Patents by Inventor Douglas Campbell Hamilton
Douglas Campbell Hamilton 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: 10606196Abstract: A fuser assembly includes a heated member and a backup member defining a fusing nip. Toner fuses to media in the nip at a fusing temperature and process speed during an imaging operation. Upon receipt of a command to commence imaging, a controller operates a heater to heat the fuser assembly to a first temperature less than the fusing temperature and operates a motor to rotate the fuser assembly at a speed lower than the process speed to prevent overheating the heated and backup members. Before a first media reaches the fusing nip, a speed of the motor is increased to the process speed to properly advance the media through the nip at the process speed. Upon the first media arriving at the fusing nip, the controller increases the temperature of the heater to a second temperature greater than the first temperature to prevent cold offset.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2019Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: Jichang Cao, Douglas Campbell Hamilton, Benjamin Karnik Johnson
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Patent number: 10452010Abstract: A fuser assembly includes a heated member and a backup member defining a fusing nip. Toner fuses to media in the nip at a fusing temperature and process speed during an imaging operation. Upon receipt of a command to commence imaging, a controller operates a heater to heat the fuser assembly to a first temperature less than the fusing temperature and operates a motor to rotate the fuser assembly at a speed lower than the process speed to prevent overheating the heated and backup members. Before a first media reaches the fusing nip, a speed of the motor is increased to the process speed to properly advance the media through the nip at the process speed. Upon the first media arriving at the fusing nip, the controller increases the temperature of the heater to a second temperature greater than the first temperature to prevent cold offset.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2017Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: Jichang Cao, Douglas Campbell Hamilton, Benjamin Karnik Johnson
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Publication number: 20190235421Abstract: A fuser assembly includes a heated member and a backup member defining a fusing nip. Toner fuses to media in the nip at a fusing temperature and process speed during an imaging operation. Upon receipt of a command to commence imaging, a controller operates a heater to heat the fuser assembly to a first temperature less than the fusing temperature and operates a motor to rotate the fuser assembly at a speed lower than the process speed to prevent overheating the heated and backup members. Before a first media reaches the fusing nip, a speed of the motor is increased to the process speed to properly advance the media through the nip at the process speed. Upon the first media arriving at the fusing nip, the controller increases the temperature of the heater to a second temperature greater than the first temperature to prevent cold offset.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2019Publication date: August 1, 2019Inventors: JICHANG CAO, DOUGLAS CAMPBELL HAMILTON, BENJAMIN KARNIK JOHNSON
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Publication number: 20190129335Abstract: A fuser assembly includes a heated member and a backup member defining a fusing nip. Toner fuses to media in the nip at a fusing temperature and process speed during an imaging operation. Upon receipt of a command to commence imaging, a controller operates a heater to heat the fuser assembly to a first temperature less than the fusing temperature and operates a motor to rotate the fuser assembly at a speed lower than the process speed to prevent overheating the heated and backup members. Before a first media reaches the fusing nip, a speed of the motor is increased to the process speed to properly advance the media through the nip at the process speed. Upon the first media arriving at the fusing nip, the controller increases the temperature of the heater to a second temperature greater than the first temperature to prevent cold offset.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2017Publication date: May 2, 2019Inventors: JICHANG CAO, DOUGLAS CAMPBELL HAMILTON, BENJAMIN KARNIK JOHNSON
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Publication number: 20190129336Abstract: A fuser assembly includes a heated member and a backup member defining a fusing nip. Toner fuses to media in the nip at a fusing temperature and process speed during an imaging operation. Upon receipt of a command to commence imaging, a controller operates a heater to heat the fuser assembly to a first temperature less than the fusing temperature and operates a motor to rotate the fuser assembly at a speed lower than the process speed to prevent overheating the heated and backup members. Before a first media reaches the fusing nip, a speed of the motor is increased to the process speed to properly advance the media through the nip at the process speed. Upon the first media arriving at the fusing nip, the controller increases the temperature of the heater to a second temperature greater than the first temperature to prevent cold offset.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2017Publication date: May 2, 2019Inventors: JICHANG CAO, DOUGLAS CAMPBELL HAMILTON, BENJAMIN KARNIK JOHNSON
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Patent number: 9417572Abstract: A heating element for the fuser for an electrophotographic imaging device. The heating element includes a panel of positive temperature coefficient material having electrodes coupled to opposed surfaces thereof. The positive temperature coefficient material serves to stabilize the temperature of the heating element so as to prevent damage due to overheating.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2010Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Douglas Campbell Hamilton, Jerry Wayne Smith
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Patent number: 9261833Abstract: A fuser assembly for an imaging device is shown and described. The fuser assembly includes a heat transfer member for generating heat and a backup roll coupled to the heat transfer member and rotatable therewith. The backup roll includes a central core and a rubber layer surrounding the central core. The fuser assembly further includes a plurality of end cap members, each end cap member being disposed at an end of the backup roll and dimensioned for substantially preventing outward expansion of the rubber layer in an axial direction of the backup roll.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2014Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Douglas Campbell Hamilton, Fangsheng Wu, Michael Alan Cleary
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Patent number: 9098031Abstract: A printer is provided having a fuser assembly having a belt, a heater to heat the belt, a backup roll positioned to engage the belt thereby defining a fusing nip with the belt, a main temperature sensor associated with the heat transfer member, the first temperature sensor associated with the backup roll for sensing a temperature of a portion of the backup roll, the second temperature sensor associated with a distal end region of the heat transfer member for sensing the temperature of the distal end region. A controller is coupled to the fuser assembly for controlling a throughput of the printer based on at least one of the backup roll temperature and the temperature at the distal end region of the heater.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2012Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Jichang Cao, Michael Duane Donovan, Douglas Campbell Hamilton
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Publication number: 20150110534Abstract: A fuser assembly for an imaging device is shown and described. The fuser assembly includes a heat transfer member for generating heat and a backup roll coupled to the heat transfer member and rotatable therewith. The backup roll includes a central core and a rubber layer surrounding the central core. The fuser assembly further includes a plurality of end cap members, each end cap member being disposed at an end of the backup roll and dimensioned for substantially preventing outward expansion of the rubber layer in an axial direction of the backup roll.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2014Publication date: April 23, 2015Inventors: Douglas Campbell Hamilton, Fangsheng Wu, Michael Alan Cleary
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Publication number: 20130259507Abstract: A printer is provided having a fuser assembly having a belt, a heater to heat the belt, a backup roll positioned to engage the belt thereby defining a fusing nip with the belt, a main temperature sensor associated with the heat transfer member, the first temperature sensor associated with the backup roll for sensing a temperature of a portion of the backup roll, the second temperature sensor associated with a distal end region of the heat transfer member for sensing the temperature of the distal end region. A controller is coupled to the fuser assembly for controlling a throughput of the printer based on at least one of the backup roll temperature and the temperature at the distal end region of the heater.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2012Publication date: October 3, 2013Inventors: Jichang Cao, Michael Duane Donovan, Douglas Campbell Hamilton
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Publication number: 20120155937Abstract: A heating element for the fuser for an electrophotographic imaging device. The heating element includes a panel of positive temperature coefficient material having electrodes coupled to opposed surfaces thereof. The positive temperature coefficient material serves to stabilize the temperature of the heating element so as to prevent damage due to overheating.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2010Publication date: June 21, 2012Inventors: Douglas Campbell Hamilton, Jerry Wayne Smith
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Patent number: 7822352Abstract: The present invention relates to an article, system and method for thermally conditioning an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus may incorporate a heating device and a component that includes a lubricant. The component including the lubricant may be preheated before movement and then rotated at reduced speeds prior to a printing operation. This may occur during an image forming apparatus cold start or power saver mode.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2005Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Larry Christopher Coleman, Douglas Campbell Hamilton, Johnny Ray Sears, Larry Earl Stahlman, Casey Thomas Wilson
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Patent number: 7756457Abstract: A fuser assembly includes a fuser housing, a fuser roller rotatably mounted to the fuser housing, an actuator mechanism, and a fuser detack mechanism. The fuser detack mechanism includes a detack housing pivotably mounted to the fuser housing. The fuser detack mechanism is pivoted from a first position to a second position when the actuator mechanism is actuated. A plurality of detack fingers is mounted to the detack housing. Each of the plurality of detack fingers has a distal end, wherein when the fuser detack mechanism is in the first position, the distal end of each of the plurality of detack fingers is positioned to be disengaged from an exterior surface of the fuser roller, and when the fuser detack mechanism is in the second position, the distal end of each of the plurality of detack fingers is positioned to be engaged with the exterior surface of the fuser roller.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2007Date of Patent: July 13, 2010Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Douglas Campbell Hamilton, Clark Edwin Jarnagin, William Thomas Kearney, III, Thomas Paul Maddox
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Patent number: 7698812Abstract: A method for forming a ceramic laminate ceramic laminate from first and second sheets of ceramic material, the sheets having a first and a second surface, wherein the first ceramic material has a different coefficient of thermal expansion than the second ceramic material and the outer layers comprises ceramic materials having substantially the same thermal properties, comprising (a) heating the first and the second sheets of ceramic material; (b) stacking the first and the second sheets of ceramic material wherein the second surfaces are opposed to one another to provide stacked sheets; and (c) pressing the stacked sheets and forming the ceramic laminate.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2005Date of Patent: April 20, 2010Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Douglas Campbell Hamilton, Jerry Wayne Smith, Larry Earl Stahlman, Kiyoshi Mizushima, Hisakazu Hujimoto, Makoto Aoki
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Patent number: 7693473Abstract: A fuser assembly configured to fix a toner image to a sheet of print media includes a fuser belt having a first side edge and a second side edge. A plurality of end cap assemblies is positioned to locate the fuser belt. The plurality of end cap assemblies include a first end cap assembly having a first compliant stopping flange positioned to engage the first side edge of the fuser belt, and a second end cap assembly having a second compliant flange positioned to engage the second side edge of the fuser belt.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Ardery, Douglas Campbell Hamilton, Katherine Mary Mulloy, Jason Kyle Romain
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Patent number: 7560665Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus relating to the thermal management of an image fixing device such as establishing the temperature of a component that engages with the image fixing device in an image forming apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2005Date of Patent: July 14, 2009Assignee: Lexmark International, IncInventors: Douglas Campbell Hamilton, Russell Edward Lucas, Johnny Ray Sears
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Publication number: 20090080953Abstract: A fuser assembly includes a fuser housing, a fuser roller rotatably mounted to the fuser housing, an actuator mechanism, and a fuser detack mechanism. The fuser detack mechanism includes a detack housing pivotably mounted to the fuser housing. The fuser detack mechanism is pivoted from a first position to a second position when the actuator mechanism is actuated. A plurality of detack fingers is mounted to the detack housing. Each of the plurality of detack fingers has a distal end, wherein when the fuser detack mechanism is in the first position, the distal end of each of the plurality of detack fingers is positioned to be disengaged from an exterior surface of the fuser roller, and when the fuser detack mechanism is in the second position, the distal end of each of the plurality of detack fingers is positioned to be engaged with the exterior surface of the fuser roller.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2007Publication date: March 26, 2009Inventors: Douglas Campbell Hamilton, Clark Edwin Jarnagin, William Thomas Kearney, III, Thomas Paul Maddox
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Publication number: 20080232870Abstract: A fuser assembly configured to fix a toner image to a sheet of print media includes a fuser belt having a first side edge and a second side edge. A plurality of end cap assemblies is positioned to locate the fuser belt. The plurality of end cap assemblies include a first end cap assembly having a first compliant stopping flange positioned to engage the first side edge of the fuser belt, and a second end cap assembly having a second compliant flange positioned to engage the second side edge of the fuser belt.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2007Publication date: September 25, 2008Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Ardery, Douglas Campbell Hamilton, Katherine Mary Mulloy, Jason Kyle Romain
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Publication number: 20080124110Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system including a component and a heating device. The component may include a compressible layer composed of elastomeric material having a thermal conductivity of ?0.4 W m?1K?1. A processor in communication with the heating device, may he configured to select the heating device temperature based upon a previous temperature of the heating device to establish the temperature of the component. Optionally, the component may be maintained at a temperature of about or below 150° C.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2006Publication date: May 29, 2008Inventors: Douglas Campbell Hamilton, Jerry Wayne Smith
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Patent number: 7224918Abstract: An improved laser printer is provided that keeps its fuser at a standby temperature that is somewhat raised above the ambient temperature, which allows the printer to operate more quickly (to begin printing the first page) when a print job arrives at the printer. The time needed to raise the fuser's temperature is minimized, so that other printer operations become the determining factor in the time to first print parameter. The electrical energy that energizes the fuser is provided in a form that prevents light flicker, by use of AC waveform phase control, or by use of integer half cycle control. The present invention uses closed-loop feedback control, and the type of controller is a PID controller.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2004Date of Patent: May 29, 2007Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Brian Keith Bartley, Douglas Campbell Hamilton, Steven Jeffrey Harris, Kevin Dean Schoedinger, Johnny Ray Sears, Jerry Wayne Smith