Patents by Inventor Dennis M. Ankrom

Dennis M. Ankrom 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: 6334033
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining the air pressure within a xerographic module/chamber of an image forming device above ambient pressure outside of the xerographic module/chamber which uses a pressure sensor, e.g., an altimeter to monitor ambient atmospheric pressure, and a microprocessor to control and maintain air pressure to a determined set point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Karl B. Ayash, Thomas C. Hollar, Ali R. Dergham, Dennis M. Ankrom
  • Patent number: 5049948
    Abstract: A copier/printer apparatus capable of duplex copying includes a roller assembly that shifts a sheet laterally while maintaining longitudinal movement of the sheet. A shaft that supports drive rolls that form nips with mating idler rolls has pins that extend into helical slots within the drive rolls such that the assembly rolls in a normal movement (axially) in one mode, while being able to have axial and lateral movement in another mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: George B. Brown, Dennis M. Ankrom
  • Patent number: 5014976
    Abstract: In a reproduction apparatus outputting copy sheets via exit rollers to be stacked in an adjacent stacking tray, which exit rollers are also reversible to feed a selected copy sheet still in the nip back into the reproduction apparatus to be further processed, the previously outputted and stacking copy sheets are prevented from being recaptured by these reversed rotation exit rollers, by automatically interposing a one-way gate or trap and baffle between the stacking copy sheets and the exit rollers, to prevent accidental reacquisition of those sheets into the reversed rollers, but which gate or trap is automatically deflected out of the way of a sheet being outputted from the nip of the exit rollers by the outputted sheet itself, without requiring any other actuating mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis N. Muck, Dennis M. Ankrom, George B. Brown
  • Patent number: 4739371
    Abstract: A removable belt module for use in a reproduction machine for replacing photoreceptor belts including a pair of support rolls for supporting the photoreceptor belt and a pivot element disposed intermediate the support rolls and connected thereto by connecting arms, the arms being disposed in relative horizontal position for exerting tension on the belt for operation of the belt and being disposed in a relatively perpendicular relationship for relaxing the tension and replacing the belt. The belt module further includes shafts for engaging slots in the machine to mount the belt module and further includes a drive sprocket connected to one of the shafts for driving the photoreceptor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1988
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: C. Michael Ray, Frank Y. Yang, Dennis M. Ankrom