Patents Assigned to Nexpress Solutions
  • Stack height determination and stack height control mechanism
    Patent number: 6592119
    Abstract: The invention concerns a stack height determination mechanism (25) for a stack (1) consisting of flat material (2) with at least one sensor (3) to determine stack height and a stack height control mechanism. Exact determination of the stack height, especially in order to exactly position the stack for the next delivery of material (2), is achieved in that a flat element (4) to determine the height of the stack (1) is brought into a bearing position (5) on the stack and that this bearing position (5) is determined by at least one sensor (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Uwe Hermann Goldbeck, Dirk Dobrindt
  • Radiation unit for a fixation device
    Patent number: 6594465
    Abstract: A radiation unit for a fixation device for fixation of toner material on a printing stock surface for an electrophotographic printing machine, as well as a method for exposure and fixation of toner material on a printing stock surface. Exposure for fixation of toner material occurs essentially indirectly, i.e., the light emitted by the radiation unit is reflected at least once, so that high uniformity and homogeneity of the radiation, efficient energy utilization and avoidance of adverse changes on the printing stock are achieved. A high-energy density, low housing dimensions and independence of the radiation from the employed printing unit are achieved by the fact that the radiation wavelength lies essentially in the ultraviolet spectral range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Domingo Rohde, Gerhard Bartscher, Frank-Michael Morgenweck, Detlef Schulze-Hagenest, Douglas Kostyk, Dinesh Tyagi
  • Method and apparatus for correcting register faults in a printing machine
    Patent number: 6591747
    Abstract: Correcting register faults in a multicolor printing machine having a number of items of equipment for the digital production of color separations, wherein correction values are determined and assigned to angular positions of at least one image cylinder and, as a result, taken into account for the control of the production of the color separations on the image cylinder. Correction values are to be made available for the correction of register faults, which, with a fine graduation, make it possible to assign them to angular positions of machine elements in a repeatable way. This is achieved by determining circularity errors of machine elements which have an influence on the register, assigned to their angular positions and, from these, the correction values for the control of the production of the color separations on the at least one image cylinder being determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Nexpress Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Donald Buch, Heiko Hunold, Michael Kowalczyk, Christopher Liston, Patrick Metzler, Robert Peffer, Karlheinz Walter Peter, John Robert Thompson
  • Integrated service data management system
    Publication number: 20030128991
    Abstract: Message logs are created on serviceable pieces of equipment and transmitted to a centralized site where they are uploaded and inserted into a centralized database. Preferably, a digital printer that maintains message logs reporting printer page counts, jobs run, errors encountered, component replacement, maintenance performed, status and diagnostic information. Reports are created from log data from the machines in the field and are accessible from a Web Server for numerous systems. The reports can predict demand on component parts to assist in maintaining adequate inventories, provide research and development teams with insight into functions and capabilities that may be advantageous to add to new machines in the future, or report information back to the individual customer as a value-added service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Applicant: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Richard R.T. Carling, Thomas L. Schwartz, Robin K. Braden
  • Digital image recording device and method for fixation of toner on an image carrier substrate
    Patent number: 6591083
    Abstract: A digital image recording device and a method wherein a color toner image (11) is initially transferred to an image carrier substrate (1) and then melted and fixed by exposure to electromagnetic radiation on the image carrier substrate (1). The method is characterized by the toner layers (5, 7, 9), having different colors, being melted in succession, toner image (11) being exposed repeatedly to electromagnetic radiation with different wavelength ranges, and that the corresponding wavelength range being chosen so that one color absorbs most of this electromagnetic radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventor: Domingo Rohde
  • Stacking device of a printing press
    Patent number: 6588741
    Abstract: The invention relates to a stacking device as well as to a method for depositing sheets on a stack. The task of the invention is to provide a stacking device that deposits sheets on a stacking unit quickly, cost effectively and reliably. The invention solves this task with a method for depositing sheets and a stacking device that contains two gripping devices for alternately gripping and depositing sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventor: Dirk Dobrindt
  • Roller construction for operation at elevated temperatures
    Patent number: 6589048
    Abstract: A roller for use in a fuser assembly of a reproduction apparatus adapted to operate at an elevated temperature up to in the range of approximately 750° F. The roller includes a generally elongated substantially cylindrical tube. End gudgeons are provided for sealing the ends of the cylindrical tube. Each of the end gudgeons is respectively associated with an end of the cylindrical tube such that after a weld joint is formed between the cylindrical tube and the end gudgeon, the end gudgeon provides a compression joint to prevent the cylindrical tube from separating from the end gudgeon, due to material creep, at elevated operating temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Allen Kass, Terence Michael Miller, Rainer J. Bleil, Jiann-Hsing Chen
  • Device for generating an offset of transported flexible sheet material
    Patent number: 6588746
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for generating an offset (2) of transported flexible sheet material (3), especially sheets of paper, with a feeding and a discharging transport path section (5 and 7) and a transport path section (6) which is assigned to the offset generating means (10). These devices of the prior art often require a control, resetting of the offset generating means after each sheet of material (3) or they do not operate independently of format. The invention affords relief by the offset generating means (10) having at least two deflections (8, 9 or 8, 8′, 9, 9′) which are parallel, which work in opposite directions, and which can be moved to an angle (gamma) to the transport direction (4); this angle is measured in the plane of the feeding transport path section (5) and is not equal to 90° projected onto this plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Dirk Dobrindt, Uwe Fischer
  • Deformation device for bending a flexible substrate
    Patent number: 6587667
    Abstract: A deformation device for bending a flexible substrate, being transported by a transport device, into a curved arc shape, thereby taking the flexible substrate out of contact with the transport device, prior to the flexible substrate being transported past a fixing device. As a result, any previously fixed toner on the side of the flexible substrate adjacent to the transport device will not be negatively affected during fixing of toner on the other side of the flexible substrate. The deformation device includes at least two converging guide rails with a wedge-shaped guide element and at least one air nozzle between the guide rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventor: Gerald Erik Hauptmann
  • Adjusting devices and method taking substrate changes into account for generating color separations in a multicolor printing machine
    Patent number: 6587652
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for adjusting devices (1, 1′) for generating color separations (2, 2′) in a multicolor printing machine (3), changes in the dimensions (4, 4′, 5, 5′) of printing substrates (6) being taken into account by controlling the image generation. Changes in the dimensions (4, 4′, 5, 5′) of printing substrates (6) during or after printing are to be taken into account as early as during the image generation. The fiber orientation (7) of printing substrates (6) is registered and, on the basis of the fiber orientation (7) and values from experience (8, 8′, 10, 10′, 10″) of the behavior of printing substrates (6) depending on the fiber orientation (7), control being carried out before the start of printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventor: Patrick Metzler
  • Fluorocarbon-silicone interpenetrating network useful as fuser member coating
    Patent number: 6586100
    Abstract: A fuser member whose outermost layer comprises a fluorocarbon-silicone interpenetrating network, comprising: (a) a first polymer comprising a fluorocarbon elastomer; (b) a second polymer selected from a curable polyfunctional poly(C(1-6) alkyl)siloxane polymer; a curable polyfunctional poly(C(1-6) alkyl)arylsiloxane polymer; and combinations thereof; and (c) a functionalized polydimethylsiloxane containing amine groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Jerry A. Pickering, Stephen V. Davis, Jiann H. Chen
  • Applying and measuring toner in a print on a substrate by a printing machine
    Patent number: 6587653
    Abstract: Applying a toner print to a substrate, in particular to a substrate (3). At least one print (7) is applied to the substrate. Then, the amount of toner applied to the substrate is measured by a measuring device (21). Finally, the difference between the actual amount of toner and a desired amount of toner in the print (7) applied to the substrate is determined, the printing process being influenced on the basis of the deviation in such a way that the difference in the amounts of toner is reduced or at least remains the same during subsequent prints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventor: Wolfgang Luxem
  • Digital printer or copier machine and processes for fixing a toner image
    Patent number: 6587665
    Abstract: Digital printers or copier machines (1) and processes to be performed using them, for fixing a toner image (5) transferred onto an image-carrier substrate (9), are proposed. One of the processes is characterized in that to fuse the toner particles, at least two electromagnetic radiation pulses are applied in a time-delayed manner onto the same area of the image-carrier substrate (9) and each one individual radiation pulse being in a range from 0.5 J/cm2 to 5 J/cm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Gerhard Bartscher, Gerald Erik Hauptmann, Frank-Michael Morgenweck, Domingo Rohde, Detlef Schulze-Hagenest
  • Fusing station including multilayer fuser roller
    Patent number: 6582222
    Abstract: A fusing station including an externally heated deformable fuser roller and a relatively harder pressure roller, the fuser roller including a heat distribution layer. A fuser roller embodiment includes a core member, a base cushion layer around the core member, a heat storage layer around the base cushion layer, a heat distribution layer around the heat storage layer, and a thin gloss control layer around the heat distribution layer. Ratios of thermal conductivity divided by thickness for the layers are, respectively: for the base cushion layer, less than approximately 13.3 BTU/hr/ft2/°F.; for the heat storage layer, approximately between 300 BTU/hr/ft2/°F.-1400 BTU/hr/ft2/°F.; for the heat distribution layer, approximately between 600 BTU/hr/ft2/°F.-4,800 BTU/hr/ft2/°F.; and, for the gloss control layer, approximately between 600 BTU/hr/ft2/°F.-6,000 BTU/hr/ft2/°F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Nexpress Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Jiann-Hsing Chen, Joseph Pavlisko, Robert A. Lancaster, Nataly Boulatnikov
  • Device for assembly of tubular carrier elements
    Patent number: 6578483
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for assembly of tubular cylindrical carriers (8) on the circumference (22) of carrier cylinders (1) of drums or cylinders, wherein for the assembly of the tubular carrier (8) on the lateral surface (22) a pressure medium acts upon the latter. By attaching an assembly aid (4), on which a tubular carrier (8) can be held, on the carrier cylinder (1), a pressure medium acts upon the latter, so that positioning of the tubular carrier (8) is made possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Christian Compera, Wolfgang Heinrich Alberstadt
  • EXTERNAL HEATER MEMBER AND METHODS FOR FUSING TONER IMAGES
    Publication number: 20030108370
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fusing apparatus for heat fixing toner images onto a receiver medium, the apparatus including:
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Jiann Hsing Chen, Andrew Ciaschi, Joseph A. Pavlisko, Robert A. Lancaster, James H. Hurst, Charles E. Hewitt, Nataly Boulatnikov
  • Monitoring and/or controlling the forming of printed color images
    Publication number: 20030103220
    Abstract: Monitoring and/or adjusting the forming of a printed color image by an image forming apparatus, preferably of a color image formed electrophotographically with toner. Light reflected or reflected back from a fixed toner image of a finished printed image is captured by a sensor device still within the image forming apparatus (online), the sensor device or its capturing result being used for controlling or adjusting the image forming process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Applicant: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Wolfgang Eberhard Luxem, Eggert Joachim Jung, Thomas Zelenka
  • Pressure roller cleaner for a reproduction apparatus fuser assembly
    Publication number: 20030095817
    Abstract: A fuser assembly for an electrostatographic reproduction apparatus including a fuser member and a pressure member, a release oil oiler system for said fuser assembly, and a cleaner for cleaning the pressure member. The fuser member and pressure member are locatable in operative association to apply heat and pressure to a marking particle image carried by a receiver member to fix such marking particle image to the receiver member as the receiver member is transported between the fuser member and pressure member. The pressure member cleaner has a cleaning member including a fabric material. A drive mechanism is associated with the cleaning member for moving the cleaning member relative to the pressure member such that the cleaning member is located in operative association with the pressure member, or the cleaning member is located in spaced relation remote from the pressure member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2001
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Applicant: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Muhammed Aslam, Fangsheng Wu
  • Operator replaceable component life tracking system
    Publication number: 20030095278
    Abstract: The present invention uses a concept of Operator Replaceable Component (ORC) devices that allows an operator that is not a skilled field engineer or service technician, to perform maintenance on a digital printer, resulting in significantly higher uptime for the press. The ORC devices employed by the present invention have an expected life span and the system can track the remaining life for each of the ORC devices and prompts the operator when they should be replaced. Preferably, the recent use of the digital printer is compared against the remaining life of the ORC device with the shortest remaining life. The recent use of the digital printer is used to decrement the remaining life of the ORC devices until an ORC device needs replacement. The operator is then notified of the need to replace the ORC device that has expired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Applicant: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Leonard Schwartz, Richard Robert Tilney Carling, Kenneth Thomas Doty
  • Release agent donor member having fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer overcoat
    Publication number: 20030096091
    Abstract: An improved donor member for applying a toner release agent to a toned receiver comprises a support an intermediate layer disposed on the support, and an outermost layer formed from a cured composition comprising a fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer, a curing agent, a particulate filler containing zinc oxide, and a curable aminosiloxane, wherein the fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer has subunits of:
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Applicant: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Jiann Hsing Chen, Joseph A. Pavlisko, Robert Arthur Lancaster, Charles Eugene Hewitt, Nataly Boulatnikov