Patents by Inventor Alfred Gonnella, Jr.

Alfred Gonnella, Jr. 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: 6650848
    Abstract: An electrophotographic (EP) image-forming device and related method are provided for on-line quantitative assessment of the image formation and development process. The EP image-forming device has a primary charger, an exposure device, a toning station, a transfer charger, a fusing station, and a cleaner operatively disposed about a photoconductor. A transmission densitometer is positioned adjacent to the photoconductor. The densitometer determines the successive tones corresponding to a plurality of step areas of a toner pattern for each image frame. The density readings are stored in memory. The photoconductor densities are subtracted from the combined densities to provide measured toner densities, which are then averaged for each step area. The average measured toner densities or voltage readings are compared to the aim toner densities or voltage readings for each step in the step tablet which are displayed in an output chart to quantitatively assess the image quality of the image-forming process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschine AG
    Inventors: Matthias H. Regelsberger, Alfred Gonnella, Jr., David E. Hockey
  • Patent number: 6608990
    Abstract: A job ordering system for an image-forming machine that transfers an image onto a sheet at essentially the same time in which an inserter places an inserted sheet into a sheet output path. The image-forming machine has image-forming equipment, a sheet output path, and an inserter. The image-forming equipment transfers an image onto a sheet and provides the sheet to the sheet output path. The inserter places an inserted sheet onto the sheet output path at essentially the same time as the image-forming equipment transfers the image onto the sheet. One or more images may be transferred onto a plurality of sheets according to a sheet sequence for an image-forming job. One or more inserted sheets may be placed on the sheet output path at one or more inserted sheet positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Alfred Gonnella, Jr., Frederick E. Altrieth, III, James A. Zimmer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6577825
    Abstract: This invention provides an image-forming machine with a user detection system. The image-forming machine has image-forming equipment and at least one sensor. The image-forming equipment may include a photoconductor, one or more chargers, an exposure machine, a toning station, a fusing station, related equipment, and accessories. The image-forming machine may also include a sensor interface and a communication link. The sensor is monitored to detect when a user is near the image-forming machine. An output signal from the sensor indicates a user presence near the image-forming machine. A warm-up procedure is started in response to the output signal of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Alfred Gonnella, Jr., Frederick E. Altrieth, III, James A. Zimmer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6360064
    Abstract: An electrostatographic recording apparatus and method wherein a primary image forming member (PIFM) is moved along a closed path. The PIFM is sufficiently large to form a series of images thereon in the direction of movement of the PIFM during a production run. Plural series of toner images are formed on the PIFM during production runs. The toner images are transferred from the PIFM by engaging the PIFM with a transfer device. A cycle-down of the apparatus is provided to stop movement of the PIFM so that the PIFM is stopped to park the transfer device in a predetermined location on the PIFM preferably a seam area of the PIFM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Nexpress Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Matthias H. Regelsberger, Anne F. Lairmore, Alfred Gonnella, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5862433
    Abstract: An electrostatographic recording method and apparatus includes an auto cycle-up routine for establishing readiness of various stations including a toning station for proper operation. In the automatic cycle-up routine proper operation of a toning station warmer is determined by a controller. The controller then establishes a first cycle-up duration when the toning station warmer is determined to be operating satisfactorily and a second and longer cycle-up duration when the toning station warmer is determined to be not operating satisfactorily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Matthias H. Regelsberger, Alfred Gonnella, Jr., David E. Hockey, Jeffrey C. Blood