Patents by Inventor Lawrence C. Steele

Lawrence C. Steele 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: 5025292
    Abstract: An improvement in the method and apparatus for producing a multi-color electrophotographic image wherein an electrophotographic medium is mounted on a carrier therefor and is translated over a predetermined path so that the medium is first charged, then exposed to a first light-borne image and then toned. Thus, the unexposed portions of the image bearing charged region of the medium are toned, preferably by a liquid toner, to produce a first color visible image. The carrier is then returned to the first position to repeat the foregoing steps to charge the medium and to expose it to a second light-borne image and to tone the second image with a second toning element to produce a second color visible image on the same sheet of medium. The improvement comprises means for heating the surface of the first toned image after the first toning step and prior to the second charging step to smooth and further fuse the previously toned image to prevent color contamination of subsequent imaging cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1991
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Lawrence C. Steele
  • Patent number: 5016054
    Abstract: An improvement in apparatus for producing a multi-color electrophotographic image wherein an electrophotographic medium is mounted on a carrier therefor and is translated over a predetermined path so that the medium is first charged, then exposed to a first light-borne image. The image bearing region of the medium is then toned, preferably by a liquid toner, to produce a first color visible image. The carrier is then returned to the first position to repeat the foregoing steps to charge the medium and to expose it to a second light-borne image and to tone the second image with a second toning element to produce a second color visible image on the same sheet of medium. The improvement comprises means for buffing the surface of the first toned image with a relatively coarse, stiff, and rough fibrous brush member after the first toning step and prior to the second charging step to smooth the previously toned image to prevent color contamination by subsequent imaging cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Lawrence C. Steele, Kenneth E. Rook
  • Patent number: 4998142
    Abstract: An improvement in the method of producing a multi-color electrophotographic image wherein an electrophotographic medium is mounted on a carrier therefor and is translated over a predetermined path so that the medium is first charged, then exposed to a first light-borne image. The image bearing region of the medium is then toned, preferably by a liquid toner, to produce a first color visible image. The carrier is then returned to the first position to repeat the foregoing steps to charge the medium and to expose it to a second light-borne image and to tone the second image with a second toning element to produce a second color visible image on the same sheet of medium. The improvement comprises the step of buffing the surface of the first toned image with a relatively coarse, stiff, and rough fibrous brush member after the first toning step and prior to the second charging step to smooth the previously toned image to prevent color contamination by subsequent imaging cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1991
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Lawrence C. Steele, Kenneth E. Rook
  • Patent number: 4913992
    Abstract: An improvement in the method and apparatus for producing a multi-color electrophotographic image wherein an electrophotographic medium is mounted on a carrier therefor and is translated over a predetermined path so that the medium is first charged, then exposed to a first light-borne image and then toned. Thus, the unexposed portions of the image bearing charged region of the medium are toned, preferably by a liquid toner, to produce a first color visible image. The carrier is then returned to the first position to repeat the foregoing steps to charge the medium and to expose it to a second light-borne image and to tone the second image with a second toning element to produce a second color visible image on the same sheet of medium. One of the images formed is a cyan image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Lawrence C. Steele, Kenneth E. Rook, Domenic Santilli, Dennis R. Kamp