Patents by Inventor Dennis W. Dodge

Dennis W. Dodge 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: 6604465
    Abstract: A center justified pin registration system uses a plurality of pairs of registration pins having different thickness heads to align an edge of a printing plate when mounting the plate to a drum of an imaging system. The registration pins are optionally adjustable. The registration system avoids the requirement to punch holes or notches in a printing plate and does not require adjusting the thickness of a common registration pin. The registration system allows printing plates having different widths to be mounted without necessitating adjustments of the registration pins. An alternate embodiment employs a plurality of pairs of registration pins having uniform thickness heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Agfa Corporation
    Inventors: William W. Tice, Dennis W. Dodge, Thomas Marincic
  • Publication number: 20020011164
    Abstract: A center justified pin registration system uses a plurality of pairs of registration pins having different thickness heads to align an edge of a printing plate when mounting the plate to a drum of an imaging system. The registration pins are optionally adjustable. The registration system avoids the requirement to punch holes or notches in a printing plate and does not require adjusting the thickness of a common registration pin. The registration system allows printing plates having different widths to be mounted without necessitating adjustments of the registration pins. An alternate embodiment employs a plurality of pairs of registration pins having uniform thickness heads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Inventors: William W. Tice, Dennis W. Dodge, Thomas Marincic
  • Patent number: 6321651
    Abstract: A pin registration system uses a plurality of registration pins having different thickness heads to align an edge of a printing plate when mounting the plate to a drum of an imaging system. The registration pins are optionally adjustable along the longitudinal axis of the drum. The registration system avoids the requirement to punch holes or notches in a printing plate and does not require adjusting the thickness of a common registration pin. The registration system allows printing plates having different widths to be mounted without necessitating adjustments of the registration pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa Corporation
    Inventors: William W. Tice, Dennis W. Dodge, Thomas Marincic, Christopher Evans, Roger L. Audet
  • Patent number: 6318262
    Abstract: The present invention provides a media handling system for an imaging system, such as an external drum platesetter. Separate input and output trays are provided, thereby allowing pre-staging of a second printing plate while a first printing plate is being imaged. The input tray is positioned over the output tray to reduce the floor space (i.e., footprint) of the imaging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa Corporation
    Inventors: John Wolber, Phillip A. Rombult, Dennis W. Dodge, David B. Larsen
  • Patent number: 6295929
    Abstract: The present invention provides a media handling system for an imaging system, such as an external drum platesetter. Separate input and output trays are provided, thereby allowing pre-staging of a second printing plate while a first printing plate is being imaged. The input tray is positioned over the output tray to reduce the floor space (i.e., footprint) of the imaging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa Corporation
    Inventors: William W. Tice, Christopher Evans, Aaron Mirmelshteyn, Phillip A. Rombult, David B. Larsen, Dennis W. Dodge, Thomas E. Robinson, James D. Roberge, Thomas Marincic
  • Patent number: 6238113
    Abstract: A media supply cassette is disclosed for use in an imaging system for processing a web of imageable media. The media supply cassette includes a first roller and a second roller for providing a nip through which the media exits the supply cassette through rotation of the first roller. The supply cassette also includes a third roller coupled to the first roller such that rotation of the third roller causes the first roller to rotate. The third roller is positioned to contact a fourth roller in the imaging system such that rotation of the fourth roller causes the third roller to rotate thereby providing rotation of the first roller which causes the media to exit the cassette and enter the imaging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa Corporation
    Inventor: Dennis W. Dodge
  • Patent number: 6023282
    Abstract: An imaging system includes a processing device and a scanner. The processing device generates control signals corresponding to representations of color separated images. The scanner outputs the color separated images on an image receiving material in accordance with the control signals. The scanner is operable in a first mode to output each color separated image individually so as to be separated from the other color separated images, and in a second mode to output each of the color separated images so as to be superimposed with the other color separated images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Agfa Corporation
    Inventors: Donald J. Garand, Dennis W. Dodge, Philip A. Rombult
  • Patent number: 5791830
    Abstract: This invention relates to a feed system for conveying loose pieces of a coarse particulate or pelletized hot melt material such as adhesives from a storage container to a melt tank. The system includes a transition hopper having insulation between the hopper and the melt tank to prevent premature melting of the loose adhesive pellets or pieces before they pass into a melt tank. An air supply for providing air pressure to the interior of the hopper can be attached to the hopper to prevent vapors from rising from the hot melt tank into the transition hopper and a vent opening for exhausting vapors from the hot melt tank can be located in the top of the melt tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Wesley C. Fort, Chris D. Wujcik, Dennis W. Dodge, Lee R. Baker
  • Patent number: 5699099
    Abstract: An electronic prepress system for electronically preparing and outputting images onto image receiving materials includes a computer for generating and storing color separated images in electronic files. A processor processes the electronic files received from the computer and converts the electronic files to rasterized image files. The rasterized image files are accepted by the scan engine from the processor. The scan engine outputs color separated images on an image receiving material and is operable in a first operating mode for outputting the color separated images individually onto a first image receiving material as a set having a separated image for each of the color separated images, and a second operating mode for outputting the color separated images onto a second image receiving material having the color separated images superimposed as an assembled color proof of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Agfa Division, Bayer Corporation
    Inventors: Donald J. Garand, Dennis W. Dodge, Philip A. Rombult
  • Patent number: 4837589
    Abstract: A non-contact LED-array image printer is provided having a scanning print head driven by a zero backlash threaded lead screw. The LED array is mounted on a substrate bearing an interface control circuit which receives video data through a ribbon cable, and the LED array is imaged by a lens onto an exposure plane on a platen parallel to the direction of scan. Means are provided for conveniently adjusting object and image distances relative to the image plane. The photosensitive medium is driven in registration in forward and reverse directions biased against the exposure platen defining the image plane. A gear, clutch and brake mechanism is provided to ensure that the photosensitive medium remains in taut registration across the exposure platen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: Itek Graphix Corp.
    Inventor: Dennis W. Dodge
  • Patent number: 4780730
    Abstract: An optical printhead for contact or non-contact printing on a photosensitive material. The printhead traverses the photosensitive material and is provided with a substrate having a light emitting diode matrix and an interface circuit therein. A lens barrel provided with an optical system therein focuses the diode matrix onto the photosensitive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1988
    Assignee: Itek Graphix Corp.
    Inventors: Dennis W. Dodge, Robert Signorello
  • Patent number: 4619451
    Abstract: Four pairs of paper drive rollers are provided which may be individually adjusted so that proper balancing of the bite pressures result. The same springs employed for this purpose are also utilized to maintain the mechanism locked and to provide rapid and easy opening of the mechanism to widely separate the rollers for the purpose of cleaning and preventing the rollers from being flattened due to continued application of bite pressure when the machine is not being used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1986
    Assignee: Itek Corporation
    Inventor: Dennis W. Dodge
  • Patent number: 4597652
    Abstract: First and second rotatable edge guide rollers are provided having precision roller positioning means for preventing skewing of sheets of predetermined widths, such rollers being laterally shifted in position to accommodate various widths by means of a roller actuation device which controls a counter which counts the extent of travel of a recording head between a reference position and a position indicative of the guide roller position. The count within the counter is examined by logic circuitry which determines whether the rollers are properly positioned across the width of sheets. The sheet reference platen has a plurality of apertures which receive a fiducial referencing projection mounted upon the roller actuation device and when the actuation device and hence the roller is in one of the predetermined positions the projection device will pass through a particular aperture to permit the sheet referencing platen to be lowered into position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1986
    Assignee: Itek Corporation
    Inventor: Dennis W. Dodge
  • Patent number: 4589861
    Abstract: A non-deformable metallic pulley is coated with a urethane layer having a thickness of about 0.0005 inches. A drive belt, coupled to a recording head, is positioned over the urethane layer of the pulley, which in turn is driven by a stepping motor. The drive pulley is non-deformable, to eliminate backlash and yet has a very high coefficient of friction, about double that of steel, which is maintained consistent throughout the operation of the drive system, regardless of exposure to paper dust, dirt, oil and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1986
    Assignee: Itek Graphix Corp.
    Inventor: Dennis W. Dodge