Patents by Inventor Chet M. Butikofer

Chet M. Butikofer 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: 7789310
    Abstract: A media includes a set of adjacent edges of material and a segment along only a portion of the set of edges. The segment has a first identifiable end and a second identifiable end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Chet M. Butikofer
  • Patent number: 7435022
    Abstract: This invention relates to a cover attached to an output device that is connected to an imaging device. The purpose for this cover is to avoid output motion and media movement detection in high security areas, such as banks, insurance companies or the like. Such structures of this type, generally, provide an alert mechanism to the imaging device to forward the printed output to the covered output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Chet M. Butikofer, Roman T. Wachter
  • Patent number: 6985675
    Abstract: Image forming devices, methods of operating an image forming device, and methods of monitoring an environment proximate to an image forming device are described. One aspect provides an image forming device including an image engine configured to form hard images; an environmental sensor configured to monitor at least one environmental condition proximate to the image forming device and to provide data indicative of the at least one environmental condition; and an interface configured to communicate the at least one environmental condition externally of the image forming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Srinivas Guddanti, Chet M. Butikofer
  • Patent number: 6945527
    Abstract: A high capacity media apparatus and method includes, in a high capacity media device holding large quantities of media, according to one embodiment, a unitary deformable media holder with a bottom, a top, and sides, constructed to separate at preselected locations. A movable support base is provided in the media holder. A lifting device is provided in the high capacity media device and conformed to apply lifting force to the movable support base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Srinivas Guddanti, Chet M. Butikofer, Robert Matthew Sesek
  • Patent number: 6883797
    Abstract: A sheet feeding system has a pick roller, a first roller, and a second roller. The ends of the first and second rollers are coupled together. The pick roller acquires, or picks, a sheet from a stack of sheets and passes the sheet to the first and second rollers. One of the first and second rollers discourages unintended sheets passed with the sheet picked from the stack. The other of the first and second rollers advances the sheet. A logic processor evaluates interchange conditions and activates a drive mechanism when the evaluated interchange conditions reaches a threshold value. The drive mechanism interchanges the first and second rollers so that the second roller becomes the first roller and the first roller becomes the second roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Srinivas Guddanti, Chet M. Butikofer
  • Publication number: 20040240002
    Abstract: This invention relates to a cover attached to an output device that is connected to an imaging device. The purpose for this cover is to avoid output motion and media movement detection in high security areas, such as banks, insurance companies or the like. Such structures of this type, generally, provide an alert mechanism to the imaging device to forward the printed output to the covered output device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Chet M. Butikofer, Roman T. Wachter
  • Patent number: 6808170
    Abstract: An imaging media supply tray for providing imaging media to a feed mechanism of an imaging system a first access area adapted and constructed to contain a first quantity of imaging media in a position capable of exposing the first quantity of imaging media to the feed mechanism. A second access area adapted and constructed to contain a second quantity of imaging media in a position capable of exposing the second quantity of imaging media to the feed mechanism. A securing mechanism is adapted and constructed to selectively secure the imaging media supply tray in the imaging system in a first orientation connecting the first access area to the feed mechanism, or in a second orientation connecting the second access area to the feed mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Chet M. Butikofer
  • Patent number: 6786662
    Abstract: This invention relates to a cover attached to an output device that is connected to an imaging device. The purpose for this cover is to avoid output motion and media movement detection in high security areas, such as banks, insurance companies or the like. Such structures of this type, generally, provide an alert mechanism to the imaging device to forward the printed output to the covered output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Chet M. Butikofer, Roman T. Wachter
  • Publication number: 20040169328
    Abstract: A high capacity media apparatus and method includes, in a high capacity media device holding large quantities of media, according to one embodiment, a unitary deformable media holder with a bottom, a top, and sides, constructed to separate at preselected locations. A movable support base is provided in the media holder. A lifting device is provided in the high capacity media device and conformed to apply lifting force to the movable support base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Srinivas Guddanti, Chet M. Butikofer, Robert Matthew Sesek
  • Patent number: 6772047
    Abstract: A publication-dispensing apparatus is provided, the kiosk including memory containing one or more publications, a user interface configured to permit a user to select a publication from publications in memory, a processor configured to determine proper payment for a selected publication based on whether the user has a subscription to the selected publication, and a printing device configured to print the selected publication onto a print medium upon receiving proper payment for the selected publication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, LP.
    Inventor: Chet M. Butikofer
  • Patent number: 6741342
    Abstract: This invention relates to the method and apparatus for indicating roller wear in a media handling device. Such structures of this type, generally, employ the use of a laser beam that is located adjacent to the media handling device roller. Initially, the roller material obstructs the laser beam. However, when the roller becomes worn out, the roller material no longer obstructs the laser beam and the beam shines on a piece of reflective material that is illuminated when the laser beam contacts it. This illumination will then be seen from the front of the media handling device, such as through the use of an LED. The laser beam can also activate an optical sensor that relays information to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Chet M. Butikofer, Srinivas Guddanti
  • Publication number: 20040098165
    Abstract: A publication-dispensing apparatus is provided, the kiosk including memory containing one or more publications, a user interface configured to permit a user to select a publication from publications in memory, a processor configured to determine proper payment for a selected publication based on whether the user has a subscription to the selected publication, and a printing device configured to print the selected publication onto a print medium upon receiving proper payment for the selected publication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventor: Chet M. Butikofer
  • Publication number: 20040084835
    Abstract: An imaging media supply tray for providing imaging media to a feed mechanism of an imaging system a first access area adapted and constructed to contain a first quantity of imaging media in a position capable of exposing the first quantity of imaging media to the feed mechanism. A second access area adapted and constructed to contain a second quantity of imaging media in a position capable of exposing the second quantity of imaging media to the feed mechanism. A securing mechanism is adapted and constructed to selectively secure the imaging media supply tray in the imaging system in a first orientation connecting the first access area to the feed mechanism, or in a second orientation connecting the second access area to the feed mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventor: Chet M. Butikofer
  • Publication number: 20040071489
    Abstract: This invention relates to a cover attached to an output device that is connected to an imaging device. The purpose for this cover is to avoid output motion and media movement detection in high security areas, such as banks, insurance companies or the like. Such structures of this type, generally, provide an alert mechanism to the imaging device to forward the printed output to the covered output device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: Chet M. Butikofer, Roman T. Wachter
  • Patent number: 6677749
    Abstract: This invention relates to the method and apparatus for indicating roller wear in a media handling device. Such structures of this type, generally, employ the use of variable inductance to determine roller wear. The media transport roller has a non-conductive surface with a conductive core. Located just above the conductive core is a rod containing a power coil that is driven by AC excitation and a pick-up coil. The pick-up coil is connected to circuitry that measures the inductance. As the media transport roller wears, the conductive core moves closer to an inductive pick-up unit. The measured output voltage from the pick-up unit depends upon the distance between the core and the pick-up unit. This inductance change can then be correlated to media transport roller wear and relayed to the user through the use of an LED or other similar types of numerical/graphical displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Chet M. Butikofer, Robert W. Jewell, Ronald D. Edwards
  • Patent number: 6678579
    Abstract: A publication-dispensing apparatus that permits a user to select from among the publications in memory to which the user has a subscription, and to print at least a portion of a selected publication. The publication-dispensing apparatus permits travelers having a subscription to a newspaper, magazine, or other publication to obtain a copy of the subscribed publication, or a copy of an individual article from the subscribed publication, without paying the full cost of a new copy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Chet M. Butikofer
  • Publication number: 20030220712
    Abstract: A publication-dispensing apparatus that permits a user to select from among the publications in memory to which the user has a subscription, and to print at least a portion of a selected publication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventor: Chet M. Butikofer
  • Publication number: 20030205862
    Abstract: A sheet feeding system has a pick roller, a first roller, and a second roller. The ends of the first and second rollers are coupled together. The pick roller acquires, or picks, a sheet from a stack of sheets and passes the sheet to the first and second rollers. One of the first and second rollers discourages unintended sheets passed with the sheet picked from the stack. The other of the first and second rollers advances the sheet. A logic processor evaluates interchange conditions and activates a drive mechanism when the evaluated interchange conditions reaches a threshold value. The drive mechanism interchanges the first and second rollers so that the second roller becomes the first roller and the first roller becomes the second roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Inventors: Srinivas Guddanti, Chet M. Butikofer
  • Publication number: 20030193665
    Abstract: This invention relates to the method and apparatus for indicating roller wear in a media handling device. Such structures of this type, generally, employ the use of a laser beam that is located adjacent to the media handling device roller. Initially, the roller material obstructs the laser beam. However, when the roller becomes worn out, the roller material no longer obstructs the laser beam and the beam shines on a piece of reflective material that is illuminated when the laser beam contacts it. This illumination will then be seen from the front of the media handling device, such as through the use of an LED. The laser beam can also activate an optical sensor that relays information to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: Chet M. Butikofer, Srinivas Guddanti
  • Publication number: 20030193330
    Abstract: This invention relates to the method and apparatus for indicating roller wear in a media handling device. Such structures of this type, generally, employ the use of variable inductance to determine roller wear. The media transport roller has a non-conductive surface with a conductive core. Located just above the conductive core is a rod containing a power coil that is driven by AC excitation and a pick-up coil. The pick-up coil is connected to circuitry that measures the inductance. As the media transport roller wears, the conductive core moves closer to an inductive pick-up unit. The measured output voltage from the pick-up unit depends upon the distance between the core and the pick-up unit. This inductance change can then be correlated to media transport roller wear and relayed to the user through the use of an LED or other similar types of numerical/graphical displays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: Chet M. Butikofer, Robert W. Jewell, Ronald D. Edwards