Patents by Inventor Christopher Kent Washing

Christopher Kent Washing 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: 11194286
    Abstract: A system for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a basket insertable into and extendable out of the image forming device. The basket includes a plurality of positioning slots each configured to receive a corresponding toner cartridge of a plurality of toner cartridges. The basket includes a cartridge latching assembly configured to apply a hold-down force on each toner cartridge to rigidly hold each toner cartridge against corresponding datums of the basket. A basket latching assembly in the image forming device is configured to apply a hold-down force on the basket when the basket is inserted into the image forming device to rigidly hold the basket against corresponding datums of the image forming device for positioning the plurality of toner cartridges in respective operational positions within the image forming device with only the cartridge latching assembly of the basket directly applying hold-down forces on the plurality of toner cartridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark William Amann, Brian Allen Blair, Brian Lester Boettcher, James Anthany Carter, II, Jie Chen, Benjamin Charles Devore, Darin Michael Gettelfinger, Michael James Shanor, Christopher Kent Washing
  • Patent number: 11194285
    Abstract: A system for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a basket including a plurality of positioning slots each including cartridge datum locators that position a plurality of toner cartridges relative to the basket. A first guide rail and a second guide rail, each movable between a raised position and a lowered position, raise and lower the basket when the first and second guide rails move between the raised and lowered positions. In the raised positions the first and second guide rails support the basket permitting the basket to slide along the first and second guide rails into and out of the image forming device. When the first and second guide rails are in the lowered positions basket datum locators within the image forming device support the basket and position the basket relative to the image forming device in order to position the toner cartridges relative to the image forming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Allen Blair, Jie Chen, Benjamin Charles Devore, Darin Michael Gettelfinger, Michael James Shanor, Christopher Kent Washing
  • Patent number: 11194287
    Abstract: A system for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a basket for holding multiple toner cartridges. A guide rail assembly operatively connected to an access door moves between a raised position and a lowered position to raise and lower the basket when the access door moves between an open position and a closed position. The basket is slidable along the guide rail assembly into and out of the image forming device when the guide rail assembly is in the raised position, and is in an operational position within the image forming device when the guide rail assembly is in the lowered position. A rail lock mechanism locks the access door in the open position when the guide rail assembly is in the raised position and the basket is extended out of the image forming device and unlocks the access door from the open position when the basket is inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jie Chen, Benjamin Charles Devore, Michael James Shanor, Christopher Kent Washing
  • Publication number: 20210255578
    Abstract: A system for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a basket including a plurality of positioning slots each including cartridge datum locators that position a plurality of toner cartridges relative to the basket. A first guide rail and a second guide rail, each movable between a raised position and a lowered position, raise and lower the basket when the first and second guide rails move between the raised and lowered positions. In the raised positions the first and second guide rails support the basket permitting the basket to slide along the first and second guide rails into and out of the image forming device. When the first and second guide rails are in the lowered positions basket datum locators within the image forming device support the basket and position the basket relative to the image forming device in order to position the toner cartridges relative to the image forming device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: BRIAN ALLEN BLAIR, JIE CHEN, BENJAMIN CHARLES DEVORE, DARIN MICHAEL GETTELFINGER, MICHAEL JAMES SHANOR, CHRISTOPHER KENT WASHING
  • Publication number: 20210255580
    Abstract: A system for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a basket insertable into and extendable out of the image forming device. The basket includes a plurality of positioning slots each configured to receive a corresponding toner cartridge of a plurality of toner cartridges. The basket includes a cartridge latching assembly configured to apply a hold-down force on each toner cartridge to rigidly hold each toner cartridge against corresponding datums of the basket. A basket latching assembly in the image forming device is configured to apply a hold-down force on the basket when the basket is inserted into the image forming device to rigidly hold the basket against corresponding datums of the image forming device for positioning the plurality of toner cartridges in respective operational positions within the image forming device with only the cartridge latching assembly of the basket directly applying hold-down forces on the plurality of toner cartridges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: MARK WILLIAM AMANN, BRIAN ALLEN BLAIR, BRIAN LESTER BOETTCHER, JAMES ANTHANY CARTER, II, JIE CHEN, BENJAMIN CHARLES DEVORE, DARIN MICHAEL GETTELFINGER, MICHAEL JAMES SHANOR, CHRISTOPHER KENT WASHING
  • Publication number: 20210255582
    Abstract: A system for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a basket for holding multiple toner cartridges. A guide rail assembly operatively connected to an access door moves between a raised position and a lowered position to raise and lower the basket when the access door moves between an open position and a closed position. The basket is slidable along the guide rail assembly into and out of the image forming device when the guide rail assembly is in the raised position, and is in an operational position within the image forming device when the guide rail assembly is in the lowered position. A rail lock mechanism locks the access door in the open position when the guide rail assembly is in the raised position and the basket is extended out of the image forming device and unlocks the access door from the open position when the basket is inserted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: JIE CHEN, BENJAMIN CHARLES DEVORE, MICHAEL JAMES SHANOR, CHRISTOPHER KENT WASHING
  • Patent number: 9996048
    Abstract: An access door of an imaging device is movable between a raised closed position, a lowered open position, and a raised open position. A linkage assembly includes a lower link connected to the access door using a first revolute joint and an upper link connected to the access door using a compound joint. The compound joint is transformable between a prismatic joint and a second revolute joint, with the compound joint forming the prismatic joint as the access door moves between the raised closed position and the lowered open position and forming the second revolute joint as the access door moves between the lowered open position and the raised open position. The compound joint as the prismatic joint allows translational motion of the access door relative to the upper link. The compound joint as the second revolute joint allows rotational motion of the access door relative to the upper link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Ryan Keniston, Ryan Jay Alfonso Dumaquita, Christopher Kent Washing
  • Publication number: 20140186063
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor for sensing amount of waste toner in a waste toner box of an imaging apparatus includes a capacitor that has a pair of separated plates disposed within the interior of the waste toner box. The capacitance of the capacitor changes with the amount of toner in between the plates of the capacitor. A sensor circuitry is connected to the plates of the waste toner box that measure the capacitance of the capacitor as a voltage value. This voltage value is provided to a controller that determines a relative change in the capacitance value by determining a change in capacitance of the capacitor with respect to a number of pages printed by the imaging apparatus. The controller then determines the state of the waste toner box based on this relative change in capacitance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Charles Hogan, Peyman Kermanshahi Nejad, James Marion Nimmo, David Anthony Schneider, Christopher Kent Washing
  • Patent number: 8731415
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor for sensing amount of waste toner in a waste toner box of an imaging apparatus includes a capacitor that has a pair of separated plates disposed within the interior of the waste toner box. The capacitance of the capacitor changes with the amount of toner in between the plates of the capacitor. A sensor circuitry is connected to the plates of the waste toner box that measure the capacitance of the capacitor as a voltage value. This voltage value is provided to a controller that determines a relative change in the capacitance value by determining a change in capacitance of the capacitor with respect to a number of pages printed by the imaging apparatus. The controller then determines the state of the waste toner box based on this relative change in capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Charles Hogan, Peyman Kermanshahi Nejad, James Marion Nimmo, David Anthony Schneider, Christopher Kent Washing
  • Patent number: 8233834
    Abstract: The present invention provides a waste particulate toner collection container system for an image forming apparatus that includes a waste particulate toner spreading device movably disposed within the container in a reciprocating manner generally along its length, the device including a spine member having on a first end a first plurality of spaced apart raking tine members and on a second end a second plurality of spaced apart raking tine members disposed substantially transversely of the length of the spine member, and a crank arm attached at the first end of the spine member. A post disposed on an inner wall of the container supports the device at a point along the length of the spine member between the first and second pluralities of raking tine members, and a drive mechanism is operatively connected to the crank arm for imparting reciprocating movement to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Douglas Horrall, Peyman Kermanshani Nejad, Christopher Kent Washing
  • Publication number: 20100303484
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor for sensing amount of waste toner in a waste toner box of an imaging apparatus includes a capacitor that has a pair of separated plates disposed within the interior of the waste toner box. The capacitance of the capacitor changes with the amount of toner in between the plates of the capacitor. A sensor circuitry is connected to the plates of the waste toner box that measure the capacitance of the capacitor as a voltage value. This voltage value is provided to a controller that determines a relative change in the capacitance value by determining a change in capacitance of the capacitor with respect to a number of pages printed by the imaging apparatus. The controller then determines the state of the waste toner box based on this relative change in capacitance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Andrew Charles Hogan, Peyman Kermanshahi Nejad, James Marion Nimmo, David Anthony Schneider, Christopher Kent Washing
  • Publication number: 20100054832
    Abstract: The present invention provides a waste particulate toner collection container system for an image forming apparatus that includes a waste particulate toner spreading device movably disposed within the container in a reciprocating manner generally along its length, the device including a spine member having on a first end a first plurality of spaced apart raking tine members and on a second end a second plurality of spaced apart raking tine members disposed substantially transversely of the length of the spine member, and a crank arm attached at the first end of the spine member. A post disposed on an inner wall of the container supports the device at a point along the length of the spine member between the first and second pluralities of raking tine members, and a drive mechanism is operatively connected to the crank arm for imparting reciprocating movement to the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Paul Douglas Horrall, Peyman Kermanshani Nejad, Christopher Kent Washing
  • Publication number: 20090110410
    Abstract: The present application is directed to methods for determining the location and movement of a media sheet within an image forming device. In one embodiment, the media sheet is positioned within an input area of the device. A pick roller is rotated to move the sheet from the input area and into a media path. An encoder roller may be positioned in contact with the sheet to detect the actual movement of the sheet from the input area. A controller may determine the expected amount of movement based on the movement of the pick roller and compare this amount with an actual amount of movement based on the movement of the encoder roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC
    Inventors: Darin M. Gettelfinger, John Spicer, Paul Douglas Horrall, Christopher Kent Washing, Franklin Joseph Palumbo, LARRY STEVEN FOSTER
  • Publication number: 20070246880
    Abstract: The present application is directed to methods and devices for determining a media level in an input area within an image forming device. In one embodiment, a support section configured to hold a stack of media sheets is positioned in the image forming device. A pick mechanism is positioned to contact a top-most media sheet of the stack of media sheets in the support section. The pick mechanism may include a pick motor and a pick roller. A sensor roller may be positioned separate from the pick roller and in contact with the top-most media sheet. A controller may determine the media level based on a movement of the sensor roller after the top-most media sheet has moved to a predetermined location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: Kenji Totsuka, John Spicer, Franklin Joseph Palumbo, Darin M. Gettelfinger, Paul Douglas Horrall, Christopher Kent Washing, Larry Steven Foster
  • Patent number: D867445
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Darin Michael Gettelfinger, Matthew Ryan Keniston, Franklin Joseph Palumbo, Michael James Shanor, Jay Scott Siekmann, Christopher Kent Washing
  • Patent number: D894272
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Darin Michael Gettelfinger, Matthew Ryan Keniston, Franklin Joseph Palumbo, Michael James Shanor, Jay Scott Siekmann, Christopher Kent Washing