Patents Examined by George H. Miller, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5294946
    Abstract: The present invention is an ink jet printer utilized to enlarge color images. Signals from a scanned image are converted by a color correction computer into control signals representing the density of the individual pixels of that scanned image. The color density signals are used to control the application of ink from ink jet spray nozzles located on a pair of printheads. Thus, the ink jet printer of the present invention reproduces the image on both sides of a translucent substrate to enhance the quality of the viewed image. The present invention is further provided with dual air sources to apply the ink. A first air source is pulse width modulated to control the amount of ink sprayed onto the substrate. A second air pressure source is continuously applied to the ink jet spray nozzles to remove the excess ink that accumulates about the nozzles during print operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1994
    Assignee: Signtech USA, Ltd.
    Inventors: James Gandy, Myles F. Clauser, Donald Mickish
  • Patent number: 5293007
    Abstract: Holes are drilled in the flexure regions of a parallel beam load cell (14), the flexure regions defined by two cut-out portions (26 and 28) which extend between the longitudinal side surfaces (36 and 38) of the load cell (14). The holes extend inwardly of the load cell in the longitudinal side surfaces thereof. The location and depth of the holes are dependent upon the moment balance correction necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: Stress-Tek, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Darst, Mona L. Mundhenk
  • Patent number: 5289202
    Abstract: A magnetic recording medium having a triple layered structure including a substrate, a first layer or a soft magnetic thin film of high permeability piled on the substrate, a second layer or a vertical magnetization film piled on the first layer, a third layer or a soft magnetic film of high permeability piled on the second layer. A magnetic recording apparatus alternately switches the magnetization orientations of the second layer or the vertical magnetization film at a recording location where a latent image is to be formed. The first and third layer or the soft magnetic thin films can improve recording efficiency. The field produced by the second layer or the vertical magnetization film causes the third layer or the soft magnetic thin film to be magnetized along the surface of the magnetic recording medium, and this results in the concentration of the flux owing to switching of the magnetization directions. This enables high density recording and improves recording sensitivity and reproducing sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruki Yamane, Yoshinori Maeno, Kayoko Sato, Masanobu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5287128
    Abstract: Multiple part documents in which each part has common non-variable information and variable information are produced at high speed with a minimum amount of equipment. Utilizing either sequential press technology or large diameter plates, the multiple parts of the document are sequentially printed on a single web with the non-variable information. The variable information is sequentially printed on the same web in a procedure distinct from the printing of the non-variable information, typically utilizing a single ion deposition printer for each face of the web. The parts are separated and intelligently gathered and then the parts are sealed together to form a document, along one edge, by applying glue, or pressure seal adhesive. After sealing the documents may be rotated and delivered to a carrier web. Alternatively, an outer wrapper or envelope, variably imaged by another ion deposition print engine, may be provided around the multiple part documents after sealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: Moore Business Forms, Inc.
    Inventors: Ivan G. Doane, Franklin L. Burket
  • Patent number: 5285860
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a process and a device for carrying out the process for weight determination of the contents of containers (5), for example for garbage. Two swivel arms (2) that are lifted by hydraulic devices (3) are mounted on a garbage collecting vehicle (1). The container (5) is carried by a fork (4). Integrated into the swivel arm (2) is a force measuring apparatus that comprises two flexural members (7) supporting the main load, two spring tongues (8), and a force transducer (11) that is installed between two stilts (12) between the spring tongues (8). The flexural members (7) and the spring tongues together form an elastic stepdown; the force transducer (11) thus only measures that part of the total load flowing through it as given by the stepdown. Further, a gradient meter (16) is mounted on the swivel arm (2), that has the same action line W as the force measurement device integrated in the swivel arm (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: Wirth Gallo Messtechnik AG
    Inventor: Johannes Wirth
  • Patent number: 5287127
    Abstract: An electronic printing apparatus employs a digitally controlled toner conveyor and large scale integrated circuits (ICs) controlling write electrodes to print monocomponent toners on plain paper in a single pass. The ICs convert high level image information into toner controlling pulses. Pixel intensity is programmed by associating a counted number of packets of toner with each level of pixel depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Inventor: Peter C. Salmon
  • Patent number: 5285221
    Abstract: An outer peripheral length of an intermediate transfer drum of a color laser beam printer is constituted in which a number of a beam detection signal obtained by one rotation of the transfer drum is formed as an integral number of a face number of a polygon mirror. A passing-through detection means detects the passing-through of a specified position mark on a photosensitive body belt and is provided on the photosensitive body drum at predetermined position. An image data requirement signal generating means controls a generating timing of an image data requirement signal for forming a toner image by the passing-through detection signal. A scanning line at a raster direction based on the beam detection signal after the transfer drum has rotated at one rotation returns and overlapped on a scanning line position formed on the first beam detection signal as a standard. A plural toner images having a different color each are formed on the transfer drum without color offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michio Sumiyoshi, Akira Sasaki, Isamu Terashima, Hiroyuki Tadokoro
  • Patent number: 5285021
    Abstract: Weighing apparatus of the windscreen type including a housing having a pair of vertical side walls that are movable between opened and closed positions relative to the housing, thereby to afford access to a weighing pan contained within the housing weighing chamber, characterized by the provision of a lever arrangement for opening either or both of the side walls. A pair of operating levers (77,79) arranged generally end-to-end transversely beneath the housing extend at their remote ends beyond opposite sides of the housing for selective connection with the associated side wall, respectively, the adjacent ends of the levers being movably connected with the housing, the levers also being connected with each other by a coupling plate (89) that is slidably connected for displacement forwardly and rearwardly of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventor: Paul Luechinger
  • Patent number: 5285022
    Abstract: A partial weight-bearing scale including a planar weighing surface and a fixed load supporting platform to one side of the weighing surface. The combination enables a user to stand on the support platform with one foot while applying measured pressure to the scale with the other foot. A visual display is provided to indicate the amount of pressure applied to the scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Inventor: Howard J. Antone
  • Patent number: 5285020
    Abstract: A hydraulic by-pass control system is provided in the hydraulically operated lift assembly of a loader which uses double-acting hydraulic cylinders. The by-pass control system provides a low-resistance alternative pathway between the lowering circuit of the lift assembly and the hydraulic fluid tank. Accurate weighing measurement of the load on the lifting arms of the loader may be achieved by temporarily opening the alternative low-resistance pathway, thereby effectively converting the hydraulic circuit to a single-acting configuration during the taking of load cell signal measurements of back-pressure in the lift circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Alert-O-Brake Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Zeljko T. Jurca
  • Patent number: 5283395
    Abstract: The weighing apparatus comprises a base (1) and a receiving platform (2) for the load to be weighed, parallel to said base, a test body (3) extending between the base (1) and the platform (2), the opposite ends (3a, 3b) of which are fixed rigidly to the base (1) and to the platform (2) respectively, one (3c) of the faces of the test body (3) comprising strain gauges associated with an electric circuit.The test body (3), molded in one single piece with the base (1) and the platform (2), is recessed.Used in particular for making bathroom scales.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventor: Bernard Pitaud
  • Patent number: 5280141
    Abstract: A pressure compensating device includes a hermetically encapsulated weighing cell for neutralizing an excess pressure or a negative pressure within the encapsulation relative to a surrounding space. A pressure compensating diaphragm is connected to a protective housing in an essentially sealing manner, but without significant resistance and non-deformable relative to an initial tension. The pressure compensating diaphragm is of an extremely flexible material and the surface area thereof is large relative to the dimensions of the encapsulation. The pressure-compensating device preferably is a structural group mounted on the protective housing in which at least one pressure-compensating diaphragm is arranged so as to be protected against mechanical or chemical damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1994
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventors: Christiaan Neeleman, Jean-Christope Emery
  • Patent number: 5280304
    Abstract: In an image reading apparatus, first and second semiconductor chips are arranged in series on a transparent insulative base. The semiconductor chips are covered by a protective layer and have conductive pads located both side of the series arrangement of the chips. A traveling path in which a document passes is defined on the protective layer between the pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1994
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hajime Sato, Takuji Nakazono, Hiroki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5280140
    Abstract: In an installation designed for pneumatically transferring pots (12) between a sampling unit, in which these pots are filled with a radioactive liquid sample and an analysis chain or line protected by an enclosure, with the receptacle (36) by which the pots enter the chain or line, is associated a force transducer (42). In conjunction with an electronic measuring means located outside the said enclosure, said transducer weighs the pots and makes it possible to detect when one of them is empty or inadequately filled. An ejection nozzle (66) connected to a compressed air source discharges the pot when it is weighed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1994
    Assignee: Cogema-Compagnie Generale Des Matieres Nucleaires
    Inventors: Joseph Besnier, Jean-Francois Gey, Denis Ferron
  • Patent number: 5278589
    Abstract: A single pass tandem color printer is disclosed which utilizes a plurality of Raster Output Scan (ROS) systems mounted within a common housing. The ROS systems produce a plurality of scanning beams which emerge from the housing along parallel paths. Each scanning beam is incident on the surface of an associated photoreceptor drum at a non-normal angle of incidence greater than zero to eliminate the reflections back along the optical path which may be present in conventional tandem scanning systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Lam F. Wong
  • Patent number: 5278587
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a precise method of registering plurality of imaging stations, so as to form sequential images on a photoreceptor belt in a single pass. A belt hole is formed in the photoreceptor belt, outside the image area, but within the scan of the imager scan line. The scan line is sequentially swept in a transverse direction across the width of the belt. As the leading edge of the belt hole advances into the sweeping beam, a plurality of beam sweeps will occur while the leading edge is moving through the sweep area. Due to the gaussian illumination of the scanning beam, the exposure at the belt edge gradually increases to a maximum point coinciding with the maximum illumination of the scanning beam. A detector is placed beneath the belt to provide a signal representing the exposure level of each scanning beam which crosses the leading edge of the advancing belt hole. The detectors produce a current output representative of the exposure level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew M. Strauch, Daniel W. Costanza, Kenneth R. Ossman, Fred F. Hubble, III
  • Patent number: 5278588
    Abstract: An electrographic printhead is operated to focus charged particles on a print member. In one embodiment successive electrodes are maintained at potentials that define increasing electric field strengths in the successive regions along the particle trajectory. In another embodiment, a thick electrode face defines equipotential lines that shape a sharply focusing electrostatic field that penetrates the projection apertures of the printhead. Improved focusing diminishes charge spreading effects, and allows effective positioning of the printhead at greater spacings to reduce the risk of arcing without loss of print resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Delphax Systems
    Inventor: Igor Kubelik
  • Patent number: 5276469
    Abstract: A new and improved electrophotographic printer and method of operation wherein a disposable print cartridge is rotatably mounted within the printer housing and is operative to directly drive paper out of a paper stack within a paper cassette in the housing and into the active print area therein between the surface of a photoconductive drum and an adjacent transfer roller. The rotatable disposable print cartridge is constructed to include a plurality of paper pick up strips and idler rollers uniformly spaced at predetermined locations along the surface of the disposable print cartridge and operative to be directly driven into contact with paper during the paper pick transport and print modes of the printer. In the non-print mode and in preparation for picking and printing the next sheet, the disposable print cartridge is rotated clockwise while the stack of paper drops away from the cartridge surface to avoid contact with the print cartridge at this time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Richard Beaufort, Harold B. Noyes
  • Patent number: 5276465
    Abstract: A drum for a photoplotter has a base having a partially cylindrical recess formed therein which recess being defined by in part by a plurality of elevated surfaces providing a support bed on which is mounted a sheet of material providing an exposed surface for supporting a substrate thereon. The drum is formed by a method whereby a tool is provided about which the sheet material is drawn and is moved into engagement with the bed and is caused to maintain this shape by an adhesive interposed therebetween. A method for mechanically compensating for surface irregularities by fixing the scanner relative to the support surface after displacements have been made is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Gerber Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Alan W. Menard, Dana W. Seniff, Kenneth R. Petersen
  • Patent number: 5276461
    Abstract: A laser printer comprises a cartridge of a photosensitive unit, a printing mechanism for effecting a printing operation by electrifying a photosensitive member of the photosensitive unit, applying a light beam to the electrified photosensitive member to form an electrostatic latent image thereon, developing the electrostatic latent image to create a visible image and then transferring the image to printing paper, and a nonvolatile memory for storing data indicating the printing history of the photosensitive unit. The printing device further comprises a microprocessor for updating the data stored in the nonvolatile memory each time the printing operation is effected, checking whether the data stored in the nonvolatile memory has reached a value corresponding to a service life of the photosensitive unit, and generating a replacement requiring signal when it is detected that the data stored in the nonvolatile memory has reached the value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Tokyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akihiro Saito