Patents by Inventor Alan A. Richard

Alan A. Richard 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: 8904668
    Abstract: A method for removing a moistening liquid from a moistened medium includes bringing at least one surface of the moistened medium into contact with a heating liquid. The heating liquid is warmed to a temperature greater than a moistening-liquid boiling point. Heat is transferred from the warmed heating liquid to the moistening liquid, thereby vaporizing the moistening liquid and removing it from the moistened medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Alan Richard Priebe, Donald Saul Rimai, Christopher J. White
  • Patent number: 8844926
    Abstract: A method is described for controlling a printer including a transport belt having an electrically non-conducting surface adapted to provide an electrostatic holding force for transporting a receiver medium along a transport path from an upstream position to a downstream position. A charging subsystem is controlled to add charge to the transport belt or the receiver medium, thereby providing an initial electrostatic holding force. An inking subsystem positioned downstream of the charging subsystem is controlled to deposit a pattern of ink on the receiver medium. A level of charge on the receiver medium is sensed using a charge sensing device positioned downstream of the inking subsystem. A recharging subsystem is controlled responsive to the sensed level of charge on the receiver medium to restore at least some charge dissipated while the receiver medium is transported between the charging subsystem and the recharging subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Alan Richard Priebe
  • Patent number: 8849170
    Abstract: A toner fixing system has a heating member rotatable around an axis. The heating member includes a liquid-blocking barrier and a backing layer that define a liquid cavity not including the axis. The liquid cavity contains a heating liquid warmed above a glass transition temperature of the toner. A media-transport system transports the receiver medium along a transport path in which the receiver medium contacts or is entrained around the liquid-blocking barrier. Heat is transferred through the liquid-blocking barrier from the warmed heating liquid to the toner, raising a temperature of the toner to a level above the toner glass transition temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Alan Richard Priebe, Donald Saul Rimai, Christopher J. White, Kevin Edward Spaulding
  • Patent number: 8840105
    Abstract: A printer includes a transport belt having an electrically non-conducting surface adapted to transport a receiver medium along a transport path from an upstream position to a downstream position. A charging subsystem is configured to add charge to the transport belt or the receiver medium, thereby providing an electrostatic holding force. An inking subsystem is positioned downstream of the charging subsystem and deposits a pattern of ink on the receiver medium. A dryer positioned downstream of the inking subsystem is adapted to dry the inked receiver medium. A recharging subsystem positioned downstream of the dryer is configured to restore at least some charge dissipated while the receiver medium is transported between the charging subsystem and the recharging subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Alan Richard Priebe
  • Patent number: 8843047
    Abstract: A toner fixing system for fixing toner onto a receiver medium includes a liquid-supply system for providing a heating liquid. A liquid-heating system warms the heating liquid to a temperature greater than a glass transition temperature of the toner. A rotatable liquid-blocking barrier has an inner surface and an outer surface. A media-transport system transports the receiver medium along a transport path in which the receiver medium is brought into contact with the outer surface of the liquid-blocking barrier in a contact zone. A liquid-delivery system impinges the warmed heating liquid onto the inner surface of the liquid-blocking barrier. Heat is transferred through the liquid-blocking barrier from the heating liquid to the toner, raising a temperature of the toner to a level above the toner glass transition temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Alan Richard Priebe, Donald Saul Rimai, Christopher J. White
  • Patent number: 8831956
    Abstract: In an interactive computer controlled display system with speech command input recognition and visual feedback including means for predetermining a plurality of speech commands for respectively initiating each of a corresponding plurality of system actions in combination with means for providing for each of the plurality of speech commands an associated set of speech terms, each term having relevance to its associated command. Also included are means responsive to a detected speech term having relevance to one of the speech commands for displaying a relevant command. The system preferably may display basic speech commands simultaneously along with relevant commands. The means for providing the associated set of speech terms may comprise a stored relevance table of universal speech input commands and universal computer operation terms conventionally associated with system actions initiated by the input commands, and means for relating operation terms of the system with terms in the relevance table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Anthony Morgan, David John Roberts, Craig Ardner Swearingen, Alan Richard Tannenbaum, Anthony C. C. Temple
  • Patent number: 8826558
    Abstract: A media drying system removes a moistening liquid from a moistened medium having first and second surfaces. A liquid reservoir contains a heating liquid heated above a moistening-liquid boiling point. A rotatable liquid-blocking member has a liquid-blocking layer with an inner surface and an outer surface. A media-transport system transports the medium entrained around the liquid-blocking member so that the first surface of the moistened medium is brought into contact with the outer surface of the liquid-blocking layer. An entrained portion of the moistened medium passes through the liquid reservoir and is submerged in the warmed heating liquid. The heating liquid contacts the inner surface of the liquid-blocking layer so that heat is transferred through the liquid-blocking layer from the warmed heating liquid to the moistening liquid, or heat is transferred from the warmed heating liquid to the second surface of the moistened medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Alan Richard Priebe, Donald Saul Rimai, Christopher J. White
  • Patent number: 8824944
    Abstract: A method for fixing toner onto a receiver medium includes depositing a pattern of toner onto a surface of the receiver medium. The toner has a toner glass transition temperature. At least one surface of the receiver medium is brought into contact with a heating liquid, the heating liquid being at a temperature greater than the toner glass transition temperature. Heat is transferred from the heating liquid to the toner, thereby raising a temperature of the toner to a level above the toner glass transition temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Alan Richard Priebe, Donald Saul Rimai, Christopher J. White
  • Patent number: 8818252
    Abstract: A toner fixing system fixes toner onto a receiver medium. A reservoir contains a heating liquid. A liquid-heating system warms the heating liquid in the reservoir to a temperature greater than a toner glass transition temperature. A media-transport system transports the receiver medium along a transport path which passes through the reservoir. The receiver medium is submerged in the warmed heating liquid, so heat is transferred from the warmed heating liquid to the toner. The temperature of the toner is raised to a level above the toner glass transition temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Alan Richard Priebe, Donald Saul Rimai, Christopher J. White
  • Patent number: 8805261
    Abstract: A toner fixing system for fixing toner onto a receiver medium includes a liquid-supply system for providing a heating liquid. A liquid-heating system warms the heating liquid to a temperature greater than the toner glass transition temperature. A liquid-delivery system impinges the warmed heating liquid onto a surface of the receiver medium so that heat is transferred from the warmed heating liquid to the toner. This raises the temperature of the toner to a level above the toner glass transition temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Alan Richard Priebe, Donald Saul Rimai, Christopher J. White
  • Patent number: 8798515
    Abstract: A system for fixing toner onto a receiver medium includes a reservoir containing heating liquid. A liquid-heating system warms the heating liquid to a temperature greater than a toner glass transition temperature. A rotatable liquid-blocking barrier has an inner surface and an outer surface. A media-transport system transports the receiver medium along a transport path. The transported receiver medium contacts or is entrained around the liquid-blocking member barrier so that the receiver medium is brought into contact with the outer surface of the liquid-blocking layer. The liquid-blocking barrier member and the reservoir are arranged so that an entrained portion of the receiver medium passes through the reservoir and is submerged in the warmed heating liquid, which contacts the inner surface. Heat is transferred from the warmed heating liquid to the toner, raising a temperature of the toner to a level above the toner glass transition temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Alan Richard Priebe, Donald Saul Rimai, Christopher J. White
  • Publication number: 20140196965
    Abstract: A vehicle grille assembly is provided with a grille and a close-out assembly. The close-out assembly is adapted to at least partially block an airflow opening in the vehicle grille is moveable to translate and rotate with respect to the airflow opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gordon M. Platto, David Michael Lechkun, Dong Park, Brad Alan Richards, Jonathan Fontaine
  • Publication number: 20140175858
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided with a hub and a collar. The hub extends longitudinally inward from a wheel. The collar is disposed over the hub and is mounted for translation relative to the hub. The vehicle also includes a panel assembly having a support and first and second panels. The support extends radially outward from the collar, and the first and second panels are each pivotally connected to opposing lateral edges of the support. The panels pivot between an expanded position and a collapsed position and translate radially for selectively closing a wheel opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Gordon M. Platto, David Michael Lechkun, Anthony Lee Meyer, Brad Alan Richards
  • Patent number: 8756830
    Abstract: A media drying system removes a moistening liquid from a moistened medium, the moistening liquid having a moistening-liquid boiling point. A liquid reservoir contains a heating liquid. A liquid-heating system warms the heating liquid in the liquid reservoir to a temperature greater than the moistening-liquid boiling point. A media-transport system transports the moistened medium along a transport path which passes through the liquid reservoir. The moistened medium is submerged in the warmed heating liquid and heat is transferred from the warmed heating liquid to the moistening liquid. This vaporizes the moistening liquid and removing it from the moistened medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Alan Richard Priebe, Donald Saul Rimai, Christopher J. White
  • Patent number: 8756825
    Abstract: A method for removing a moistening liquid from a moistened medium includes providing a liquid-blocking barrier having a first surface and a second surface that is impermeable to a heating liquid. A surface of the moistened medium is brought into contact with the first surface of the liquid-blocking barrier. The heating liquid is brought into contact with the second surface of the liquid-blocking barrier, the heating liquid being at a temperature greater than a moistening-liquid boiling point. Heat is thus transferred through the liquid-blocking barrier from the heating liquid to the moistening liquid, vaporizing the moistening liquid and removing it from the moistened medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Alan Richard Priebe, Donald Saul Rimai, Christopher J. White, Kevin Edward Spaulding
  • Publication number: 20140116650
    Abstract: A toner fixing system for fixing toner onto a receiver medium includes a liquid-supply system for providing a heating liquid. A liquid-heating system warms the heating liquid to a temperature greater than the toner glass transition temperature. A liquid-delivery system impinges the warmed heating liquid onto a surface of the receiver medium so that heat is transferred from the warmed heating liquid to the toner. This raises the temperature of the toner to a level above the toner glass transition temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Inventors: Alan Richard Priebe, Donald Saul Rimai, Christopher J. White
  • Publication number: 20140119796
    Abstract: A method for fixing toner onto a receiver medium includes depositing a pattern of toner onto a surface of the receiver medium. A liquid-blocking barrier is provided that has a first surface and a second surface that is impermeable to a heating liquid. The surface of the receiver medium is brought into contact with the first surface of the liquid-blocking barrier. The heating liquid is brought into contact with the second surface of the liquid-blocking barrier. The heating liquid is at a temperature greater than the toner glass transition temperature. Heat is transferred through the liquid-blocking barrier from the heating liquid to the toner, thereby raising the temperature of the toner to a temperature above the toner glass transition temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Inventors: Alan Richard Priebe, Donald Saul Rimai, Christopher J. White, Kevin Edward Spaulding
  • Publication number: 20140119794
    Abstract: A method for fixing toner onto a receiver medium includes depositing a pattern of toner onto a surface of the receiver medium. The toner has a toner glass transition temperature. At least one surface of the receiver medium is brought into contact with a heating liquid, the heating liquid being at a temperature greater than the toner glass transition temperature. Heat is transferred from the heating liquid to the toner, thereby raising a temperature of the toner to a level above the toner glass transition temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Inventors: Alan Richard Priebe, Donald Saul Rimai, Christopher J. White
  • Patent number: D710777
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Gordon M. Platto, Anthony Lee Meyer, Brad Alan Richards
  • Patent number: D717993
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Gordon M. Platto, Brad Alan Richards, Dong Park, Jonathan Fontaine