Patents by Inventor Philip Hart
Philip Hart 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: 11919320Abstract: A method for monitoring a characteristic of a printed image of a thermal transfer printer. The method comprises providing a ribbon and a substrate at a printing location of the thermal transfer printer. The method further comprises printing an image on the substrate at the printing location by transferring ink from a region of the ribbon in a printing operation, a negative image being formed on the region of ribbon. The method further comprises transporting the region of ribbon, by a ribbon transport system, from the printing location towards an imaging location along a ribbon transport path. The method further comprises when a characteristic of the ribbon transport meets a predetermined criterion, obtaining, by an image capture system, a ribbon image of the negative image. The method further comprises processing said ribbon image to generate data indicative of the characteristic of the printed image.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2022Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Videojet Technologies Inc.Inventors: Jeremy Ellis, Philip Hart, Gareth Walley
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Patent number: 11801689Abstract: A method of operating a transfer printer configured to transfer ink from a printer ribbon to a substrate which is transported along a predetermined substrate path adjacent to the printer. The printer comprises a tape drive comprising two tape drive motors, two tape spool supports on which said spools of ribbon may be mounted, each spool being drivable by a respective one of said motors. The printer further comprises a printhead being displaceable towards and away from the predetermined substrate path and being arranged to, during printing, contact one side of the ribbon to press an opposite side of the ribbon into contact with a substrate on the predetermined substrate path, and a printing surface. The printer further comprises a controller configured to control the tape drive to transport ribbon between the first and second ribbon spools.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2018Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Inventors: Jeremy Ellis, Philip Hart
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Patent number: 11745528Abstract: There is provided a tape drive. The tape drive comprises first and second spool supports on which spools of tape may be mounted. The tape drive further comprises an optical sensing system. The optical sensing system comprises a radiation emitter and a radiation detector, said radiation emitter and radiation detector having a fixed positional relationship in use with respect to said first and second spool supports. The tape drive further comprises a controller. The controller is operative to, energise the radiation emitter to emit radiation, and determine a diameter data indicative of a diameter of a spool mounted on one of the first and second spool supports based on a radiation signal generated by the detector.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2018Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Inventors: Gareth Walley, Martin McNestry, Gary Pfeffer, Philip Hart
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Patent number: 11738567Abstract: A method of operating a thermal transfer printer, the thermal transfer printer comprising first and second spool supports each being configured to support a spool of ribbon; a ribbon drive configured to cause movement of ribbon from the first spool support to the second spool support along a predetermined ribbon path; and a printhead. The printhead is moveable towards and away from a printing surface, and, during printing, is configured to selectively transfer ink from the ribbon to a substrate as the substrate and printhead are moved relative to one another at a print speed. The method comprising causing relative movement between the ribbon and the printhead at a ribbon speed. A relative speed of movement between the ribbon and the substrate during printing is controlled based upon a force exerted upon the ribbon by the printhead during a printing operation, and/or a parameter indicative of an area of contact between a portion of the printhead and a portion of the printing surface.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2019Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Inventors: Philip Hart, Jeremy Ellis
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Publication number: 20220227121Abstract: A method for monitoring a characteristic of a printed image of a thermal transfer printer. The method comprises providing a ribbon and a substrate at a printing location of the thermal transfer printer. The method further comprises printing an image on the substrate at the printing location by transferring ink from a region of the ribbon in a printing operation, a negative image being formed on the region of ribbon. The method further comprises transporting the region of ribbon, by a ribbon transport system, from the printing location towards an imaging location along a ribbon transport path. The method further comprises when a characteristic of the ribbon transport meets a predetermined criterion, obtaining, by an image capture system, a ribbon image of the negative image. The method further comprises processing said ribbon image to generate data indicative of the characteristic of the printed image.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2022Publication date: July 21, 2022Inventors: Jeremy Ellis, Philip Hart, Gareth Walley
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Patent number: 11305665Abstract: Some embodiments provide a system to protect an electric vehicle charging infrastructure. An electric vehicle charging site may receive Alternating Current (“AC”) power from a power grid and provides Direct Current (“DC”) power to electric vehicles. A sensor spoof observer and controller may receive information from at least two AC current sensors, wherein the observer calculates a grid voltage disturbance using a structure based on an AC filter dynamic model. A system stability assurance platform may: (i) monitor current and voltage to detect resonance, (ii) identify impedance associated with a detected resonance, and (iii) apply a result of an analysis of the identified impedance to an adaptive damping control algorithm. A user interface platform may then provide information about a component of the charging infrastructure being cyber-attacked to a distribution system operator via a graphical user interface display.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2019Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Hanchao Liu, Honggang Monten Wang, Philip Hart, Yichao Zhang
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Patent number: 11260650Abstract: A method for monitoring a characteristic of a printed image of a thermal transfer printer. The method comprises providing a ribbon and a substrate at a printing location of the thermal transfer printer. The method further comprises printing an image on the substrate at the printing location by transferring ink from a region of the ribbon in a printing operation, a negative image being formed on the region of ribbon. The method further comprises transporting the region of ribbon, by a ribbon transport system, from the printing location towards an imaging location along a ribbon transport path. The method further comprises when a characteristic of the ribbon transport meets a predetermined criterion, obtaining, by an image capture system, a ribbon image of the negative image. The method further comprises processing said ribbon image to generate data indicative of the characteristic of the printed image.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2018Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: VIDEOJET TECHNOLOGIES INC.Inventors: Jeremy Ellis, Philip Hart, Gareth Walley
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Patent number: 10988276Abstract: A labelling machine comprises a supply spool support for supporting a supply spool comprising label stock comprising a web and a plurality of labels attached to the web and which are separable from the web; a take-up spool support adapted to take up a portion of web; a motive means configured to propel the web along a web path from the supply spool support towards the take up spool support. A sensor has a transmitter portion and a receiver portion, the receiver portion comprising a plurality of receivers, the transmitter portion and receiver portion are configured to receive a portion of the label stock therebetween, and the plurality of receivers are each configured to produce a respective sensor signal which is a function of a property of a portion of label stock at a plurality of positions spaced from one another in a direction non-parallel to the web path.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2018Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: VIDEOJET TECHNOLOGIES INC.Inventors: Martin McNestry, Gary Pfeffer, Philip Hart, James Butcher, Steven Buckby
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Patent number: 10915277Abstract: A printing machine comprising a processor and a memory storing computer readable instructions. The computer readable instructions are arranged to cause the processor to generate access request data for processing by an access control server, receive access response data responsive to the access request data, process the access response data to determine a first print limit indicated by the access response data, and update, responsive to processing the access response data, an access status in the memory to indicate a second print limit.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2017Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: VIDEOJET TECHNOLOGIES INC.Inventors: Steven John Buckby, Gary Pfeffer, Jeremy Ellis, Philip Hart
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Patent number: 10875335Abstract: A thermal transfer printer comprising: first and second spool supports each being configured to support a spool of ribbon; a ribbon drive configured to cause movement of ribbon from the first spool support to the second spool support; a printhead configured to selectively transfer ink from the ribbon to a substrate, the printhead pressing the print ribbon and substrate together against a print roller; a substrate drive configured to cause movement of a substrate past the printhead; a sensor configured to monitor rotation of the print roller and generate a signal indicative thereof; and a controller configured to determine a measure of movement of the substrate and/or ribbon past the print roller based on the signal output by the sensor.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2014Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: VIDEOJET TECHNOLOGIES INC.Inventors: Martin McNestry, Philip Hart, Gary Pfeffer
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Publication number: 20200282854Abstract: Some embodiments provide a system to protect an electric vehicle charging infrastructure. An electric vehicle charging site may receive Alternating Current (“AC”) power from a power grid and provides Direct Current (“DC”) power to electric vehicles. A sensor spoof observer and controller may receive information from at least two AC current sensors, wherein the observer calculates a grid voltage disturbance using a structure based on an AC filter dynamic model. A system stability assurance platform may: (i) monitor current and voltage to detect resonance, (ii) identify impedance associated with a detected resonance, and (iii) apply a result of an analysis of the identified impedance to an adaptive damping control algorithm. A user interface platform may then provide information about a component of the charging infrastructure being cyber-attacked to a distribution system operator via a graphical user interface display.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2019Publication date: September 10, 2020Inventors: Hanchao LIU, Honggang Monten WANG, Philip HART, Yichao ZHANG
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Publication number: 20200130375Abstract: A method for monitoring a characteristic of a printed image of a thermal transfer printer. The method comprises providing a ribbon and a substrate at a printing location of the thermal transfer printer. The method further comprises printing an image on the substrate at the printing location by transferring ink from a region of the ribbon in a printing operation, a negative image being formed on the region of ribbon. The method further comprises transporting the region of ribbon, by a ribbon transport system, from the printing location towards an imaging location along a ribbon transport path. The method further comprises when a characteristic of the ribbon transport meets a predetermined criterion, obtaining, by an image capture system, a ribbon image of the negative image. The method further comprises processing said ribbon image to generate data indicative of the characteristic of the printed image.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2018Publication date: April 30, 2020Inventors: Jeremy Ellis, Philip Hart, Gareth Walley
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Publication number: 20200114671Abstract: There is provided a tape drive. The tape drive comprises first and second spool supports on which spools of tape may be mounted. The tape drive further comprises an optical sensing system. The optical sensing system comprises a radiation emitter and a radiation detector, said radiation emitter and radiation detector having a fixed positional relationship in use with respect to said first and second spool supports. The tape drive further comprises a controller. The controller is operative to, energise the radiation emitter to emit radiation, and determine a diameter data indicative of a diameter of a spool mounted on one of the first and second spool supports based on a radiation signal generated by the detector.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2018Publication date: April 16, 2020Inventors: Gareth Walley, Martin McNestry, Gary Pfeffer, Philip Hart
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Publication number: 20200114641Abstract: A method of operating a transfer printer configured to transfer ink from a printer ribbon to a substrate which is transported along a predetermined substrate path adjacent to the printer. The printer comprises a tape drive comprising two tape drive motors, two tape spool supports on which said spools of ribbon may be mounted, each spool being drivable by a respective one of said motors. The printer further comprises a printhead being displaceable towards and away from the predetermined substrate path and being arranged to, during printing, contact one side of the ribbon to press an opposite side of the ribbon into contact with a substrate on the predetermined substrate path, and a printing surface. The printer further comprises a controller configured to control the tape drive to transport ribbon between the first and second ribbon spools.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2018Publication date: April 16, 2020Inventors: Jeremy Ellis, Philip Hart
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Patent number: 10569566Abstract: A method of operating a thermal transfer printer, the thermal transfer printer comprising: first and second spool supports each being configured to support a spool of ribbon; a ribbon drive configured to cause movement of ribbon from the first spool support to the second spool support along a predetermined ribbon path; and a printhead, the printhead being a corner edge printhead. The printhead is configured to selectively transfer ink from the ribbon to a substrate as the substrate and printhead are moved relative to one another at a print speed. The method comprises transferring ink from the ribbon to the substrate when the print speed is less than 40 millimetres per second.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2015Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: VIDEOJET TECHNOLOGIES INC.Inventors: Philip Hart, Jeremy Ellis
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Publication number: 20190291462Abstract: A method of operating a thermal transfer printer, the thermal transfer printer comprising first and second spool supports each being configured to support a spool of ribbon; a ribbon drive configured to cause movement of ribbon from the first spool support to the second spool support along a predetermined ribbon path; and a printhead. The printhead is moveable towards and away from a printing surface, and, during printing, is configured to selectively transfer ink from the ribbon to a substrate as the substrate and printhead are moved relative to one another at a print speed. The method comprising causing relative movement between the ribbon and the printhead at a ribbon speed. A relative speed of movement between the ribbon and the substrate during printing is controlled based upon a force exerted upon the ribbon by the printhead during a printing operation, and/or a parameter indicative of an area of contact between a portion of the printhead and a portion of the printing surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2019Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: Philip HART, Jeremy ELLIS
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Patent number: 10328715Abstract: A method of operating a transfer printer (1), the transfer printer comprising first and second spool supports each being configured to support a spool (3,4) of ribbon (2), a ribbon drive configured to cause movement of ribbon (2) from the first spool support to the second spool support along a predetermined ribbon path, and a printhead (7), the printhead being configured to selectively transfer ink from the ribbon to a substrate as the substrate is moved relative to the printhead in a direction of substrate movement. The method comprises driving the ribbon in a direction parallel to the direction of substrate movement, printing a first plurality of images onto a first respective plurality of substrates, driving the ribbon in a direction opposite to the direction of substrate movement, driving the ribbon in the direction parallel to the direction of substrate movement, and printing a second plurality of images onto a second respective plurality of substrates.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2016Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: VIDEOJET TECHNOLOGIES INC.Inventors: Steven John Buckby, Philip Hart
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Patent number: 10315437Abstract: A method of operating a thermal transfer printer, the thermal transfer printer comprising first and second spool supports (3a, 4a) each being configured to support a spool of ribbon (3,4); a ribbon drive (3b, 4b) configured to cause movement of ribbon from the first spool support to the second spool support along a predetermined ribbon path; and a printhead (7). The printhead (7) is moveable towards and away from a printing surface, and, during printing, is configured to selectively transfer ink from the ribbon to a substrate as the substrate and printhead are moved relative to one another at a print speed (V-substrate). The method comprising causing relative movement between the ribbon and the printhead at a ribbon speed (V-ribbon).Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2015Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: VIDEOJET TECHNOLOGIES INC.Inventors: Philip Hart, Jeremy Ellis
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Publication number: 20190102124Abstract: A printing machine comprising a processor and a memory storing computer readable instructions. The computer readable instructions are arranged to cause the processor to generate access request data for processing by an access control server, receive access response data responsive to the access request data, process the access response data to determine a first print limit indicated by the access response data, and update, responsive to processing the access response data, an access status in the memory to indicate a second print limit.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2017Publication date: April 4, 2019Inventors: Steven John BUCKBY, Gary PFEFFER, Jeremy ELLIS, Philip HART
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Publication number: 20190039771Abstract: A labelling machine comprises a supply spool support for supporting a supply spool comprising label stock comprising a web and a plurality of labels attached to the web and which are separable from the web; a take-up spool support adapted to take up a portion of web; a motive means configured to propel the web along a web path from the supply spool support towards the take up spool support. A sensor has a transmitter portion and a receiver portion, the receiver portion comprising a plurality of receivers, the transmitter portion and receiver portion are configured to receive a portion of the label stock therebetween, and the plurality of receivers are each configured to produce a respective sensor signal which is a function of a property of a portion of label stock at a plurality of positions spaced from one another in a direction non-parallel to the web path.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2018Publication date: February 7, 2019Inventors: Martin McNestry, Gary Pfeffer, Philip Hart, James Butcher, Steven Buckby