Patents by Inventor Richard P. Germain

Richard P. Germain 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: 9114609
    Abstract: An inkjet printer includes an electrode in either a printhead or an image receiving member that is operatively connected to a waveform generator. During operation, a controller operates the waveform generator to generate an electrostatic field between the printhead and the image receiving member during operation of inkjets in the printhead to eject ink drops. The controller operates the waveform generator to reduce an amplitude of the electrostatic field while the ink drops travel toward the image receiving member during a time when satellite ink drops can be formed from the ejected ink drops. The controller subsequently operates the waveform generator to generate the electrostatic field while the ink drops are in flight after formation of the satellite to accelerate the ink drops and satellites towards the image receiving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Folkins, Jing Zhou, Richard P. Germain
  • Patent number: 8746848
    Abstract: Systems and methods of ejecting ink drops from an inkjet printer are disclosed. The systems and methods can include a printhead with one or more actuators with associated nozzles and membranes. A voltage waveform can be applied to the actuators to fill the actuators with a volume of ink and eject the ink through the nozzles as ink drops. The voltage waveform can have associated pre-fill voltage to fill the actuator with ink and a firing voltage to eject the ink. The actuator membranes can have multi-height dimples to protect the membranes from contacting electrodes and reduce the electric field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew W Hays, Richard P Germain, Joseph A Degroot, Peter J Nystrom, Jun Ma
  • Patent number: 8393713
    Abstract: Systems and methods of ejecting ink drops from an inkjet printer are disclosed. The systems and methods can include a printhead with one or more actuators with associated nozzles and membranes. A voltage waveform can be applied to the actuators to fill the actuators with a volume of ink and eject the ink through the nozzles as ink drops. The voltage waveform can have associated pre-fill voltage to fill the actuator with ink and a firing voltage to eject the ink. The actuator membranes can have multi-height dimples to protect the membranes from contacting electrodes and reduce the electric field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew W. Hays, Richard P. Germain, Joseph A. Degroot, Peter J. Nystrom, Jun Ma
  • Patent number: 8147055
    Abstract: A baffle for use in a printer to protect a printhead from particulates associated with a printing medium. The baffle including a member, incorporated within the printer, that is positioned below the printing medium and above the printhead. The member having a top surface that is angled and extends a width of the printing medium and an adhesive material disposed on the angled top surface, the adhesive material. The angled top surface being positioned to generally face toward the printing medium to trap the printing medium particulates on the adhesive material of the angled top surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A. Cellura, Antonio St. C. L. Williams, Richard P. Germain
  • Publication number: 20100321432
    Abstract: Systems and methods of ejecting ink drops from an inkjet printer are disclosed. The systems and methods can include a printhead with one or more actuators with associated nozzles and membranes A voltage waveform can be applied to the actuators to fill the actuators with a volume of ink and eject the ink through the nozzles as ink drops. The voltage waveform can have associated pre-fill voltage to fill the actuator with ink and a firing voltage to eject the ink. The actuator membranes can have multi-height dimples to protect the membranes from contacting electrodes and reduce the electric field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrew W. HAYS, Richard P. Germain, Joseph A. Degroot, Peter J. Nystrom, Jun Ma
  • Publication number: 20090135225
    Abstract: A printing medium baffle for protecting printheads printing on an image transfer member from particulates associated with the printing medium. The baffle may have one or more adhesive surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark A. CELLURA, Antonio St. C. L. WILLIAMS, Richard P. GERMAIN
  • Patent number: 7512357
    Abstract: An image forming device includes marking material dispensers for disposing an image on an imaging drum surface. The image forming device further includes plural particle removal devices comprising first and second particle removal devices coupled to a vacuum source. The first particle removal device includes a first vacuum port positioned as close as possible to an included image transfer site. The second particle removal device includes a second vacuum port positioned as close as possible to the marking material dispensers. The first and second vacuum ports are positioned proximate to the imaging drum surface to provide respective first and second air flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A. Cellura, Donald J. Drake, Elliott A. Eklund, Richard P. Germain, Scott J. Phillips, Robert M. Rottman, Elias Panides, Barry D. Reeves
  • Patent number: 7506975
    Abstract: A printing medium baffle for protecting printheads printing on an image transfer member from particulates associated with the printing medium. The baffle may have one or more adhesive surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A. Cellura, Antonio St. C.L. Williams, Richard P. Germain
  • Publication number: 20070040886
    Abstract: An image forming device includes marking material dispensers for disposing an image on an imaging drum surface. The image forming device further includes plural particle removal devices comprising first and second particle removal devices coupled to a vacuum source. The first particle removal device includes a first vacuum port positioned as close as possible to an included image transfer site. The second particle removal device includes a second vacuum port positioned as close as possible to the marking material dispensers. The first and second vacuum ports are positioned proximate to the imaging drum surface to provide respective first and second air flows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Publication date: February 22, 2007
    Inventors: Mark A. Cellura, Donald J. Drake, Elliott Eklund, Richard P. Germain, Scott Phillips, Robert M. Rottman, Elias Panides, Barry Reeves
  • Patent number: 6088562
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Lotfi Belkhir, Richard P. Germain
  • Patent number: 5742884
    Abstract: An apparatus for developing a latent image recorded on a surface, the apparatus includes a housing defining a chamber storing a supply of developer material including toner; a toner donor member spaced from the surface and being adapted to transport toner to a region opposed from the surface; a magnetic brush for conveying the developer material in the chamber of the housing onto the donor member; and a rigid planar porous electrode member spaced near the surface of a donor roll, the electrode member being electrically biased to detach toner from the donor member as to form a toner cloud for developing the latent image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Richard P. Germain, Mark J. Hirsch, Steven C. Hart
  • Patent number: 5583629
    Abstract: A color electrophotographic printing machine in which latent images having a resolution of at least 1.44 million pixels per square inch are recorded on a photoconductive member. Different color toner powder images are developed in superimposed registration with one another to form a composite multicolor image. The composite multicolor image is transferred from the photoconductive member to a receiving member. Toner particles which have a selected pigmentation and small volume average diameters are used to minimize curl of the receiving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Grace T. Brewington, Richard P. Germain, Paul C. Julien, Ronald J. Koch
  • Patent number: 5557393
    Abstract: An electrostatographic imaging process includes forming an electrostatic latent image on an image forming device, developing the electrostatic latent image on the image forming device with at least one developer containing carrier particles and a blend of two or more compatible toner compositions, and transferring the toner image to a receiving substrate and fixing it thereto. Among the compatible toner compositions that may be selected are toner compositions having blend compatibility components coated on an external surface of the toner particles and particulate toner compositions containing therein blend compatibility components or passivated pigments. Electrostatographic imaging devices, including a tri-level imaging device and a hybrid scavengeless development imaging device, are also provided for carrying out the described process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Nancy B. Goodman, Richard P. Germain, Paul C. Julien, Susan J. Kremer, Robert J. Gruber
  • Patent number: 5521677
    Abstract: A solid area process control for scavengeless development using a transport roll-to-donor roll DC bias as a control parameter in an electrophotographic printing machine is disclosed. The process develops a latent image of a solid area toner patch on a photoconductive belt. Once the patch is developed, the patch is measured with an infrared reflectance type sensor. The measured development mass is compared to a target value stored in the machine memory. A test of the comparison is performed by the process. If the result of the test is less than the target value, the transport roll-to-donor roll bias is increased and the process ends. If the result is more than the target value, the transport roll-to-donor roll bias is decreased and the process ends, otherwise the process stops because the measured development is acceptable. The process is run at predetermined intervals to maintain constant output from the electrophotographic printing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Grace T. Brewington, Richard P. Germain
  • Patent number: 5480751
    Abstract: Deposition of background toner particles during tri-level image transfer from an imaging member to a final substrate is minimized. A front erase step is used prior to pretransfer corona treatment in order to reduce the background voltage level to substantially the residual voltage level of the photoreceptor imaging member used in the imaging process. When the image is subjected to pretransfer corona positively charged black and color background toner particles become negative and wrong sign black toner becomes more negative. Using negative transfer corona effects transfer of toner forming the black and color images and inhibits transfer of background toner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: James E. Williams, Richard P. Germain
  • Patent number: 5420672
    Abstract: A scavengeless/non-interactive development system using wire electrodes in a development nip between a donor member and a charge retentive surface. The wire electrodes are electrically biased for causing toner particles to form powder clouds in the development nip. Uniform powder clouds are ensured by effecting rubbing contact between the toner particles on a donor roll and a conductive surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Grace T. Brewington, Norman W. Czubaj, Jr., Richard P. Germain, William H. Wayman
  • Patent number: 5311258
    Abstract: An apparatus in which contaminants are on-the-fly removed from an electrode wire positioned between a donor roller and a photoconductive surface. A magnetic roller is adapted to transport developer material to the donor roller. The electrode wire is electrostatically biased with respect to the donor roller to remove contaminants therefrom. The electrostatic wire bias polarity corresponds with the contaminant charge polarity to repel the contaminants from the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Grace T. Brewington, John Buranicz, Richard P. Germain
  • Patent number: 5308732
    Abstract: A process for extending the life of magnetic brush cleaners comprising carrier particles, a magnetic roll, and biased detone roll with a scraper by treating said carrier particles with a metal oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Richard W. Bigelow, Grace T. Brewington, Kristen M. Natale, Richard P. Germain
  • Patent number: 5241358
    Abstract: The operating latitude of the tri-level xerographic process is improved by replacing the standard DC bias that is applied to one or both of the developer housings in conventional tri-level imaging with a chopped DC (CDC) developer bias. Chopped DC biasing is the alternate application of two discrete bias voltages to a developer strucrute in a periodic fashion at a given frequency, with the period of each cycle divided up between the two bias levels at a duty cycle of from 5-10% or 90-95% depending upon which of the two developer structures is being biased. In the case of the DAD developer structure the duty cycle of higher of the two biases is 5-10% and in the case of a CAD developer structure the duty cycle of higher of the two biases is 90-95%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Richard P. Germain, James E. Williams
  • Patent number: 5238769
    Abstract: A process for extending the life of magnetic brush cleaners comprising carrier particles, a magnetic roll, and biased detone roll with a scraper by treating said carrier particles with a metal oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Richard W. Bigelow, Grace T. Brewington, Kristen M. Natale, Richard P. Germain