Patents by Inventor Brent D. Lien
Brent D. Lien 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).
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Patent number: 11969994Abstract: Systems and techniques for preserving and improving ink jet nozzle health and printing reliability are disclosed herein. The method may include monitoring whether a triggering event has occurred. In response to detecting the triggering event has occurred, pumping at least a portion of ink contained in a header tank in a direction toward an ink cartridge through a tube connecting the header tank to the ink cartridge. The header tank connected to a print head included as a part of a scan head. The method may further include circulating the ink through the tube back into the header tank, and agitating the scan head by moving the scan head along an x-y gantry. Additional methods may include reverse purging, ejecting a portion of ink through nozzles on the print head while simultaneously wiping a nozzle plate included on the print head, and randomizing print head location when printing.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2020Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: ASSA ABLOY ABInventors: Brent D. Lien, Evan Pastor, Chad Everett Beery, Bradley O'Hara, Kyrsten Dominique Elemino, Tanya Jegeris Snyder
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Patent number: 11618273Abstract: Systems and techniques for improving ink jet ink durability and adhesion to a substrate. The techniques may include applying a varnish to the surface of the substrate, curing, in an initial curing step, the varnish with an ultraviolet (UV) lamp, and applying a pigmented ink to at least a portion of the substrate. The initial curing step may comprise pinning the varnish with the UV lamp in a low-power state. The techniques may additionally or alternatively include applying a layer of pigmented ink and varnish at substantially the same time, allowing the pigmented ink and varnish to at least partially mix, then pinning or curing the ink/varnish combination.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2022Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: ASSA ABLOY ABInventors: Brent D. Lien, Dale James Ziebarth, Evan Pastor, Tanya Jegeris Snyder
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Patent number: 11597216Abstract: Techniques for operating a printer are provided. In an example, the printer can include a print head a cure light and a controller. The controller can be configured to move the print head relative to a print media to print a given image, to move the cure light relative to the print media at a cure speed in response to the cure light passing over a printed portion of the given image to cure the ink of the given image, and to move the cure light at an index speed in response to the cure light passing over a non-printed portion of the given image, wherein the index speed is greater than the cure speed.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2022Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: ASSA ABLOY ABInventors: Brent D. Lien, Tanya Jegeris Snyder, Evan Pastor
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Patent number: 11559996Abstract: Techniques for operating a printer are provided. In an example, the printer can include a print head a cure light and a controller. The controller can be configured to move the print head relative to a print media to print a given image, to move the cure light relative to the print media at a cure speed in response to the cure light passing over a printed portion of the given image to cure the ink of the given image, and to move the cure light at an index speed in response to the cure light passing over a non-printed portion of the given image, wherein the index speed is greater than the cure speed.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2022Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: ASSA ABLOY ABInventors: Brent D. Lien, Tanya Jegeris Snyder, Evan Pastor
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Publication number: 20220355606Abstract: Systems and techniques for improving ink jet ink durability and adhesion to a substrate. The techniques may include applying a varnish to the surface of the substrate, curing, in an initial curing step, the varnish with an ultraviolet (UV) lamp, and applying a pigmented ink to at least a portion of the substrate. The initial curing step may comprise pinning the varnish with the UV lamp in a low-power state. The techniques may additionally or alternatively include applying a layer of pigmented ink and varnish at substantially the same time, allowing the pigmented ink and varnish to at least partially mix, then pinning or curing the ink/varnish combination.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2022Publication date: November 10, 2022Inventors: Brent D. Lien, Dale James Ziebarth, Evan Pastor, Tany Jegeris Snyder
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Patent number: 11446946Abstract: Systems and techniques for improving ink jet ink durability and adhesion to a substrate. The techniques may include applying a varnish to the surface of the substrate, curing, in an initial curing step, the varnish with an ultraviolet (UV) lamp, and applying a pigmented ink to at least a portion of the substrate. The initial curing step may comprise pinning the varnish with the UV lamp in a low-power state. The techniques may additionally or alternatively include applying a layer of pigmented ink and varnish at substantially the same time, allowing the pigmented ink and varnish to at least partially mix, then pinning or curing the ink/varnish combination.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2020Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: ASSA ABLOY ABInventors: Brent D. Lien, Dale James Ziebarth, Evan Pastor, Tanya Jegeris Snyder
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Publication number: 20220184973Abstract: Techniques for operating a printer are provided. In an example, the printer can include a print head a cure light and a controller. The controller can be configured to move the print head relative to a print media to print a given image, to move the cure light relative to the print media at a cure speed in response to the cure light passing over a printed portion of the given image to cure the ink of the given image, and to move the cure light at an index speed in response to the cure light passing over a non-printed portion of the given image, wherein the index speed is greater than the cure speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2022Publication date: June 16, 2022Inventors: Brent D. Lien, Tanya Jegeris Snyder, Evan Pastor
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Publication number: 20220080722Abstract: Systems and techniques for preserving and improving ink jet nozzle health and printing reliability are disclosed herein. The method may include monitoring whether a triggering event has occurred. In response to detecting the triggering event has occurred, pumping at least a portion of ink contained in a header tank in a direction toward an ink cartridge through a tube connecting the header tank to the ink cartridge. The header tank connected to a print head included as a part of a scan head. The method may further include circulating the ink through the tube back into the header tank, and agitating the scan head by moving the scan head along an x-y gantry. Additional methods may include reverse purging, ejecting a portion of ink through nozzles on the print head while simultaneously wiping a nozzle plate included on the print head, and randomizing print head location when printing.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2020Publication date: March 17, 2022Inventors: Brent D. Lien, Evan Pastor, Chad Everett Beery, Bradley O'Hara, Kyrsten Dominique Elemino, Tanya Jegeris Snyder
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Publication number: 20220080745Abstract: Techniques for operating a printer are provided. In an example, the printer can include a print head a cure light and a controller. The controller can be configured to move the print head relative to a print media to print a given image, to move the cure light relative to the print media at a cure speed in response to the cure light passing over a printed portion of the given image to cure the ink of the given image, and to move the cure light at an index speed in response to the cure light passing over a non-printed portion of the given image, wherein the index speed is greater than the cure speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2020Publication date: March 17, 2022Inventors: Brent D. Lien, Tanya Jegeris Snyder, Evan Pastor
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Publication number: 20220080762Abstract: Systems and techniques for improving ink jet ink durability and adhesion to a substrate. The techniques may include applying a varnish to the surface of the substrate, curing, in an initial curing step, the varnish with an ultraviolet (UV) lamp, and applying a pigmented ink to at least a portion of the substrate. The initial curing step may comprise pinning the varnish with the UV lamp in a low-power state. The techniques may additionally or alternatively include applying a layer of pigmented ink and varnish at substantially the same time, allowing the pigmented ink and varnish to at least partially mix, then pinning or curing the ink/varnish combination.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2020Publication date: March 17, 2022Inventors: Brent D. Lien, Dale James Ziebarth, Evan Pastor, Tanya Jegeris Snyder
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Patent number: 11267258Abstract: Techniques for operating a printer are provided. In an example, the printer can include a print head a cure light and a controller. The controller can be configured to move the print head relative to a print media to print a given image, to move the cure light relative to the print media at a cure speed in response to the cure light passing over a printed portion of the given image to cure the ink of the given image, and to move the cure light at an index speed in response to the cure light passing over a non-printed portion of the given image, wherein the index speed is greater than the cure speed.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2020Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: ASSA ABLOY ABInventors: Brent D. Lien, Tanya Jergeris Snyder, Evan Pastor
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Patent number: 10363725Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a transfer lamination process and apparatus that reduces substrate warpage. In some embodiments, the transfer lamination process is performed using a transfer lamination device, which includes a transfer unit, a substrate rotator, and a transfer ribbon having a carrier layer and a transfer layer attached to the carrier layer. In some embodiments of the transfer lamination process, a transfer section of the transfer layer is transferred from the carrier layer to a first surface of a substrate using the transfer unit. In some embodiments of this transferring step, the transfer section is heated and pressed against the first surface of the substrate using the transfer unit, and the carrier layer is detached from the transfer section. The substrate is then inverted using the substrate rotator.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2014Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignee: ASSA ABLOY ABInventors: Ted M. Hoffman, Brent D. Lien
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Publication number: 20170165952Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a transfer lamination process and apparatus that reduces substrate warpage. In some embodiments, the transfer lamination process is performed using a transfer lamination device, which includes a transfer unit, a substrate rotator, and a transfer ribbon having a carrier layer and a transfer layer attached to the carrier layer. In some embodiments of the transfer lamination process, a transfer section of the transfer layer is transferred from the carrier layer to a first surface of a substrate using the transfer unit. In some embodiments of this transferring step, the transfer section is heated and pressed against the first surface of the substrate using the transfer unit, and the carrier layer is detached from the transfer section. The substrate is then inverted using the substrate rotator.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2014Publication date: June 15, 2017Inventors: Ted M. Hoffman, Brent D. Lien
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Publication number: 20130032288Abstract: A laminator comprises a laminating head and a processor. The laminating head comprises a plurality of heating elements. Each heating element has an activated state, in which the heating element is powered by a current, and a deactivated state, in which the heating element is not powered by a current. The processor selectively places the individual heating elements in the activated or deactivated state. The selective activation and deactivation of the heating elements is used to bond at least a portion of an overlaminate material to a surface of a substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2011Publication date: February 7, 2013Applicant: HID GLOBAL CORPORATIONInventors: Brent D. Lien, Karl A. Karst, Traci Johnson, Joshua Nippoldt, Johanna Mularoni
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Patent number: 7717632Abstract: A card printer comprises a print platen, a first support, a printhead, and a biasing component. The first support is moveable, relative to the platen, between print and withdrawn positions. The printhead is moveably mounted to the first support for movement between a forward position and a floating position relative to the first support. The biasing component is configured to apply a biasing force to bias the printhead toward the forward position.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2008Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: HID Global CorporationInventors: Brent D. Lien, Thomas G. Gale, Jr., Ted M. Hoffman, John P. Skoglund, Andy A. Vander Woude
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Publication number: 20080279602Abstract: A card printer comprises a print platen, a first support, a printhead, and a biasing component. The first support is moveable, relative to the platen, between print and withdrawn positions. The printhead is moveably mounted to the first support for movement between a forward position and a floating position relative to the first support. The biasing component is configured to apply a biasing force to bias the printhead toward the forward position.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2008Publication date: November 13, 2008Applicant: Fargo Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Brent D. Lien, Thomas G. Gale, JR., Ted M. Hoffman, John P. Skoglund, Andy A. Vander Woude
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Patent number: 6985167Abstract: A card cleaner roller assembly for use in an identification card printer includes first and second cleaner pinch rollers, first and second tape rollers, first and second brackets, and a biasing mechanism. The first and second cleaner controllers are adapted to receive a transported card therebetween. The first and second tape rollers support a cleaning tape loop that is sandwiched between the second cleaner roller and the first tape roller. The cleaning tape loop includes a debris-collecting exterior surface that engages the second cleaner roller. The first bracket supports the first and second cleaner rollers and the first tape roller. The second bracket supports the second tape roller. The first and second brackets are assembled in sliding arrangement with each other and include a roller release position and an operating position. The biasing mechanism is configured to bias the first and second brackets in the operating position.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2003Date of Patent: January 10, 2006Assignee: Fargo Electronics, Inc.Inventor: Brent D. Lien
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Patent number: 6981536Abstract: A swing arm assembly includes a swing frame, a laminating roller, and a motor. The swing frame is rotatably mountable to a frame of a card laminator for pivotal movement relative to the frame between open and closed positions. The laminating roller is movably mounted to the swing frame. The motor is mounted to the swing frame and is configured to drive a roller actuator to move the laminating roller relative to the swing frame between a laminating position and a recessed position.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2003Date of Patent: January 3, 2006Assignee: Fargo Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Brent D. Lien, Ted M. Hoffman
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Patent number: 6896431Abstract: An identification card manufacturing system that includes first and second identification card manufacturing device modules and a unification mounting. The first identification card manufacturing device module includes a first card transport mechanism and an output, through which the card transport mechanism is configured to discharge individual cards. The second identification card manufacturing device module includes a second card transport mechanism and an input, at which the second card transport mechanism is configured to receive cards. The unification mounting positions the output of the first device module in card handoff alignment with the input of the second device module.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2003Date of Patent: May 24, 2005Assignee: Fargo Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Brent D. Lien, Ted M. Hoffman, Gregory A. Lee
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Patent number: 6835280Abstract: A heat shield for use in a laminator having a laminating roller includes a movable shield member. The heat shield has a retracted position in which a laminating side of the laminating roller is exposed. Additionally, the heat shield has a shielding position in which the shield member covers the laminating side of the laminating roller.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2003Date of Patent: December 28, 2004Assignee: Fargo Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Brent D. Lien, Ted M. Hoffman