Patents by Inventor Claiborne Ryle

Claiborne Ryle 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: 9541876
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for detecting a fatal error condition in a printing device having an intermediate transfer member for facilitating toner transfer, including sensing a reflectance value of the intermediate transfer member at a first predetermined time; comparing the sensed reflectance value at the first period of time to a predetermined threshold; sensing a reflectance value of the intermediate transfer member at a second predetermined time after the predetermined first time; and comparing the sensed reflectance value of the intermediate transfer member at the second period of time to the predetermined threshold. If each of the sensed reflectance value at the first predetermined time and the sensed reflectance value at the second predetermined time is greater than the predetermined threshold, the method includes selectively suspending further printing operations until the imaging device is serviced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Marc Cousoulis, Alexander Johannes Geyling, Calvin Dale Murphy, Niko Jay Murrell, William Claiborne Ryle, Travis Alan Riggs, Edward Alan Rush
  • Patent number: 9535374
    Abstract: An ITM module for an imaging device, including a frame; a tension roll disposed in the frame; an ITM belt rotatably coupled to the frame and formed as an endless loop around rolls of the ITM module, including the tension roll; and an adjustment mechanism coupled to an end portion of the frame and to the tension roll, the adjustment mechanism setting an amount of skew of the tension roll relative to the frame. The amount of skew is in a direction that is substantially orthogonal to a process direction of the ITM belt. The adjustment mechanism includes a cam member rotatably coupled to the frame and having a cam surface coupled a first end portion of the tension roll such that rotating the first cam member sets an amount of elevation of the first end portion of the tension roll relative to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Kerry Leland Embry, Bartley Charles Gould, II, James Philip Harden, Gina Marie Johns, William Claiborne Ryle
  • Patent number: 9400455
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a moving surface for transferring a developed toner image during an image transfer operation, a sensing unit for detecting the amount of residual toner remaining on the moving surface after the image transfer operation, and a cleaning unit for selectively cleaning the residual toner from the moving surface. A controller coupled to the sensing unit and the cleaning unit selectively adjusts an operating characteristic of the cleaning unit based on the amount of residual toner detected by the sensing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger S Cannon, Kerry L Embry, Heidi L Hays, William Claiborne Ryle, Julie Ann Gordon Whitney
  • Publication number: 20150010318
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a moving surface for transferring a developed toner image during an image transfer operation, a sensing unit for detecting the amount of residual toner remaining on the moving surface after the image transfer operation, and a cleaning unit for selectively cleaning the residual toner from the moving surface. A controller coupled to the sensing unit and the cleaning unit selectively adjusts an operating characteristic of the cleaning unit based on the amount of residual toner detected by the sensing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Roger S Cannon, Kerry L Embry, Heidi L Hays, Claiborne Ryle, Julie Ann Gordon Whitney