Patents by Inventor Leon C. Brown

Leon C. Brown 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: 4392739
    Abstract: A fuser roll apparatus in a toner fixing station associated with an electrophotographic or xerographic device for fixing a toner image onto a copy sheet by the application of heat and pressure. The fusing apparatus includes a pair of fuser rollers and a linkage mechanism coupling a control cam and the fuser rollers. An electromechanically operated latch, in the form of a solenoid, is interposed in the linkage mechanism coupling the control cam and fuser rollers. So long as the solenoid is energized, the opening of the rollers is controlled solely by the rotation of the cam. If the solenoid is deenergized however, the rollers are maintained in an open position. Thereafter, until the solenoid is again energized, the rollers remain open and are unaffected by rotational movement of the cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1983
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Leon C. Brown, Jesse L. Campbell, Uscoe J. Fitts, Willard L. Gudgel
  • Patent number: 4363549
    Abstract: A fuser roll apparatus in a toner fixing station associated with an electrophotographic or xerographic device for fixing a toner image onto a copy sheet by the application of heat and pressure. The fusing apparatus includes a pair of fuser rollers and a linkage mechanism coupling a control cam and the fuser rollers. An electromechanically operated latch, in the form of a solenoid, is interposed in the linkage mechanism coupling the control cam and fuser rollers. So long as the solenoid is energized, the opening of the rollers is controlled solely by the rotation of the cam. If the solenoid is deenergized however, the rollers are maintained in an open position. Thereafter, until the solenoid is again energized, the rollers remain open and are unaffected by rotational movement of the cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1982
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Leon C. Brown, Jesse L. Campbell, Uscoe J. Fitts, Willard L. Gudgel
  • Patent number: 4320957
    Abstract: A corona wire, either directly or through an auxiliary element, engages the spiral thread of a screw-like stub member mounted on the housing of a corona charging apparatus to provide a simple, low cost and easily assembled corona wire adjuster. The stub member is mounted on the housing such that it may be rotationally driven much like a screw, but, unlike a screw, will not move into or out of the housing as it is rotated. Rotation of the stub member causes the corona wire to move in a direction parallel to the stub member axis in response to the thread engagement and thereby change its position relative to a photoconductor surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1982
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventors: Leon C. Brown, Stanley L. Pond
  • Patent number: 4279504
    Abstract: A xerographic copier having a removable, multifunction paper cassette, the cassette functioning as the copier's paper supply, the copier's exit tray and the copier's single-sheet bypass entry station. The cassette is held at an acute angle to the horizontal, and includes a substantially solid upper wall whose lower portion includes a slot which exposes the paper supply stack's top sheet to paper feed roller means. Paper is fed, one sheet at a time, to a paper path which includes a transfer station and a hot roll fusing station. This paper path traverses a loop, such that the finished copy comes to rest on the solid upper wall of the cassette. The lower portion of this solid upper wall includes a movable paper gate which, when closed, allows multiple copies to be stacked before removal by the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1981
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Leon C. Brown, Uscoe J. Fitts, David R. Polakowski
  • Patent number: 4110068
    Abstract: An electrophotographic copier having a hot roll fuser assembly. This assembly is slidably supported by a pair of rails. When the fuser assembly is locked into its fusing position, within the copier, it is relatively inaccessible for purposes of inspection, cleaning and/or jam clearance. In its withdrawn, inoperative position, a single manually operable jam clearance handle is operator accessible. Manual actuation of this handle, from a folded to an extended position, is effective to move both a sheet peeler or detach bar, and a sheet transport channel away from the fusing nip. When the handle is moved back to its folded position, the sheet detach bar and transport channel are accurately positioned, and locked in an operative position closely adjacent to the downstream side of the fusing nip, so as to aid in release of the sheet from the fusing nip, and to guide the sheet away from this nip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1978
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Leon C. Brown, Earl G. Edwards, Charles E. Peterson, Peter G. Robinson, Clement C. Wilson