Patents Represented by Attorney Steven J. Grossman
  • Patent number: 7702267
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device or method which may reduce starvation in the transfer of an image forming substance to a developing location within an image forming apparatus. The device may include a first roller having a surface which is capable of supplying an image forming substance to a developing location. A second roller may then be included having a surface in rotating contact with the first roller. The second roller is capable of supplying image forming substance to the first roller. The second roller may comprise foam having a specified porosity, electrical conductivity, and/or be configured to rotate in a desired direction and/or desired speed relative to the first roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Stirling Campbell, Scott Richard Castle, Gary Allen Denton, Jarrett Clark Gayne, Jason Edward Gordon, Royden Thomas Kern, Julie Ann Gordon Whitney
  • Patent number: 7695882
    Abstract: The present invention relates to controlling the mass flow of toner in an image forming device or a toner cartridge. The toner composition includes extra particulate additives including a conductive additive. The extra particulate additives may also include relatively small silica particles or relatively large silica.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Moreland Broce, Robert Joseph Firmature, Yueping Fu, Matthew David Heid, Lance Tisdale Hoshiko, James Craig Minor, Karen Eileen Zrebiec
  • Patent number: 7627265
    Abstract: A seal assembly may be used to seal an interface between a roller and a frame in an image forming apparatus. The seal assembly may include an end seal configured to seal an end of a doctor blade in contact with the roller and a roll seal configured to seal a portion of an outer surface of the roller. The roll seal may include an extension located between the end seal and the roller. The roll seal may also include a toe portion that engages the developer frame to resist movement of the roll seal when the developer roll rotates against the roll seal. The seal assembly may be used in an image forming apparatus including, but not limited to, printers, copiers, faxes, multifunctional devices or all-in-one devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jarrett Clark Gayne, Nicholas Matthew Sullivan
  • Patent number: 7623807
    Abstract: The present invention relates to seals which may be used in an image forming apparatus. The seals may prevent the leakage of image forming materials, e.g. as between a blade or a roll and an image forming apparatus housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: James Anthany Carter, II, Jarrett Clark Gayne, Matthew Thomas Kerley, Michael David Lattuca, Benjamin Keith Newman, Keith Seaman
  • Patent number: 7561820
    Abstract: The present invention relates to seals which may be used in an image forming apparatus. The seals may prevent the leakage of image forming materials, e.g. as between a blade and an image forming apparatus housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jarrett C. Gayne, Nicholas Matthew Sullivan
  • Patent number: 7532843
    Abstract: The present invention relates to engagement or transfer of an image forming substance within a reservoir of an image forming apparatus. This may be achieved by a device such as a paddle that may include an additional component for engagement or transfer of the image forming substance. The component may be, for example, wire material. The component may also include a body section and an axially aligned projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Royden Thomas Kern, David Lee Merrifield
  • Patent number: 7519308
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device and method for removal of image forming deposits between two contacting surfaces in an image forming device or image forming device cartridge. The method includes positioning an insert between the contacting surfaces which insert is capable of removing the deposits when the insert is inserted or removed from the device. The deposits may include those that may ultimately adhere or weld to the surfaces of the device during shipping and/or storage and upon exposure to differential environmental conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Inventors: Peter Wallace Bracken, Donn Duane Bryant, Scott Richard Castle, Kevin Scott Kennedy, Abigail Susanne Marsh, David Lawrence Peter, Donald Wayne Stafford
  • Patent number: 7505705
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an assembly or method for use with an image forming device. The device may include an image transfer device capable of receiving an extraneous electrostatic charge from a source. A discharge path may then be configured to remove all or a portion of the extraneous electrostatic charge from the image transfer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Scott Overall, Gregory Lawrence Ream
  • Patent number: 7435523
    Abstract: Chemically prepared toner is manufactured by aggregation in which the binder resin is a latex copolymer having a methacrylic acid ester of long chain, saturated alkyl, which may be lauryl methacrylate. This binder resin has a small amount by weight of acrylic acid component and has other nonionic components, which may be styrene and butyl acrylate moieties. Aggregation is carried out in an aqueous medium, which may have organic solvent components. The aggregation is then heated, and because of the selection of the binder resin to have the long chain ester, the heating step has minimal effect on particle size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: John Melvin Olson, Kasturi Rangan Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 7433632
    Abstract: A toner feeding device and method to supply toner from a toner reservoir to a selected location in the printer such as a toner supply roll. The toner feeding device may contact with a portion of an inner wall of a toner reservoir and may flex and may subsequently recover to convey toner particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Alan Askren, Ronald Willard Baker, Lenci Robert Kappes, Sean David Smith, Kirk Lawrence Stechschulte
  • Patent number: 7424253
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method that is capable of adjusting the position of a developing agent metering device. Developing agent may therefore be metered in an image forming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Willard Baker, Marc Cousoulis, Michael Craig Leemhuis, Gregory Lawrence Ream
  • Patent number: 7387861
    Abstract: This invention provides an organic photoconductor which does not experience end-seal wear in normal use. This invention provides charge transport formulation that is easily prepared and coated by standard, dip-coating methods. This is realized by addition of a small amount of poly(methyl methacrylate-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate). Commercially available, 8? spherical particles are used. These microspheres are insoluble in common organic solvents, but are readily dispersed into polycarbonate-based charge transport formulations. A photoconductor roller is mounted in pressure engagement with two end seals, each on opposite side of the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventor: David Glenn Black
  • Patent number: 7358015
    Abstract: Plasticizers in a charge transfer layer to reduce surface cracking and crazing having a hydrocarbon chain, attached to a hindered phenol containing triazole or triazine moiety. Plasticizers found useful for this application can be used in a concentration (by weight of the charge transfer layer) in the order of magnitude of 10% to about 25%. The plasticizer additive may also be used in combination with other known plasticizers such as those containing a 2-ethylhexyl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Thomas Bellino, Catherine Mailhé Randolph, Kasturi Rangan Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 7356278
    Abstract: The present invention relates to printing devices and particularly to devices and a method for the reduction of contamination on a charging device. A cleaning member is supplied that has a cleaning material affixed to a substrate. The cleaning material is positioned to contact the charge roller and the substrate is flexed to provide an elastic response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: James Christopher Piotrowski, Donald Wayne Stafford, DeAndre Stevis Thompson
  • Patent number: D560713
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Lexmark International
    Inventors: David Clay Blaine, James Anthany Carter, II, Thomas Eugene Pangburn, Dennis Matthew Puhalla, Matthew Lee Rogers
  • Patent number: D627389
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Alan Askren, Peter Alden Bayerle, Donn Duane Bryant, Jason Paul Hale, Michael Craig Leemhuis, Steven Wayne Parish