Patents by Inventor Lotfi Belkhir
Lotfi Belkhir 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).
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Patent number: 7595915Abstract: An apparatus for the turning of pages of a bound book, comprising a fixture to hold the book, a paper fluffer for blowing air between individual pages of the held book and displacing at least a top page of the held book upwardly, and an air plenum positioned above the top page of the book for grasping and turning the top page by application of a vacuum to the top page.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2003Date of Patent: September 29, 2009Assignee: Kirtas Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Lotfi Belkhir
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Publication number: 20090180085Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for a flat platen imaging system. The system includes, either alone or in combination, a movable book support to facilitate the segregation and imaging of individual pages of an oversize book or similar bound document, and a user interface and visual indicators to facilitate imaging of a plurality of documents or document sections placed on the platen.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2009Publication date: July 16, 2009Applicant: Kirtas Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth J. Rieck, Lotfi Belkhir, Brian R. Hughner, Kevin W. Rodas
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Patent number: 7557965Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for the viewing and acquisition of images of a document such as a book. The apparatus allows for the automated and reliable turning of pages of the document, while supporting it in a manner to facilitate imaging of the facing pages. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a base for supporting the operative assemblies and components of the apparatus, a cradle assembly for holding a book, and a page turning assembly for presenting the pages to be imaged in seriatim. The method employed by the present invention involves the steps of turning pages, clamping pages and imaging, wherein the various components of the apparatus are operated to carry out the page turning and imaging functions in sequence.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2003Date of Patent: July 7, 2009Assignee: Kirtas Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Thomas N. Taylor, Lotfi Belkhir
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Publication number: 20080316551Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for the viewing and acquisition of images of a document such as a book, including the automated and reliable turning of pages of the document, while supporting it in a manner to facilitate viewing or imaging of the facing pages.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2008Publication date: December 25, 2008Applicant: Kirtas Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Thomas N. Taylor, Lotfi Belkhir, Ahmed-Mohsen Shehata, Kevin Maurer, Brian Kehoe, Jeffrey C. Blood, Randall Ryon, Robert Savage, Kenneth J. Rieck
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Patent number: 7085003Abstract: Utilization of fringe field tailoring pixels with sub-pixel patterns are introduced into the bitmap of an image to obtain local control of the normal and tangential electric fields and thereby improve image development. These fringe field tailoring pixels embody multiple sub-pixel pulses so as to alter the electric fields as developed upon the photoreceptor. These fringe field tailoring pixels compensate for the otherwise undesirable electric fringe fields as found on the edge of image shapes. These undesirable fringe fields pull toner away from image edges and cause other “slow toner” effects, particularly in high speed systems. Application of fringe field tailoring pixels with their sub-pixel patterns to the edge of an image shape modifies the fringe electric fields so as to encourage pulling toner onto the photoreceptor at the image edge. This ensures adequate toner supply to all parts of the image so that the desired printing pixels will print as intended.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 1999Date of Patent: August 1, 2006Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventor: Lotfi Belkhir
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Publication number: 20040216035Abstract: It is desirable to be able to gather material relating to a desired subject matter, which might stem from different sources or locations, and create one complete document for a consumer. This invention provides systems and methods for selecting at least one content element and selecting at least one, for each selected content element, content portion of that content elements and organizing the content portions into a customized document. This invention provides information regarding the content portion selected by the consumer and provides the customized document to the consumer.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2003Publication date: October 28, 2004Inventor: Lotfi BELKHIR
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Publication number: 20040047009Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for the viewing and acquisition of images of a document such as a book. The apparatus allows for the automated and reliable turning of pages of the document, while supporting it in a manner to facilitate imaging of the facing pages. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a base for supporting the operative assemblies and components of the apparatus, a cradle assembly for holding a book, and a page turning assembly for presenting the pages to be imaged in seriatim. The method employed by the present invention involves the steps of turning pages, clamping pages and imaging, wherein the various components of the apparatus are operated to carry out the page turning and imaging functions in sequence.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2003Publication date: March 11, 2004Inventors: Thomas N. Taylor, Lotfi Belkhir
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Publication number: 20030172795Abstract: An apparatus for the turning of pages of a bound book, comprising a fixture to hold the book, a paper fluffer for blowing air between individual pages of the held book and displacing at least a top page of the held book upwardly, and an air plenum positioned above the top page of the book for grasping and turning the top page by application of a vacuum to the top page.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2003Publication date: September 18, 2003Inventor: Lotfi Belkhir
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Patent number: 6574014Abstract: The pages of a book being held at least partially open may be sequentially automatically turned over from one side of the book to the other by pivoting an elongated arm from one side of the book toward the other and turning over individual pages with a vacuum head pivoting relative to the elongated pivoted arm about a different pivot axis as the elongated arm moves to reduce undesirable forces on the individual book pages being turned over. The vacuum head may initially pivot to bend the edge of an individual page up away from the book, to aid in page separation, and then subsequently differently pivot to help peel the same page gently away from the vacuum head and flip it over onto the opposite side of the book. This may be assisted by moving frictional belts on the vacuum head.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2001Date of Patent: June 3, 2003Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Barry P. Mandel, Lotfi Belkhir, William R. Burger, Thomas E. Sollitt, Scott Miller, Eduard Kaminker, Thomas N. Taylor
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Publication number: 20030063334Abstract: The pages of a book being held at least partially open may be sequentially automatically turned over from one side of the book to the other by pivoting an elongated arm from one side of the book toward the other and turning over individual pages with a vacuum head pivoting relative to the elongated pivoted arm about a different pivot axis as the elongated arm moves to reduce undesirable forces on the individual book pages being turned over. The vacuum head may initially pivot to bend the edge of an individual page up away from the book, to aid in page separation, and then subsequently differently pivot to help peel the same page gently away from the vacuum head and flip it over onto the opposite side of the book. This may be assisted by moving frictional belts on the vacuum head.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2001Publication date: April 3, 2003Applicant: Xerox Corporation.Inventors: Barry P. Mandel, Lotfi Belkhir, William R. Burger, Thomas E. Sollitt, Scott Miller, Eduard Kaminker, Thomas N. Taylor
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Patent number: 6088562Abstract: An apparatus for developing in a development zone a latent image recorded on a surface, including; a housing defining a chamber storing at least a supply of toner therein. A donor roll disposed of at least partially in the chamber of said housing and spaced from the surface. The donor roll is adapted to rotate about a longitudinal axis to transport toner to the development zone in a region opposed from the surface. An elongated electrode member is mounted stationarily in the development zone and extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis. The electrode member includes a flexible thin sheet having a plurality of elongated wires with adjacent wires which are spaced from and substantially parallel to one another. The electrode member is positioned in the development zone and spaced between the surface and said donor roll.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 1998Date of Patent: July 11, 2000Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Lotfi Belkhir, Richard P. Germain