Patents Assigned to Lexmark International, Inc.
  • Architectures for multi-functional image forming devices
    Patent number: 7675536
    Abstract: Multi-functional image forming devices that may include a base color laser printer comprising a front side, a back side, a top, and a bottom. The color laser printer may further include a media path, a laser printhead, and a plurality of image forming units. A scanning mechanism comprising a scan bed may be mounted on the top of the base color laser printer. In one embodiment, the media path includes a first section positioned within the base color laser printer and a second section that extends between the scanning mechanism and the top of the base color laser printer. In one embodiment, the scanning mechanism is pivotally mounted to the base color laser printer and movable to access the second section of the media path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Franklin Joseph Palumbo, Darin M. Gettelfinger, Francis Foldes, Jr., Steven David Sieckowski, Paul Douglas Horrall, Reginald Keith Bethel
  • Method for determining an optimal non-nucleating heater pulse for use with an ink jet printhead
    Patent number: 7673957
    Abstract: A method for use with an ink jet printhead having a plurality of nozzles, each of the plurality of nozzles having associated therewith a respective heating element, includes printing with the plurality of nozzles a test pattern while varying an energy of a respective heater pulse used to energize each respective heating element at each of a plurality of printhead carrier positions; scanning the test pattern with a reflectance sensor to generate reflectance data associated with the energy of the respective heater pulse used to energize each respective heating element at each of the plurality of printhead carrier positions; and determining an optimal non-nucleating heater pulse for use with the ink jet printhead based on the reflectance data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Lee Anderson, Patrick Laurence Kroger
  • Micro-miniature fluid jetting device
    Patent number: 7673988
    Abstract: A micro-fluid jetting device and a method of ejecting fluid mixtures onto a substrate. The micro-fluid jetting device includes a housing containing a logic circuit and fluid reservoirs for at least two different fluids. A micro-fluid ejection head is attached to a first end of the housing. The ejection head is in electrical communication with the logic circuit and the fluid reservoirs. At least two channel members are provided for directing fluid from the reservoirs to a plurality of fluid ejection nozzles in a nozzle plate member. The ejection nozzles for each of the at least two different fluids are arranged in the nozzle plate member so that adjacent ejection nozzles are in flow communication with different fluids. A power source in electrical connection with the micro-fluid ejection head is provided in the housing for activating the micro-fluid ejection head for jetting the fluids therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Christopher Hart
  • Flexible circuit corrosion protection
    Patent number: 7673970
    Abstract: A flexible circuit having improved corrosion resistance and method therefor. The flexible circuit includes, a polymeric support substrate, a conductive layer providing tracing attached to a first surface of the support substrate, and lead beams in electrical communication with the tracing for attaching the flexible circuit to a micro-fluid ejection head. A plasma polymerized layer is deposited on at least a portion of the conductive layer to reduce corrosion of the conductive layer. The plasma polymerized layer may also improve adhesion between the flexible circuit and an adhesive use to attach the flexible circuit to a structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig M. Bertelsen, Sean T. Weaver
  • Multipath toner patch sensor for use in an image forming device
    Patent number: 7676169
    Abstract: A toner patch sensor for use in an image forming device may be operated in different modes according to the color of the patch being sensed. The toner patch sensor may include a detector and a source adapted to transmit light that is reflected off a toner patch and towards the detector. The detected light may be specular and/or diffuse. A controller may selectively change the amount of one or both of the specular and diffuse light received by the detector. The source may include separate emitters for the specular and diffuse light, with the controller selectably turning off one of the emitters or selectably adjusting a ratio of illumination power between the emitters. Alternatively, the source may include a single emitter and an optical element to split light between specular light and diffuse light. Diffuse light may be blocked when sensing black toner patches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary A. Denton, Cary Patterson Ravitz, David Anthony Schneider
  • Micro-fluid ejection devices, methods for making micro-fluid ejection heads, and micro-fluid ejection head having high resistance thin film heaters
    Patent number: 7673972
    Abstract: Micro-fluid ejection devices, methods for making micro-fluid ejection heads, and micro-fluid ejection heads, including a micro-fluid ejection head. One such micro-fluid ejection head has relatively high resistance thin film heaters adjacent to a substrate. The thin film material comprises silicon, metal, and carbon (SiMC wherein M is a metal). Each thin film heater has a sheet resistance ranging from about 100 to about 600 ohms per square and a thickness ranging from about 100 to about 800 Angstroms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Yimin Guan, Stuart Jacobsen, Carl Edmond Sullivan
  • Extensible framework for parsing varying formats of print stream data
    Patent number: 7675644
    Abstract: A method of parsing print stream data including the steps of intercepting a data file from at least a portion of the print stream data, reading at least a portion of the data file and determining if said data file is of a format having subset formats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Bukowski, Mark B. Greene, Joel A. Jirak, Christopher R. Nash, John J. Roberts, Steven B. Rogers, Craig A. Rudolph, Carl J. Voss
  • Fuser assembly having heater element with spaced-apart features
    Patent number: 7672631
    Abstract: A heater element is provided adapted to heat a belt in a fuser assembly. The heater element comprises laterally spaced-apart first and second features. The first feature may have a first inner surface and the second feature may have a second inner surface facing the first inner surface. Preferably, at least a majority portion of at least one of the first and second inner surfaces is positioned at an oblique angle relative to a reference line extending substantially perpendicular to a path a substrate moves along as it passes through the fuser assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell Edward Lucas, Katherine Mary Mulloy, Jerry Wayne Smith, Fangsheng Wu
  • Bearing and locating member for a toner cartridge for use with an image forming device
    Patent number: 7672624
    Abstract: The present application is directed to toner cartridges with a bearing plate to locate and provide a bearing surface to one or more rotational members. The bearing plate may be positioned on an outer wall of a body of a toner cartridge. The bearing plate may include apertures to receive shafts of a series of rotational members. The bearing plate may locate the shafts relative to the body such that each is operatively connected together through a gear train. Bearing plate may also provide a bearing surface for the rotating shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jedediah Taylor Dawson, Matthew Thomas Kerley
  • Fuser assembly having heater element with spaced-apart features
    Patent number: 7671300
    Abstract: A heater element is provided adapted to heat a belt in a fuser assembly. The heater element comprises laterally spaced-apart features extending beyond a center section provided between the features. The features and center section are adapted to face an inner surface of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell Edward Lucas, Jason Romain, Jerry Wayne Smith, Casey Thomas Wilson
  • Inkjet printhead packaging tape for sealing nozzles
    Patent number: 7669978
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead has a body and a heater chip attached thereto. A nozzle plate on the heater chip includes a periphery and plurality of nozzle holes. An encapsulant bead lines the periphery of the nozzle plate and has a leading edge extending in a direction away from the periphery toward the plurality of nozzle holes. The boundary of the bead embodies an irregular shape and the leading edge exists less than about 500 microns from any of the nozzle holes. A tape attaches to the nozzle plate and covers each of the nozzle holes. The tape does not, however, touch the encapsulant bead. Preferably, the tape has a narrow width portion shorter than a width of the nozzle plate. In this manner, the encapsulant bead may encroach upon the nozzle holes closer than heretofore known. In turn, the heater chip can have reduced size and silicon savings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul T. Spivey, William B. Rose
  • RFID detection of air vent condition in inkjet printer supplies
    Patent number: 7667605
    Abstract: Embodiments of an ink tank are provided, which comprise an ink tank housing, at least one air vent disposed on the housing, and at least one RFID tag disposed on the housing, wherein the at lest one RFID tag is operable to communicate with an RFID reader. The ink tank further comprises a sealing component operable to close the air vent. The sealing component has conductivity operable to interfere with the communication of the RFID tag and the RFID reader such that the RFID tag is incapable of communicating with the RFID reader when the vent is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: John Yeung Conway, Bhaskar Ramakrishnan
  • Image forming media containing reflecting pigment
    Patent number: 7666562
    Abstract: The invention relates to an image forming media composition including an infrared reflecting pigment. The infrared reflecting pigment may be one that substantially absorbs light in the visible spectrum of about 400-700 nanometers and reflects greater than about 5.0% of light within the wavelength of about 700-2500 nanometers. The infrared reflecting pigment may therefore be combined with pigments such as carbon black in a toner formulation and provide the ability to control toner thickness level within a device such as a toner patch sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert Munn Carter, Jr., Thomas George Twardeck
  • Angular adjustment of MEMS torsion oscillator scanner
    Patent number: 7667723
    Abstract: Apparatus for aligning a scanner assembly in a laser scanning unit for an image forming device. A MEMS torsion oscillator is attached to a spherical base that is received by a socket in a laser scanning unit. The pivotal center of the scanner coincides with the center of the spherical base such that the center of the scanner does not move as the scanner is aligned in the skew, process, and scan directions. In various embodiments, the aligned relationship of the spherical base to the socket is maintained by an adhesive, a through-bolt, or a plurality of spring-biased adjustment screws. The configuration and location of the adjustment screws is such that adjustment of the scanner assembly is accomplished without blocking the laser beam used for alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Steven Cannon, Daniel Eugene Pawley, Philip Edwin Riggs
  • Background intensity correction of a scan of a document
    Patent number: 7668394
    Abstract: One exemplary method of the present invention is for background intensity correction of a scan of pixel values of a document, wherein the scan has at least one background pixel area and at least one non-background pixel area. The method includes segmenting the scan into the at least one background pixel area and the at least one non-background pixel area. The method also includes calculating a gray background pixel value of at least a portion of the scan. The method also includes compensating only the pixel values of the at least one background pixel area for background intensity using the calculated gray background pixel value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventor: Mohamed Ahmed
  • Method and system of deskewing an image using monochrome conversion to separate foreground from background
    Patent number: 7668404
    Abstract: A method and system of deskewing an image. The method and system includes capturing a first image, forming a number of regions within the first image, generating a bounding rectangles for each region, calculating an area for each bounding rectangle, rotating each region by an angle within a predefined range, finding the angle that minimizes the area of each bounding rectangle, and rotating each region by the angle found.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen P. Adams, Saikat Chaudhuri, Larry J. Dicken, Joshua E. Ellingsworth, Michael L. Whitlock
  • Apparatus and method for performing mechanical printhead alignment in an imaging apparatus
    Patent number: 7661791
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a printhead carrier configured for mounting a printhead cartridge and a cam rotatably coupled to the printhead carrier, the cam having a cam surface positioned opposite the datum pad, the cam surface being positioned for direct contact with the datum pad. A rotation of the cam causes the cam surface to translate the printhead along the media feed direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Edmund Hulin James, III, Randal Scott Williamson
  • Hand held micro-fluid ejection devices configured to block printing based on printer orientation and method of blocking
    Patent number: 7661814
    Abstract: A hand-held micro-fluid ejection device for ejecting a fluid onto a substrate surface in a plurality of physical orientations between the ejection device and a substrate surface, and methods for controlling the geometric accuracy of printing using a hand-held printing apparatus. Various spatial and dynamic orientations of the ejection device are measured, such as rotation angle, yaw angle, and velocity and acceleration vectors. Threshold limits are established for the orientations and printing is disabled if the measured values exceed the threshold limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Lee Noe, William Henry Reed, Douglas Laurence Robertson, Barry Baxter Stout
  • Current control circuit for micro-fluid ejection device heaters
    Patent number: 7661782
    Abstract: Current control circuit for micro-fluid ejection heaters. In one embodiment, the current through a heater in a micro-fluid ejection device may be monitored and regulated to maintain a particular value or range of values. In such an embodiment, the heater current may be monitored and compared to a reference value. A signal may be induced based upon the divergence of the heater current from the value and the signal may be applied to the logic switch for the monitored heater. The logic switch may regulate the current through the heater based upon the induced signal. As a result of the regulation of the current, the induced signal may dynamically change thereby allowing fast regulation of the heater current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Wayne Bergstedt, John Glenn Edelen, Carson A. Fischer
  • Photoconductor unit
    Patent number: D611090
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Neal Hackney, Donald Thomas Kral, James John Molloy, Benjamin Keith Newman