Patents by Inventor Constance J. Thornton

Constance J. Thornton 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: 7307112
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrical component, which has an electrically conductive composition that is stable at high temperatures, and includes a partially pyrolized carbon based powder filler and a host matrix. The present invention also relates to an electrophotographic system which further is stable at conventional ambient environmental use conditions, such as different humidity levels and/or ambient temperature ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph A. Swift, Ihor W. Tarnawskyj, T. Edwin Freeman, Edward B. Caruthers, Jr., Constance J. Thornton
  • Patent number: 6904252
    Abstract: An image-bearing article used in liquid contact electrostatic printing (CEP) is formed from polymers that meet the requisite conformance and heat stability for the CEP process. Excessive absorption of toner carrier liquids by the image-bearing article in liquid CEP leads to the deterioration of the image-bearing article and reduces the useful life of the image-bearing article. The absorption of the toner carrier fluid may be controlled by the addition of oxides, silicone elastomers containing phenyl end groups, fluorosilicones or increasing the cross-linking density of the methyl silicones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Constance J. Thornton, Joseph Mammino, Robert M. Ferguson, Paul J. Brach, Edward Scales, Raymond K. Crandall, Edward L. Schlueter, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20040190941
    Abstract: An image-bearing article used in liquid contact electrostatic printing (CEP) is formed from polymers that meet the requisite conformance and heat stability for the CEP process. Excessive absorption of toner carrier liquids by the image-bearing article in liquid CEP leads to the deterioration of the image-bearing article and reduces the useful life of the image-bearing article. The absorption of the toner carrier fluid may be controlled by the addition of oxides, silicone elastomers containing phenyl end groups, fluorosilicones or increasing the cross-linking density of the methyl silicones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Constance J. THORNTON, Joseph MAMMINO, Robert M. FERGUSON, Paul J. BRACH, Edward SCALES, Raymond K. CRANDALL, Edward L. SCHLUETER
  • Patent number: 6736745
    Abstract: Seamed belts, particularly puzzle-cut imageable seam intermediate transfer belts, and marking machines that use such belts, that have a beveled sides across the thickness of the belt. When the first and second ends are interlocked the bevel points are adjacent one another and a substantially V-shaped channel is formed. An adhesive is disposed in that channel. The V-shaped channel beneficially continuously extends along the puzzle-cut seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph A. Swift, T. Edwin Freeman, Theodore Lovallo, Edward L. Schlueter, Jr., Constance J. Thornton, Xiaoying Elizabeth Yuan, Santokh S Badesha
  • Patent number: 6669800
    Abstract: Imageable seamed intermediate transfer belts having a large seam surface area, and marking machines that use such imageable seamed intermediate transfer belts. The seamed intermediate transfer belt having an inner surface and an outer surface having predefine surface properties for the purpose of imaging. A belt is formed from a semiconductive substrate having a first end and a second end that are mated to form a seam. An adhesive is disposed over the joint whereupon joint can be burnished or overcoated with a material that substantially imitate predefined surface properties of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Constance J. Thornton, Edward L. Schlueter, Jr., Joseph A. Swift, Santokh S. Badesha, Theodore Lovallo, Xiaoying (Elizabeth) Yuan, T. Edwin Freeman
  • Patent number: 6604565
    Abstract: A system for manufacturing large quantities of seamed belts for printing systems with controlled imageable seams, which belts require a defined circumference and width, from suitable belt material in a large roll thereof, by feeding a continuous web of that belt material from the roll in (or cut to) a width that is at least as wide as the defined circumference of the finished seamed belt into a seam cutting station, where the opposing side edges of the continuous web of belt material are cut as they move through the seam cutting station into opposing seam-forming mating edge patterns, preferably mating puzzle-cut patterns cut by small movement laser beams on each side of the moving web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Constance J. Thornton, Joseph A. Swift, Edward L. Schlueter, Jr., Theodore Lovallo
  • Publication number: 20030144388
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrical component, which has an electrically conductive composition that is stable at high temperatures, and includes a partially pyrolized carbon based powder filler and a host matrix. The present invention also relates to an electrophotographic system which further is stable at conventional ambient environmental use conditions, such as different humidity levels and/or ambient temperature ranges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Swift, Ihor W. Tarnawskyj, T. Edwin Freeman, Edward B. Caruthers, Constance J. Thornton
  • Publication number: 20030113501
    Abstract: A seamed flexible belt having a substrate and a seam having interlocking seam members, wherein the interlocking seam members are held together by an adhesive having a polymer and plasticizer other than bis(dihydroxy diethylamino) triphenyl methane, bis(diethylamino) triphenyl methane, or dihydroxy tetraphenyl biphenylene diamine, for use in electrostatographic, contact electrostatic, digital and other like machines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph A. Mosher, Ihor W. Tarnawskyj, Constance J. Thornton
  • Publication number: 20030037859
    Abstract: Imageable seamed intermediate transfer belts having a large seam surface area, and marking machines that use such imageable seamed intermediate transfer belts. The seamed intermediate transfer belt having an inner surface and an outer surface having predefine surface properties for the purpose of imaging. A belt is formed from a semiconductive substrate having a first end and a second end that are mated to form a seam. An adhesive is disposed over the joint whereupon joint can be burnished or overcoated with a material that substantially imitate predefined surface properties of the belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Constance J. Thornton, Edward L. Schlueter, Joseph A. Swift, Santokh S. Badesha, Theodore Lovallo, Xiaoying (Elizabeth) Yuan, T. Edwin Freeman
  • Patent number: 6488798
    Abstract: Imageable seamed intermediate transfer belts having a large seam surface area, and marking machines that use such imageable seamed intermediate transfer belts. The seamed intermediate transfer belt having an inner surface and an outer surface having predefine surface properties for the purpose of imaging. A belt is formed from a semiconductive substrate having a first end and a second end that are mated to form a seam. An adhesive is disposed over the joint whereupon joint can be burnished or overcoated with a material that substantially imitate predefined surface properties of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Constance J. Thornton, Edward L. Schlueter, Jr., Joseph A. Swift, Santokh S. Badesha, Theodore Lovallo, Xiaoying (Elizabeth) Yuan, T. Edwin Freeman
  • Patent number: 6453783
    Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for producing an endless flexible seamed belt using templates is disclosed. A first form of the template is a mask template with a template aperture in the form of a puzzle cut pattern to be used in combination with an excimer laser. The template is placed between the excimer laser source and the belt material to be cut. As the excimer laser traverses the width of the belt, the laser forms a puzzle cut pattern on the belt. A second form of the template is a punch and die having patterned edges in the form of a puzzle cut pattern with extremely small nodes and kerfs. The cutting tolerances of the patterned edges make it necessary to fix the punch with respect to the die so that there is no misalignment of the punch and die between cutting operations. This is accomplished by resiliently fixing the punch to the die, rather than having the punch attached to the force generating assembly as in normal punch and die assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Robert C. U. Yu, William A. Hammond, Edward L. Schlueter, Jr., Constance J. Thornton
  • Patent number: 6440515
    Abstract: Seamed belts having puzzle-cut seam with edges that are themselves puzzle-cut: puzzle-cut on puzzle-cut seamed belts. Such belts beneficially may take the form of imageable seam intermediate transfer belts such as those used in marking machines. Belts are formed from a substrate having a puzzle-cut first end and a puzzle-cut second end that interlock to form a seam. That first end includes puzzle-cut tabs that have puzzle-cut edges and the second end includes puzzle-cut tabs that also have puzzle-cut edges. The first end and the second end interlock such that the puzzle tabs and the puzzle-cut edges mate to form the seam. Beneficially an adhesive is disposed over the seam. If the seamed belt is an imageable seam intermediate transfer belt the substrate is beneficially semiconductive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Constance J. Thornton, T. Edwin Freeman, Theodore Lovallo, Edward L. Schlueter, Jr., Joseph A. Swift, Xiaoying Elizabeth Yuan
  • Patent number: 6436502
    Abstract: Imageable seamed intermediate transfer belts having a large seam surface area, and marking machines that use such imageable seam intermediate transfer belts. A belt is formed from an electrically semiconductive substrate having a first end and a second end that are mated to form a seam. The first end includes a first tongue and the second end includes a second tongue that form a rabbeted joint such that the outer surface of the belt is substantially smooth across the seam. An adhesive is disposed over the rabbeted joint. The tongues may include mechanical locking features, such a protrusion and a channel, or an interlocking puzzle-cut feature that mate. The mechanical locking features may be continuous along the seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph A. Swift, Santokh S. Badesha, T. Edwin Freeman, Theodore Lovallo, Edward L. Schlueter, Jr., Constance J. Thornton, Xiaoying Elizabeth Yuan
  • Patent number: 6437282
    Abstract: Puzzle-cut imageable seam intermediate transfer belts having a large seam surface area, and marking machines that use such imageable seam intermediate transfer belts. A belt is formed from a semiconductive substrate having a puzzle-cut first end and a puzzle-cut second end that are mated to form a seam. The first end includes a first tongue and the second end includes a second tongue that form a rabbeted joint such that the outer surface of the belt is substantially smooth across the seam. An adhesive is disposed over the rabbeted joint. The tongues may include mechanical locking features, such a protrusion and a channel, that mate. The mechanical locking features may be continuous along the seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Constance J. Thornton, T. Edwin Freeman, Theodore Lovallo, Edward L. Schlueter, Jr., Joseph A. Swift, Xiaoying Elizabeth Yuan, Santokh S. Badesha
  • Publication number: 20020066520
    Abstract: A system for manufacturing large quantities of seamed belts for printing systems with controlled imageable seams, which belts require a defined circumference and width, from suitable belt material in a large roll thereof, by feeding a continuous web of that belt material from the roll in (or cut to) a width that is at least as wide as the defined circumference of the finished seamed belt into a seam cutting station, where the opposing side edges of the continuous web of belt material are cut as they move through the seam cutting station into opposing seam-forming mating edge patterns, preferably mating puzzle-cut patterns cut by small movement laser beams on each side of the moving web.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Constance J. Thornton, Joseph A. Swift, Edward L. Schlueter, Theodore Lovallo
  • Patent number: 6381436
    Abstract: Seamed belts, particularly puzzle-cut imageable seam intermediate transfer belts, that have large seam surface areas and puzzle-cut tabs that are resistant to lifting away from the seam. Belts include a substrate having a puzzle-cut first end and a puzzle-cut second end that are interlocked together to form a seam having a kerf. The first end includes a first step and the second end includes a second step. When the ends are interlocked the first step and the second step form a channel. An adhesive is disposed in the channel. The resulting channel beneficially continuously extends along the puzzle-cut seam. When the belt is an imageable seam intermediate transfer belt the substrate takes the form of a semiconductive substrate. Such imageable seam intermediate transfer belts find use in electrophotographic marking machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph A. Swift, T. Edwin Freeman, Theodore Lovallo, Edward L. Schlueter, Jr., Constance J. Thornton, Xiaoying Elizabeth Yuan, Santokh S. Badesha
  • Patent number: 6358347
    Abstract: A system for manufacturing large quantities of seamed belts for printing systems with controlled imageable seams, which belts require a defined circumference and width, from suitable belt material in a large roll thereof, by feeding a continuous web of that belt material from the roll in (or cut to) a width that is at least as wide as the defined circumference of the finished seamed belt into a seam cutting station, where the opposing side edges of the continuous web of belt material are cut as they move through the seam cutting station into opposing seam-forming mating edge patterns, preferably mating puzzle-cut patterns cut by small movement laser beams on each side of the moving web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Constance J. Thornton, Joseph A. Swift, Edward L. Schlueter, Jr., Theodore Lovallo
  • Patent number: 6355325
    Abstract: An unsaturated carbonate adhesive for use in bonding seams of endless flexible seamed belts, sheets or films, and preferably for use with puzzle cut seams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Robert C. U. Yu, Constance J. Thornton, William A. Hammond, Edward L. Schlueter, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6353725
    Abstract: Marking machines having imageable seam intermediate transfer belts and toner particles that are “tuned” to that belt. An imageable seam intermediate transfer belt includes a puzzle-cut first end and a puzzle-cut second end that are interlocked along a kerf to form a seam. That kerf has an average width of W. A developer deposits toner particles onto a latent image on a photoreceptor. Those toner particles have an average minimum width (diameter if the particles are spherical) of a size that is similar to W. That is, the kerf width is at least within an order of magnitude of the average minimum width of a toner particle. A transfer station then transfers toner from the photoreceptor to the imageable seam intermediate transfer belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph A. Swift, T. Edwin Freeman, Theodore Lovallo, Edward L. Schlueter, Jr., Constance J. Thornton, Xiaoying (Elizabeth) Yuan, Santokh S. Badesha
  • Patent number: RE38248
    Abstract: A welded seam of an imaging belt comprises a surface roughness. To reduce the surface roughness, the welded seam is treated by compressing a portion of the belt comprising the welded seam and adjacent belt portions and, while compressing, heating the welded seam to a heating temperature near but less than the glass transition temperature of the imaging layer of the belt, then cooling the welded seam to a cooling temperature. The compressing continues while the heating and cooling steps are repeated until the surface roughness is determined to be satisfactory. The process then ceases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Robert C. U. Yu, William A. Hammond, Edward L. Schlueter, Jr., Constance J. Thornton