Patents by Inventor Bruce Allen Thompson

Bruce Allen Thompson 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: 8708337
    Abstract: Provided herein is sheet inverter apparatus which includes a diverter gate which diverts the sheet to one of at least two paths, a first paper path, and a second paper path. The first and second path each include a rotatable nip assembly, the rotatable nip assembly including a nip drive roll and a nip idler roll positioned so as to define a nip therebetween, the nip serving as a rotatable axis around which the nip drive roll and the nip idler roll rotate to invert the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce Allen Thompson, Frank Albert Porter, Michael J. Linder, William Matthew Harney, Robert Rinefierd
  • Publication number: 20140091515
    Abstract: Provided herein is sheet inverter apparatus which includes a diverter gate which diverts the sheet to one of at least two paths, a first paper path, and a second paper path. The first and second path each include a rotatable nip assembly, the rotatable nip assembly including a nip drive roll and a nip idler roll positioned so as to define a nip therebetween, the nip serving as a rotatable axis around which the nip drive roll and the nip idler roll rotate to invert the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce Allen Thompson, Frank Albert Porter, Michael J. Linder, William Matthew Harney, Robert Rinefierd
  • Publication number: 20130341857
    Abstract: An approach is provided for inverting a sheeted substrate processed by a printing system while continuously running the sheeted substrate through the printing system without stopping. The approach involves a series of rolls that cause an orientation of the sheeted substrate to be changed such that the sheeted substrate may be returned to a first process path when inverted for duplex printing, or otherwise diverted to a bypass path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Douglas K. HERRMANN, Bruce Allen THOMPSON
  • Patent number: 8608163
    Abstract: An approach is provided for inverting a sheeted substrate processed by a printing system while continuously running the sheeted substrate through the printing system without stopping. The approach involves a series of rolls that cause an orientation of the sheeted substrate to be changed such that the sheeted substrate may be returned to a first process path when inverted for duplex printing, or otherwise diverted to a bypass path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas K. Herrmann, Bruce Allen Thompson
  • Patent number: 8579281
    Abstract: A sheet inverter apparatus improves the handling capabilities of high speed printers and copiers. The sheet inverter apparatus includes a rotatable support having an axis of rotation and at least first and second arms radiating outwardly from the axis of rotation. First and second nip assemblies are is mounted to the first and second arms respectively. The support is rotatable to adjust positions of the first and second nips about the axis of rotation. Advantageously, with this arrangement, the support is adjustable so as to permit the first and second nips to receive sheets of paper at one location, be positionally adjusted with the sheets of paper moving therewith, and located at a second location so as to deliver the paper to an outlet feed path. This positional adjustment allows for inversion of the paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce Allen Thompson, Frank Albert Porter, Michael J. Linder, William Matthew Harney, Robert Rinefierd
  • Patent number: 8494412
    Abstract: Systems and a method for image forming systems to skip over the non-printing photoreceptor area in order to not skip a label position on a continuous print web medium. A vacuum assembly is coupled to a controller that controls different vacuum pressures at each vacuum roller therein. The vacuum rollers provide drag and drive forces to skip a seam of the photoreceptor and a residual length based on the number and size of images on the photoreceptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth Paul Moore, Frank Albert Porter, Bruce Allen Thompson, Todd Maurice Uthman, Ron Edward Dufort, Venkata Bharadwaj Chivukula, Roger Gaylord Leighton
  • Patent number: 8459644
    Abstract: A dual path, single reversing roll inverter driven by a single actuator includes a single reversing roller with two, diametrically opposed idler rollers. The configuration of the reversing roller and idler rollers forms a first nip and a second nip that are alternately used to accept sequential sheets from a paper path. The first and second nips discharge the sheets into respective first and second inverting paths. A method for inverting sheets using the dual path, single reversing roll inverter includes rotating the roller in a first direction to direct a first sheet through the first nip. The roller is then rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction to direct the first sheet from the first nip and into the first inverting path and to simultaneously direct a second sheet into the second nip. A gate alternately directs the sequential sheets into the first and second nips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce Allen Thompson, Frank Albert Porter, Michael J. Linder, William Matthew Harney, Robert J. Rinefierd
  • Publication number: 20120251148
    Abstract: Systems and a method for image forming systems to skip over the non-printing photoreceptor area in order to not skip a label position on a continuous print web medium. A vacuum assembly is coupled to a controller that controls different vacuum pressures at each vacuum roller therein. The vacuum rollers provide drag and drive forces to skip a seam of the photoreceptor and a residual length based on the number and size of images on the photoreceptor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenneth Paul Moore, Frank Albert Porter, Bruce Allen Thompson, Todd Maurice Uthman, Ron Edward Dufort, Venkata Bharadwaj Chivukula, Roger Gaylord Leighton