through which the printhead orifices may be exposed for printing and a replaceable shield shielding an area of the surface around the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Marta Coma Vives, Xavier Gros Gras, Francesc Melia Sune
  • Patent number: 10245854
    Abstract: In one example, a printer having a removably-installable platen. The platen has a platen type. A surface of the platen has a feature that is indicative of the platen type. The printer includes a single platen-type-discriminating sensor. The sensor detects a distinguishing characteristic of the feature. A controller determines the platen type from the distinguishing characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Carles Flotats Vilagrasa, Francesc Melia Sune, David Toussaint
  • Publication number: 20180022116
    Abstract: In one example, a printer having a removably-installable platen. The platen has a platen type. A surface of the platen has a feature that is indicative of the platen type. The printer includes a single platen-type-discriminating sensor. The sensor detects a distinguishing characteristic of the feature. A controller determines the platen type from the distinguishing characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Applicant: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Carles Flotats Vilagrasa, Francesc Melia Sune, David Toussaint
  • Patent number: 9868301
    Abstract: An example system for a printer in accordance with the present disclosure is provided. The system comprises a replaceable platen assembly including a group of interchangeable platens, each platen to support a different type of print substrate, and an edge guide associated with the platen assembly, the edge guide for guiding an edge of a print substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jerry Claesson, Francesc Melia
  • Publication number: 20170136786
    Abstract: An example system for a printer in accordance with the present disclosure is provided. The system comprises a replaceable platen assembly including a group of interchangeable platens, each platen to support a different type of print substrate, and an edge guide associated with the platen assembly, the edge guide for guiding an edge of a print substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Applicant: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Jerry CLAESSON, Francesc MELIA
  • Publication number: 20160303856
    Abstract: In one example, a structure to hold a printhead includes a surface defining an opening through which the printhead orifices may be exposed for printing and a replaceable shield shielding an area of the surface around the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Applicant: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Marta Coma Vives, Xavier Gros Gras, Francesc Melia Sune
  • Patent number: 9434186
    Abstract: In one example, a print substrate edge holder includes a first part to hold down the edge of a print substrate without covering any part of the substrate in the print zone and a second part overlapping the first part to collect printing fluid dispensed past the edge of the print substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, LP.
    Inventors: Antonio Gracia Verdugo, Francesc Melia Sune, Ezequiel Jordi Rufes Bernad
  • Patent number: 9421802
    Abstract: Provided is a system that includes a reference strip and a print head carriage. The reference strip includes transmission windows for transmitting signals. The transmission windows include bridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Francesc Melia, Lluis Hierro, Xavier Garolera
  • Publication number: 20160023481
    Abstract: In one example, a print substrate edge holder includes a first part to hold down the edge of a print substrate without covering any part of the substrate in the print zone and a second part overlapping the first part to collect printing fluid dispensed past the edge of the print substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Applicant: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Antonio Gracia Verdugo, Francesc Melia Sune, Ezequiel Jordi Rufes Bernad
  • Patent number: 8388102
    Abstract: A method of maintaining a fluid applicator unit of an image forming apparatus in which the fluid applicator unit includes a nozzle surface having nozzles is disclosed. The method includes ejecting fluid through nozzles of a fluid applicator unit of an image forming apparatus during a maintenance mode to maintain flow paths therethrough such that the fluid is emitted from the nozzles in a form of fluid drops. The method also includes receiving the fluid drops emitted from the nozzles during the maintenance mode on a receiving member to form waste liquid therefrom and directing the waste liquid from the receiving member to a waste receiving unit through a liquid passage. The method also includes directing aerosol formed from the fluid drops emitted from the nozzles to the aerosol receiving unit through an aerosol passage such that the aerosol passage is separate from the liquid passage and receiving the aerosol directed to the aerosol receiving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Ainhoa Urbistondo, Marta Coma, Francesc Melia
  • Publication number: 20120249674
    Abstract: A method of maintaining a fluid applicator unit of an image forming apparatus in which the fluid applicator unit includes a nozzle surface having nozzles is disclosed. The method includes ejecting fluid through nozzles of a fluid applicator unit of an image forming apparatus during a maintenance mode to maintain flow paths therethrough such that the fluid is emitted from the nozzles in a form of fluid drops. The method also includes receiving the fluid drops emitted from the nozzles during the maintenance mode on a receiving member to form waste liquid therefrom and directing the waste liquid from the receiving member to a waste receiving unit through a liquid passage. The method also includes directing aerosol formed from the fluid drops emitted from the nozzles to the aerosol receiving unit through an aerosol passage such that the aerosol passage is separate from the liquid passage and receiving the aerosol directed to the aerosol receiving unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Ainhoa Urbistondo, Marta Coma, Francesc Melia
  • Publication number: 20110292110
    Abstract: Provided is a system that includes a reference strip and a print head carriage. The reference strip includes transmission windows for transmitting signals. The transmission windows include bridges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventors: Francesc Melia, Lluis Hierro, Xavier Garolera