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).
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Patent number: 7789310Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 29, 2004Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventor: Chet M. Butikofer
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Patent number: 7435022Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 8, 2004Date of Patent: October 14, 2008Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Chet M. Butikofer, Roman T. Wachter
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Patent number: 6985675Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 6, 2001Date of Patent: January 10, 2006Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Srinivas Guddanti, Chet M. Butikofer
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Patent number: 6945527Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 28, 2003Date of Patent: September 20, 2005Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Srinivas Guddanti, Chet M. Butikofer, Robert Matthew Sesek
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Patent number: 6883797Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 3, 2002Date of Patent: April 26, 2005Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Srinivas Guddanti, Chet M. Butikofer
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Publication number: 20040240002Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2004Publication date: December 2, 2004Inventors: Chet M. Butikofer, Roman T. Wachter
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Patent number: 6808170Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 30, 2002Date of Patent: October 26, 2004Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventor: Chet M. Butikofer
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Patent number: 6786662Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 11, 2002Date of Patent: September 7, 2004Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Chet M. Butikofer, Roman T. Wachter
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Publication number: 20040169328Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2003Publication date: September 2, 2004Inventors: Srinivas Guddanti, Chet M. Butikofer, Robert Matthew Sesek
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Patent number: 6772047Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 12, 2003Date of Patent: August 3, 2004Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, LP.Inventor: Chet M. Butikofer
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Patent number: 6741342Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 10, 2002Date of Patent: May 25, 2004Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Chet M. Butikofer, Srinivas Guddanti
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Publication number: 20040098165Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2003Publication date: May 20, 2004Inventor: Chet M. Butikofer
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Publication number: 20040084835Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2002Publication date: May 6, 2004Inventor: Chet M. Butikofer
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Publication number: 20040071489Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2002Publication date: April 15, 2004Inventors: Chet M. Butikofer, Roman T. Wachter
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Patent number: 6677749Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 10, 2002Date of Patent: January 13, 2004Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Chet M. Butikofer, Robert W. Jewell, Ronald D. Edwards
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Patent number: 6678579Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 23, 2002Date of Patent: January 13, 2004Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventor: Chet M. Butikofer
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Publication number: 20030220712Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2002Publication date: November 27, 2003Inventor: Chet M. Butikofer
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Publication number: 20030205862Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2002Publication date: November 6, 2003Inventors: Srinivas Guddanti, Chet M. Butikofer
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Publication number: 20030193665Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2002Publication date: October 16, 2003Inventors: Chet M. Butikofer, Srinivas Guddanti
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Publication number: 20030193330Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2002Publication date: October 16, 2003Inventors: Chet M. Butikofer, Robert W. Jewell, Ronald D. Edwards