Patents by Inventor Daniel Paul Cahill
Daniel Paul Cahill 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: 8641040Abstract: An image forming device includes an image formation path extending from an entrance end adjacent to a source of supply of media sheets, past an image forming station, to an exit end adjacent to a top collection site adapted to receive media sheets, a duplex path extending from an inlet end adjacent the top collection site to an outlet end adjacent a lower front opening in the device, a media sheet directing mechanism disposed between the exit end of the image formation path, top collection site and inlet end of the duplex path and selectively operable to deliver printed media sheets to the top collection site or the inlet end of the duplex path, and a deflector mechanism between the lower front opening and the outlet end of the duplex path and operable to divert printed media sheets from the duplex path through the lower front opening to exterior of the device.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2008Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Paul Cahill, Chad Michael Piening, Louann Behymer Samuels, Brian Patrick Weaver, Curtis Duane Woodson
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Electronic locking system to secure consumable item in an image forming device and a method therefor
Patent number: 8511120Abstract: An electronic locking system to secure consumable items in an image forming device and a method therefore. In one embodiment of the invention, an electronic locking system to secure media sheets includes a media tray to hold media sheets, a tray receiving member for receiving the media tray, and a controller. The tray receiving member includes a drive device and a plunger. The plunger is moved by the drive device between a locked and an unlocked position. The controller is configured to control the drive device to move the plunger to engage a portion of the media tray in the locked position and to move the plunger to disengage from the portion of the media tray in the unlocked position. The electronic locking system, incorporating the controller, provides an effective and efficient way to lock/unlock the media tray and eliminates the use of mechanical keys.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2009Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Paul Cahill, Chad Michael Plening, Louann Behymer Samuels, Thomas Campbell Wade, Curtis Duane Woodson -
Patent number: 8379247Abstract: A method and system for carrying out an image-to-paper printer registration setup includes: using a printer undergoing registration setup, printing a test pattern on a sheet having reference targets within a printable region of the sheet; using a scanner, scanning the printed sheet to generate an image bitmap of the test pattern-bearing sheet larger than the sheet itself so that the image bitmap contains the sheet edges and measuring in numbers of pixels the distances between the reference targets and/or sheet edges using multiple swaths of the image bitmap itself as the measuring tool; and, using a processor and based on the measured distances, calculating error-associated adjustment values in millimeters to use to correct errors in the registration setup of the image-to-paper in the printer and transferring the error-associated adjustment values to the printer to perform adjustment of its setup actuators.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2008Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Adam Daniel Cahill, Franklin Joseph Palumbo, Cary Patterson Ravitz, David Anthony Schneider, Daniel Paul Cahill, Mark Andrew Omelchenko, Philip David Jones
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Patent number: 8113504Abstract: A sheet feeding method includes supporting a media stack on an elevator, initiating operation of a pick roll in conjunction with a top most sheet, sensing whether or not the pick roll is operating in conjunction with the top most sheet, and moving the elevator, in response to the pick roll not operating in conjunction with the top most sheet, to overcome occurrence of a media handling failure mode between the pick roll and the top most sheet. The elevator is lowered, in response to the pick roll rotating but the top most sheet not arriving at a sheet arrival sensor, to increase a normal force imposed on the top most sheet to overcome the occurrence of a ‘fails to feed’ failure mode. The elevator is raised, in response to the pick roll not rotating, to decrease the normal force imposed on the top most sheet to overcome the occurrence of a ‘pick roll stall’ failure mode.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2008Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventor: Daniel Paul Cahill
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Patent number: 8023875Abstract: A system and drive arrangement for using fuser temperature cycling to change rotational position of a fuser roller wiper includes a frame, a hot roll, a fuser roller, and a drive arrangement. The frame of the fuser unit has side panels spaced apart from one another and positioned alongside a media path through the fuser unit. The hot roll on the fuser unit is rotatably mounted to the side panels of the frame and extends between the side panels across the media path. The fuser roller wiper is rotatably mounted between the side panels of the frame and performs a wiping action on the hot roll to remove foreign matter therefrom and supply of lubricant thereto. The drive arrangement is coupled to the fuser roller wiper and is operable in response to decrease in temperature of the fuser unit to rotate the fuser roller wiper.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2008Date of Patent: September 20, 2011Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Paul Cahill, Thomas Paul Maddux, Chad Michael Piening, Louann Behymer Samuels, Curtis Duane Woodson
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Electronic Locking System to Secure Consumable Item in an Image Forming Device and a Method Therefor
Publication number: 20110133615Abstract: An electronic locking system to secure consumable items in an image forming device and a method therefore. In one embodiment of the invention, an electronic locking system to secure media sheets includes a media tray to hold media sheets, a tray receiving member for receiving the media tray, and a controller. The tray receiving member includes a drive device and a plunger. The plunger is moved by the drive device between a locked and an unlocked position. The controller is configured to control the drive device to move the plunger to engage a portion of the media tray in the locked position and to move the plunger to disengage from the portion of the media tray in the unlocked position. The electronic locking system, incorporating the controller, provides an effective and efficient way to lock/unlock the media tray and eliminates the use of mechanical keys.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2009Publication date: June 9, 2011Inventors: Daniel Paul Cahill, Chad Michael Plening, Louann Behymer Samuels, Thoas Campbell Wade, Curtis Duane Woodson -
Patent number: 7887045Abstract: A method for dynamically lifting an elevator includes picking a sheet from a stack to feed to a media process where the stack is on a platform that can be lifted by an elevator, performing the media process, sensing a top of the stack to detect presence or absence of the stack at a media home position, sensing the top of the stack to detect presence or absence of the stack on the platform, sensing the platform to detect its presence or absence at a maximum elevator level, and indexing the stack at least once by lifting the platform through a given distance, during the media process and not during picking a sheet, unless presence of the top of the stack at the media home position is sensed or absence of media sheets on the elevator platform is sensed or presence of the elevator platform at the maximum elevator level is sensed.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2008Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Douglas Andagan Baena, Jr., William Paul Cook, Robert Ryan Fresnoza Cruz, Irvin Langit Libres, Jake Tia Pia, Jason Lee Rowe, Kim Limpahan Balahan, Stacey Edward Balch, Daniel Paul Cahill
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Publication number: 20100329766Abstract: An apparatus and method for printing banner media utilizing a conventional laser printer wherein no or substantially no modification is required to the paper tray of the laser printer. The apparatus further includes a storage compartment that can be operably coupled with the paper tray. Disposed within the storage compartment is a plurality of rotatably mounted spools having a banner media stored thereon. Additionally, an alternative method of configuring banner media in a conventional paper tray is provided whereby the banner print media is configured in one of a z-fold configuration and a modified z-fold configuration, with the modified z-fold configuration to inhibit creases in the banner print media.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2009Publication date: December 30, 2010Inventors: Daniel Paul Cahill, Thomas Leo Miller, Chad Michael Piening, Lovann Behymer Samuels, Curtis Duane Woodson
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Patent number: 7798489Abstract: A media handling system for an image forming machine includes a stationary frame, a platform supporting a stack of media sheets thereon, a bin supporting the platform and in turn supported on the stationary frame for undergoing movement relative thereto between a first position in which the bin locates the platform below and aligned with a pick mechanism and movable relative to the bin toward and away from the pick mechanism and a second position in which the bin displaces the platform away from and out of alignment with the pick mechanism, and a motion transmitting assembly coupled between the stationary frame, platform and bin and operable to convert movement of the bin between first and second positions relative to the stationary frame into movement of the platform relative to the bin toward and away from the pick mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2008Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Douglas Andagan Baena, Jr., Moneleo De Castro Cedeno, Daniel Paul Cahill, William Paul Cook, Edward Lynn Triplett, Jason Lee Rowe
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Patent number: 7766320Abstract: A media handling system includes a platform, a bin supporting the platform below and for undergoing movement toward and away from a sheet feeding position, a first motion transmitting assembly coupled between the platform and bin and tailored to counterbalance the weight of the platform and any stack such that as the weight decreases the platform is lifted toward the sheet feeding position to maintain the stack top below a lower limit position thereof, a control mechanism to sense the position of the stack top relative to a given range between the lower limit position to an upper home position, and a second motion transmitting assembly drivingly coupled to the platform via the first motion transmitting assembly and responsive to the control mechanism sensing to cause the first motion transmitting assembly to further lift the platform to and maintain the stack top position within the given range.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2008Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Douglas Andagan Baena, Jr., Kim Limpahan Balahan, Stacey Edward Balch, Daniel Paul Cahill, William Paul Cook, Robert Ryan Fresnoza Cruz, Irvin Langit Libres, Jake Tia Pia, Jason Lee Rowe
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Publication number: 20100166469Abstract: A system and drive arrangement for using fuser temperature cycling to change rotational position of a fuser roller wiper includes a frame, a hot roll, a fuser roller, and a drive arrangement. The frame of the fuser unit has side panels spaced apart from one another and positioned alongside a media path through the fuser unit. The hot roll on the fuser unit is rotatably mounted to the side panels of the frame and extends between the side panels across the media path. The fuser roller wiper is rotatably mounted between the side panels of the frame and performs a wiping action on the hot roll to remove foreign matter therefrom and supply of lubricant thereto. The drive arrangement is coupled to the fuser roller wiper and is operable in response to decrease in temperature of the fuser unit to rotate the fuser roller wiper.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2008Publication date: July 1, 2010Inventors: Daniel Paul Cahill, Thomas Paul Maddox, Chad Michael Piening, Louann Behymer Samuels, Curtis Duane Woodson
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Publication number: 20100109230Abstract: A sheet feeding method includes supporting a media stack on an elevator, initiating operation of a pick roll in conjunction with a top most sheet, sensing whether or not the pick roll is operating in conjunction with the top most sheet, and moving the elevator, in response to the pick roll not operating in conjunction with the top most sheet, to overcome occurrence of a media handling failure mode between the pick roll and the top most sheet. The elevator is lowered, in response to the pick roll rotating but the top most sheet not arriving at a sheet arrival sensor, to increase a normal force imposed on the top most sheet to overcome the occurrence of a ‘fails to feed’ failure mode. The elevator is raised, in response to the pick roll not rotating, to decrease the normal force imposed on the top most sheet to overcome the occurrence of a ‘pick roll stall’ failure mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2008Publication date: May 6, 2010Inventor: Daniel Paul Cahill
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Publication number: 20100053699Abstract: A method and system for carrying out an image-to-paper printer registration setup includes: using a printer undergoing registration setup, printing a test pattern on a sheet having reference targets within a printable region of the sheet; using a scanner, scanning the printed sheet to generate an image bitmap of the test pattern-bearing sheet larger than the sheet itself so that the image bitmap contains the sheet edges and measuring in numbers of pixels the distances between the reference targets and/or sheet edges using multiple swaths of the image bitmap itself as the measuring tool; and, using a processor and based on the measured distances, calculating error-associated adjustment values in millimeters to use to correct errors in the registration setup of the image-to-paper in the printer and transferring the error-associated adjustment values to the printer to perform adjustment of its setup actuators.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2008Publication date: March 4, 2010Inventors: Adam Daniel Cahill, Franklin Joseph Palumbo, Cary Patterson Ravitz, David Anthony Schneider, Daniel Paul Cahill, Mark Andrew Omelchenko, Philip David Jones
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Publication number: 20100038846Abstract: A media handling system for an image forming machine includes a stationary frame, a platform supporting a stack of media sheets thereon, a bin supporting the platform and in turn supported on the stationary frame for undergoing movement relative thereto between a first position in which the bin locates the platform below and aligned with a pick mechanism and movable relative to the bin toward and away from the pick mechanism and a second position in which the bin displaces the platform away from and out of alignment with the pick mechanism, and a motion transmitting assembly coupled between the stationary frame, platform and bin and operable to convert movement of the bin between first and second positions relative to the stationary frame into movement of the platform relative to the bin toward and away from the pick mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2008Publication date: February 18, 2010Inventors: Douglas Andagan Baena, JR., Moneleo De Castro Cedeno, Daniel Paul Cahill, William Paul Cook, Edward Lynn Tripiett, Jason Lee Rowe
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Publication number: 20100038844Abstract: A media handling system includes a platform, a bin supporting the platform below and for undergoing movement toward and away from a sheet feeding position, a first motion transmitting assembly coupled between the platform and bin and tailored to counterbalance the weight of the platform and any stack such that as the weight decreases the platform is lifted toward the sheet feeding position to maintain the stack top below a lower limit position thereof, a control mechanism to sense the position of the stack top relative to a given range between the lower limit position to an upper home position, and a second motion transmitting assembly drivingly coupled to the platform via the first motion transmitting assembly and responsive to the control mechanism sensing to cause the first motion transmitting assembly to further lift the platform to and maintain the stack top position within the given range.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2008Publication date: February 18, 2010Inventors: Douglas Andagan Baena, JR., Kim Limpahan Balahan, Stacey Edward Batch, Daniel Paul Cahill, William Paul Cook, Robert Ryan Fresnoza Cruz, Irvin Langt Libres, Jake Tia Pia, Jason Lee Rowe
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Publication number: 20100032883Abstract: An image forming device includes an image formation path extending from an entrance end adjacent to a source of supply of media sheets, past an image forming station, to an exit end adjacent to a top collection site adapted to receive media sheets, a duplex path extending from an inlet end adjacent the top collection site to an outlet end adjacent a lower front opening in the device, a media sheet directing mechanism disposed between the exit end of the image formation path, top collection site and inlet end of the duplex path and selectively operable to deliver printed media sheets to the top collection site or the inlet end of the duplex path, and a deflector mechanism between the lower front opening and the outlet end of the duplex path and operable to divert printed media sheets from the duplex path through the lower front opening to exterior of the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2008Publication date: February 11, 2010Inventors: Daniel Paul Cahill, Chad Michael Piening, Louann Behymer Samuels, Brian Patrick Weaver, Curtis Duane Woodson
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Publication number: 20100013143Abstract: A method for dynamically lifting an elevator includes picking a sheet from a stack to feed to a media process where the stack is on a platform that can be lifted by an elevator, performing the media process, sensing a top of the stack to detect presence or absence of the stack at a media home position, sensing the top of the stack to detect presence or absence of the stack on the platform, sensing the platform to detect its presence or absence at a maximum elevator level, and indexing the stack at least once by lifting the platform through a given distance, during the media process and not during picking a sheet, unless presence of the top of the stack at the media home position is sensed or absence of media sheets on the elevator platform is sensed or presence of the elevator platform at the maximum elevator level is sensed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2008Publication date: January 21, 2010Inventors: Douglas Andagan Baena, Jr., William Paul Cook, Robert Ryan Fresnoza Cruz, Irvin Langit Libres, Jake Tia Pia, Jason Lee Rowe, Kim Limpahan Balahan, Stacey Edward Baich, Daniel Paul Cahill
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Patent number: 7267498Abstract: An improved sheet printer is provided capable of simultaneously printing both on a “main” surface of a sheet of print media and along edges of that same sheet of print media, such that when the sheets are stacked after being printed, a predetermined image will appear along one or more of the sides of the stack. The “side image” is formed by the dots that have been printed along the edges of the individual sheets. The side image is generated during image processing of the print job, not by a post-processing step of marking or printing against the side of a stack that has already been printed. The printer can form the side images by printing along all four edges of a single piece of the sheet media, and also on one of that sheet's main surfaces, during a single pass through a printing station.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2006Date of Patent: September 11, 2007Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Paul Cahill, Robert Andrew Kosieniak, David Lee Merrifield
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Patent number: 6567620Abstract: Toner is conserved in an image forming apparatus, such as an electrophotographic printer (e.g., laser printer), by varying the interpage gap when approaching an exhaustion of the recording media supply (“paper out”). A supply level sensor is used to determine whether the supply of discrete recording media (e.g., paper sheets) is above or below a predetermined level. A smaller value interpage gap is used when the supply level is above the predetermined level. The interpage gap is automatically lengthened to a second larger value when the sensed media supply level drops below the predetermined level. The longer second interpage gap allows for “paper out condition” that may result from printing of sheet N−1 to be determined prior to image formation beginning for sheet N. The interpage gap may be reset to the smaller value when the supply has been refilled to above the pre-determined level.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2001Date of Patent: May 20, 2003Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: William Frank Brown, Jr., Daniel Paul Cahill, Benjamin Charles DeVore, Rodney Lee Jensen
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Publication number: 20030059222Abstract: Toner is conserved in an image forming apparatus, such as an electrophotographic printer (e.g., laser printer), by varying the interpage gap when approaching an exhaustion of the recording media supply (“paper out”). A supply level sensor is used to determine whether the supply of discrete recording media (e.g., paper sheets) is above or below a predetermined level. A smaller value interpage gap is used when the supply level is above the predetermined level. The interpage gap is automatically lengthened to a second larger value when the sensed media supply level drops below the predetermined level. The longer second interpage gap allows for “paper out condition” that may result from printing of sheet N−1 to be determined prior to image formation beginning for sheet N. The interpage gap may be reset to the smaller value when the supply has been refilled to above the pre-determined level.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2001Publication date: March 27, 2003Inventors: William Frank Brown, Daniel Paul Cahill, Benjamin Charles DeVore, Rodney Lee Jensen