Patents by Inventor Douglas K. Herrmann

Douglas K. Herrmann 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: 11485089
    Abstract: A method operates a three-dimensional (3D) metal object manufacturing system to maintain a temperature of an uppermost layer of a 3D metal object being formed within a temperature range conducive for bonding between the uppermost layer and a next layer to be formed. A controller of the system compares a temperature of the uppermost layer with at least a low end temperature of the temperature range and operates an electrical resistance switching network using 3D model data to provide electrical power selectively to heating elements in a modular heater to heat the 3D metal object being formed when the temperature indicated by the signal from the sensor is less than the predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Ali R. Dergham, Douglas K. Herrmann, Christopher D. Atwood, Erwin Ruiz, Derek A. Bryl, Linn C. Hoover
  • Patent number: 11479034
    Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided a method of measuring the amount of fountain solution employed in a digital offset lithography printing system. Fountain solution thickness is measured using a glass roll at a lower temperature than the fountain solution. The lower temperature causes the fountain solution to undergo a change in state and in a solid state the fountain solution crystalizes and changes roll opacity with the thickness of the film. When radiated with a light source the opacity is continuously measured through the surface of the roller. The thickness of the crystallized fountain solution can then be determined via the opacity level increase by the crystallization and the impact to the opacity on the glass roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas K. Herrmann, Chu-heng Liu, Seemit Praharaj, Paul J. McConville, Jason M. LeFevre, Michael J. Levy
  • Patent number: 11478991
    Abstract: A system for determining a temperature of an object includes a three-dimensional (3D) printer configured to successively deposit a first layer of material, a second layer of material, and a third layer of material to form the object. The 3D printer is configured to form a recess in the second layer of material. The material is a metal. The system also includes a temperature sensor configured to be positioned at least partially with the recess and to have the third layer deposited thereon. The temperature sensor is configured to measure a temperature of the first layer of material, the second layer of material, the third layer of material, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher Douglas Atwood, Erwin Ruiz, David M. Kerxhalli, Douglas K. Herrmann, Linn C. Hoover, Derek A. Bryl, Ali R. Dergham
  • Patent number: 11475258
    Abstract: A tone reproduction curve for a printing apparatus is periodically generated based on printed items produced by the printing apparatus. The tone reproduction curve is adjusted between periodic print-based generations of the tone reproduction curve by: determining the amount of area coverage of marking material applied by the printing apparatus during printing (in subsequent periods following an initial period in which the tone reproduction curve was generated); weighting the amount of area coverage in each of the subsequent periods differently based on how distant each of the subsequent periods is from the initial period to produce a weighted moving average of the area coverages of the marking material; and adjusting the tone reproduction curve based on the weighted moving average of the area coverages of the marking material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Chu-heng Liu, Seemit Praharaj, Jason M. LeFevre, Douglas K. Herrmann
  • Patent number: 11467785
    Abstract: A processor maintains image quality degradation for a printing device. A communications device receives a print job that includes instructions to print a plurality of printed sheets in a sheet printing sequence. The processor generates a predicted output image for a mid-job sheet of the printed sheets based on the image quality degradation and the sheet count of the mid-job sheet within the sheet printing sequence. The printing engine alter printing characteristics to print a proof sheet matching an appearance of the predicted output image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Seemit Praharaj, Jason M. LeFevre, Chu-heng Liu, Douglas K. Herrmann
  • Publication number: 20220314650
    Abstract: A printing system comprises a printhead to eject ink through an opening in a carrier plate to a deposition region. A print medium is held against a movable support surface by vacuum suction communicated through platen holes of a vacuum platen and transported through the deposition region. An airflow control system comprises upstream and downstream valves associated with the printhead, individually addressable channels for the vacuum platen, or both. The upstream and downstream valves are arranged to selectively block and allow airflow through an upstream side or a downstream side, respectively, of the opening in the carrier plate. Actuation of the upstream and downstream valves may be controlled based on a location of the print medium. The channels are arranged to selectively control the supply of vacuum suction to respectively corresponding columns of platen holes. Actuation of the channels may be controlled based on a size of the print medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seemit PRAHARAJ, Douglas K. HERRMANN, Jason M. LeFEVRE, Chu-Heng LIU, Paul J. McCONVILLE
  • Publication number: 20220314654
    Abstract: A printing system comprises a printhead to eject a print fluid to a deposition region. A movable support surface, such as a belt, is used to transport print media through the deposition region, with the print media being held against the movable support surface by vacuum suction through holes in the movable support surface. A media registration device loads print media onto the movable support surface and registers the print media to a location of the movable support surface. The movable support surface comprises no-suction-regions in which the vacuum suction through the movable support surface is prevented. The no-suction regions extend across the width of the movable support surface in a cross-process direction and are arranged at predetermined intervals along the process direction. The control system causes the media registration device to register each of the print media relative to a respective one of the no-suction-regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chu-Heng LIU, Douglas K. HERRMANN, Jason M. LeFEVRE, Paul J. McCONVILLE, Seemit PRAHARAJ
  • Publication number: 20220314652
    Abstract: A printing system comprises a printhead to eject a print fluid to a deposition region. Print media are held by vacuum suction against a movable support surface, which moves over a vacuum platen to transport the print media through the deposition region. The vacuum platen has platen holes through which the vacuum suction is communicated. Multiple vacuum plenums are provided to supply the vacuum suction to different groups of the platen hoes. A first vacuum plenum is fluidically coupled to a first group of the platen holes located at least partially in the deposition region, and to a second group of platen holes located upstream of the first group. A second vacuum plenum is fluidically coupled to a third group of the platen holes comprising at least some platen holes located between the first and second groups of platen holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Douglas K. HERRMANN, Jason M. LeFEVRE, Chu-Heng LIU, Paul J. McCONVILLE, Seemit PRAHARAJ
  • Publication number: 20220314653
    Abstract: A printing system comprises a printhead to eject a print fluid to a deposition region. Print media are held against a movable support surface via vacuum suction, and the movable support surface transports the print media through the deposition region. A vacuum plenum comprises a vacuum platen over which the movable support surface moves. The vacuum platen has platen holes that communicate the vacuum suction from the vacuum plenum to the movable support surface. An airflow restriction mechanism forms a high impedance zone in the vacuum platen, the high impedance zone comprising a subset of the platen holes. The airflow impedance through the high impedance zone is relatively high compared to the airflow impedance through another subset of the platen holes, which are part of a low impedance zone. The high impedance zone may be located near the printhead to reduce airflow through uncovered platen holes near the printhead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chu-Heng LIU, Douglas K. HERRMANN, Jason M. LeFEVRE, Paul J. McCONVILLE, Seemit PRAHARAJ
  • Publication number: 20220305736
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing system has an extruder and a printhead module with a conveyor for moving between the extruder and the printhead module. The extruder is operated to form a support layer having microneedle protrusions. The conveyor moves the support layer having the microneedle protrusions to a position opposite the printhead module for sharpening of the microneedle protrusions and the application of a medicament to the sharpened microneedle protrusions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Seemit Praharaj, Chu-Heng Liu, Douglas K. Herrmann, Jason M. LeFevre, Paul J. McConville
  • Publication number: 20220305817
    Abstract: A printing system comprises a print fluid deposition assembly, a media transport device, and an air flow control system. The print fluid deposition assembly comprises a printhead to eject a print fluid through an opening of a carrier plate to a deposition region. The media transport device holds a print medium against the movable support surface by vacuum suction and transports the print medium through the deposition region. The air flow control system comprises an air supply unit to selectively flow air through the opening based on a location of a print medium relative to the printhead. The air supply unit comprises an air guide structure comprising an air outlet portion extending into the opening of the carrier plate between the printhead and the carrier plate, the air outlet portion terminating in an end wall that is angled obliquely relative to the movable support surface towards a reverse-process direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Douglas K. HERRMANN, Jason M. LeFEVRE, Chu-Heng LIU, Paul J. McCONVILLE, Seemit PRAHARAJ
  • Publication number: 20220305819
    Abstract: A printing system comprises a print fluid deposition assembly, a media transport device, and an air flow control system. The print fluid deposition assembly comprises a carrier plate and a printhead arranged to eject a print fluid through an opening of the carrier plate to a deposition region. The media transport device holds a print medium against the movable support surface by vacuum suction and transports the print medium through the deposition region. The air flow control system comprises an air supply unit comprising air flow guide structure extending into the opening of the carrier plate between the carrier plate and the printhead to flow air through the opening. The air flow control system controls the air supply unit to selectively flow the air based on a location of a print medium relative to the printhead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Patrick Jun HOWE, John Patrick BAKER, Brian M. BALTHASAR, Glenn BATCHELOR, Anthony Salvatore CONDELLO, Ali R. DERGHAM, Timothy P. FOLEY, Douglas K. HERRMANN, Richard A. KALB, Peter John KNAUSDORF, Jason M. LeFEVRE, Jack T. LESTRANGE, Chu-Heng LIU, Paul J. McCONVILLE, Seemit PRAHARAJ, Palghat S. RAMESH, Joseph C. SHEFLIN, Emmett James SPENCE, Robert Jian ZHANG, Megan ZIELENSKI
  • Publication number: 20220305815
    Abstract: A printing system comprises a print fluid deposition assembly, a media transport device, and an air flow control system. The print fluid deposition assembly comprises a carrier plate and a printhead arranged to eject a print fluid through an opening of the carrier plate to a deposition region. The media transport device comprises a movable support surface to transport a print medium along a process direction through the deposition region, the media transport device holding the print medium against the movable support surface by vacuum suction. The air flow control system is arranged to selectively flow air through the opening of the carrier plate between the carrier plate and the printhead based on a location of a print medium transported by the media transport device relative to the printhead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Douglas K. HERRMANN, Linn C. HOOVER, Patrick Jun HOWE, Joseph C. SHEFLIN, Robert Jian ZHANG, John Patrick BAKER, Brian M. BALTHASAR, Glenn BATCHELOR, Anthony Salvatore CONDELLO, Ali R. DERGHAM, Timothy P. FOLEY, Richard A. KALB, Peter John KNAUSDORF, Jason M. LeFEVRE, Jack T. LESTRANGE, Chu-Heng LIU, Paul J. McCONVILLE, Seemit PRAHARAJ, Palghat S. RAMESH, Erwin RUIZ, Emmett James SPENCE, Rachel Lynn TANCHAK, Kareem TAWIL, Carlos M. TERRERO, Megan ZIELENSKI
  • Patent number: 11447359
    Abstract: Signage packs for retail store shelves are compiled with a continuous belt pusher system having multiple pushers that allow accumulated set signage packs to be collated and pushed to a downstream transport system that forwards them for the application of hot-melt adhesive to an edge of each pack while simultaneously eliminating printer skipped pitches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Douglas K Herrmann, Hans Franklin Case
  • Publication number: 20220283683
    Abstract: Devices include first and second frame elements having mounting points connectable to opposite ends (e.g., first end, second end) of the touchscreen. First and second rollers are connected, respectively, to the first and second frame elements. A web of transparent material is supported by and between the first and second rollers. Further, an ultraviolet light device is connected to the second frame element and is positioned to expose the web of transparent material to ultraviolet radiation to disinfect the transparent material between users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas K. Herrmann, Seemit Praharaj, Jason M. LeFevre, Paul J. McConville, Chu-heng Liu, Linn C. Hoover, David A. VanKouwenberg
  • Publication number: 20220258464
    Abstract: A drag force sensor on a fountain solution carrier roller surface measures drag force of a fountain solution layer on the fountain solution carrier roller surface in real-time during a printing operation. The measured drag force is used in a feedback loop to actively control the fountain solution layer thickness by adjusting the volumetric feed rate of fountain solution added onto the imaging member surface during a printing operation to reach a desired uniform thickness for the printing. This fountain solution monitoring system may be fully automated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Jack T. LESTRANGE, Joseph C. SHEFLIN, Palghat S. RAMESH, Anthony S. CONDELLO, Brian M. BALTHASAR, Seemit PRAHARAJ, Chu-heng LIU, Paul J. MCCONVILLE, Douglas K. HERRMANN, Jason M. LEFEVRE
  • Publication number: 20220257810
    Abstract: An apparatus includes, among other components, a frame adapted to be connected to the exterior surface of a device that has a touchscreen. A retractable cover is operatively connected to the frame. The size of the retractable cover is equal to at least the size of the touchscreen, and the retractable cover is positioned to extend so as to cover the touchscreen. At least one ultraviolet light is also operatively connected to the frame. The ultraviolet light is positioned to direct ultraviolet lighting toward the touchscreen when the retractable cover extends to cover the touchscreen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Seemit Praharaj, Douglas K. Herrmann, Chu-heng Liu, Paul J. McConville, Jason M. LeFevre, Linn C. Hoover, David A. VanKouwenberg
  • Patent number: 11401065
    Abstract: A workflow process for packing and unpacking variable sized bundles of printed card signs includes providing identifiable codes that make the card signs highly visible and recognizable. Included on selected card signs is a color coded border with indexing added to each bundle in groupings to help in packing and unpacking the bundles into and from boxes. When the bundles are packed in a box on edge, both the person packing and unpacking the box can easily identify the beginning and end of each bundle and thereby limiting the time required to organize and process the bundles and reduce labor cost and errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Hans Franklin Case, Douglas K Herrmann, Kevin St Martin
  • Publication number: 20220212257
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) metal object manufacturing apparatus has a volume of thermally insulative fluid in which a X-Y translation mechanism moves to position a platform opposite an ejector head. The apparatus also includes a housing having an internal volume in which the platform and X-Y translation mechanism are located. The thermally insulative fluid is a molten salt, such as a molten fluoride, chloride, or nitrate molten salt. The thermally insulative layer protects the X-Y mechanism while the housing helps keep the surface temperature of the object being formed on the platform in an optimal range for bonding of melted metal drops ejected from the ejector head to a surface of a metal object being formed on the platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Douglas K. Herrmann, Varun Sambhy
  • Patent number: 11376880
    Abstract: An adhesive sign suited to use in retail applications includes a substrate layer. An adhesive layer is disposed on the substrate layer. The adhesive layer defines an exposed region for attachment to an associated structure. The adhesive layer is derived from a photo-curable inkjet composition. An ink layer is disposed on the substrate layer. The ink layer includes an image. The ink layer is derived from a photo-curable inkjet composition. The adhesive layer and ink layer can be formed in the same inkjet printing process and cured in a common photo-curing station. A stack of the adhesive signs can be assembled without interleaving a release liner between each pair of signs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas K. Herrmann, Seemit Praharaj, Jason M. LeFevre, Paul J. McConville, Chu-Heng Liu