Patents by Inventor Jeffrey L. Tonges

Jeffrey L. Tonges 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: 7162182
    Abstract: A door assembly movably positioned to a body of an image forming device. The door assembly includes a first frame and a second frame. The first frame is movably attached to the body, and the second frame is movably attached to the first frame. The movable connections between the frames and the main body cause accurate locating of a photoconductive member mounted on the door assembly within the body. In one embodiment, a contour surface within the body contacts the second frame to locate the second frame within the body. Methods of moving the door assembly are also disclosed including moving the door assembly from an open orientation that is spaced from the body, to a closed orientation that is in proximity to the body. The movement of the door assembly causes interaction between the frames and the body to accurately locate the second frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Tonges, Richard G. Boyatt, III, Daniel L. Carter, Kerry Leland Embry, Larry Steven Foster, Harald Portig, David Erwin Rennick, Darren Wayne Tosh, Edward Lynn Triplett
  • Patent number: 6968143
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus having a subunit movable between closed and open positions, the nip between media alignment rollers is opened automatically when the subunit is opened. A drive roller and a backup roller are disposed in a housing, wherein the bearing holding the backup roller is segmented. A rear segment is disposed on a flexible arm, and is biased towards the front segment, biasing the backup roller to contact the drive roller to form a nip for bump alignment of media sheets. A bell crank engages a rotary member or rotary member frame mounted on the subunit when the subunit is closed. When the subunit is opened, the bell crank disengages the member, pivoting a link member having a cam surface and engaging the cam surface against a cam follower surface on the housing, forcing the backup roller to a position spaced apart from the drive roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Allen Blair, Jeffrey L. Tonges, Edward Lynn Triplett