Patents by Inventor Duane A. Preszler
Duane A. Preszler 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: 8203584Abstract: A thermal processor including an oven and a cooling section. The oven is configured to heat an imaging media to a development temperature. The cooling section is configured to cool the imaging media from the development temperature to a desired exit temperature as imaging media moves along a transport path from an entrance to an exit. The cooling section provides a varying rate of heat transfer from the imaging media along the transport path so as to create a varying cooling temperature gradient in the imaging media substantially equal to and not exceeding a varying maximum cooling temperature gradient of imaging media.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2011Date of Patent: June 19, 2012Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.Inventors: Kent R. Struble, David J. McDaniel, Duane A. Preszler, Paul Stelzig
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Publication number: 20110187808Abstract: A thermal processor including an oven and a cooling section. The oven is configured to heat an imaging media to a development temperature. The cooling section is configured to cool the imaging media from the development temperature to a desired exit temperature as imaging media moves along a transport path from an entrance to an exit. The cooling section provides a varying rate of heat transfer from the imaging media along the transport path so as to create a varying cooling temperature gradient in the imaging media substantially equal to and not exceeding a varying maximum cooling temperature gradient of imaging media.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2011Publication date: August 4, 2011Inventors: Kent R. Struble, David J. McDaniel, Duane A. Preszler, Paul Stelzig
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Patent number: 7924300Abstract: A thermal processor including an oven and a cooling section. The oven is configured to heat an imaging media to a development temperature. The cooling section is configured to cool the imaging media from the development temperature to a desired exit temperature as imaging media moves along a transport path from an entrance to an exit. The cooling section provides a varying rate of heat transfer from the imaging media along the transport path so as to create a varying cooling temperature gradient in the imaging media substantially equal to and not exceeding a varying maximum cooling temperature gradient of imaging media.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2006Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.Inventors: Kent R. Struble, David J. McDaniel, Duane A. Preszler, Paul Stelzig
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Publication number: 20080028968Abstract: A thermal processor including an oven and a cooling section. The oven is configured to heat an imaging media to a development temperature. The cooling section is configured to cool the imaging media from the development temperature to a desired exit temperature as imaging media moves along a transport path from an entrance to an exit. The cooling section provides a varying rate of heat transfer from the imaging media along the transport path so as to create a varying cooling temperature gradient in the imaging media substantially equal to and not exceeding a varying maximum cooling temperature gradient of imaging media.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2006Publication date: February 7, 2008Inventors: Kent R. Struble, David J. McDaniel, Duane A. Preszler, Paul Stelzig
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Patent number: 7108433Abstract: A thermal processor for thermally developing an image in an imaging material. The thermal processor includes an oven and a plurality of rollers positioned to form a transport path and, through contact with the imaging material, configured to move the imaging material through the oven along the transport path. Each roller has an initial contact point and a final contact point with the imaging material as the imaging material moves along the transport path. A spacing between the rollers is varied such that a distance between a final contact point and an initial contact point of at least a first pair of rollers along the transport path is different from a distance between a final contact point and an initial contact point of at least a second pair of consecutive rollers along the transport path.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2004Date of Patent: September 19, 2006Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Duane A. Preszler, Brian L. Johnson
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Publication number: 20050285923Abstract: A thermal processor for thermally developing an image in an imaging material. The thermal processor includes an oven and a plurality of rollers positioned to form a transport path and, through contact with the imaging material, configured to move the imaging material through the oven along the transport path. Each roller has an initial contact point and a final contact point with the imaging material as the imaging material moves along the transport path. A spacing between the rollers is varied such that a distance between a final contact point and an initial contact point of at least a first pair of rollers along the transport path is different from a distance between a final contact point and an initial contact point of at least a second pair of consecutive rollers along the transport path.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2004Publication date: December 29, 2005Inventors: Duane Preszler, Brian Johnson
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Patent number: 6979802Abstract: A preheat chamber for conditioning an imaging material having a conditioning threshold temperature and a developing threshold temperature. The preheat chamber includes a chamber housing and a heating system. The heating system is configured to heat imaging material to a desired conditioning temperature above the conditioning threshold temperature and below the developing threshold temperature as the imaging material is moved through the chamber housing.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2004Date of Patent: December 27, 2005Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Kent R. Struble, Duane A. Preszler
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Publication number: 20050280690Abstract: A thermal processor for thermally developing an image in an imaging material. The thermal processor includes an oven, a plurality of rollers, and a drive band. The rollers each have an outer surface, and are positioned such that the outer surfaces contact an imaging material and form a transport path through the oven. The drive band contacts a least a portion of the outer surface of up to all of the rollers and via the contact drives each roller such that contact between the imaging material and the outer surfaces of the rollers moves the imaging material through the oven along the transport path.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2004Publication date: December 22, 2005Inventor: Duane Preszler
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Publication number: 20050280689Abstract: A thermal processor for thermally developing an image in an imaging material. The thermal processor includes an oven and a plurality of rotatable members. The plurality of rotatable members are positioned to form a transport path, and through contact with the imaging material, are configured to move the imaging material through the oven along the transport path. At least one of the rotatable members includes an internal heater such that the at least one rotatable member heats the imaging material as the imaging material moves along the transport path. An internal heater is controllable to provide an amount of thermal energy based on processing parameters associated with the imaging material.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2004Publication date: December 22, 2005Inventors: Duane Preszler, Brian Johnson
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Publication number: 20050218138Abstract: A preheat chamber for conditioning an imaging material having a conditioning threshold temperature and a developing threshold temperature. The preheat chamber includes a chamber housing and a heating system. The heating system is configured to heat imaging material to a desired conditioning temperature above the conditioning threshold temperature and below the developing threshold temperature as the imaging material is moved through the chamber housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2004Publication date: October 6, 2005Inventors: Kent Struble, Duane Preszler
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Patent number: 6146028Abstract: An apparatus and method for cooling a thermally processed, imaging material which has been heated to a first temperature by a thermal processor is disclosed. The cooling apparatus includes a cooling article, on which the imaging material rides after the imaging material exits the thermal processor, and an imaging material transport mechanism. The cooling article is at a lower temperature than the first temperature to cool the imaging material. The transport mechanism conveys the imaging material over the cooling article. The imaging material transport mechanism includes a first roller, a second roller and a displacement mechanism. The displacement mechanism effects relative movement between the first and second rollers between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the first and second rollers engage the imaging material to convey the imaging material over the cooling article.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 1999Date of Patent: November 14, 2000Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Duane A. Preszler
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Patent number: 6114660Abstract: A thermal processor for a thermally developable imaging element including a movable member having a heated surface and a plurality of contact flaps biased toward the heated surface of the member. The plurality of contact flaps can be located immediately adjacent each other and the heated surface and the plurality of contact flaps can be positioned to receive the imaging element therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 1998Date of Patent: September 5, 2000Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Eric J. Donaldson, Duane A. Preszler
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Patent number: 6041516Abstract: An article for cooling an imaging material which has been heated to a first temperature by a thermal processor. The article includes a first cooling section on which the imaging material rides after the imaging material exits the thermal processor. The first cooling section is at a lower temperature than the first temperature. The first cooling section has a curved shape such that the imaging material is curved when riding on and being cooled by the first cooling section.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 1998Date of Patent: March 28, 2000Assignee: Minnesota Mining & ManufacturingInventors: Duane A. Preszler, Kent R. Struble, David J. McDaniel, George G. Lunde
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Patent number: 5869806Abstract: A thermal processor and method for using the same which is particularly useful for developing a sheet of imaging material, such as photothermographic film. The thermal processor including means for heating the imaging material which include a plurality of heated surfaces within the thermal processor. The thermal processor also includes means for transporting the imaging material through the thermal processor and means for bending the imaging material a plurality of times to have a plurality of curvatures and for positioning the imaging material adjacent to the plurality of heated surfaces when the imaging material is heated by the heating means.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 1996Date of Patent: February 9, 1999Assignee: Imation Corp.Inventors: Kent R. Struble, David J. McDaniel, Duane A. Preszler, George G. Lunde
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Patent number: 5869807Abstract: A thermal processor particularly useful for developing a sheet of imaging material, such as photothermographic film. A thermal processor useful for thermally developing an image in an imaging material. At least a first roller and a second roller are positioned to contact the imaging material when the imaging material is transported into the thermal processor. A first heating means includes first and second curved, heated portions which wrap around a first circumferential portion of the first roller and the second roller to heat these rollers.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 1996Date of Patent: February 9, 1999Assignee: Imation Corp.Inventors: Kent R. Struble, David J. McDaniel, Duane A. Preszler
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Patent number: 5849388Abstract: An article for cooling an imaging material which has been heated to a first temperature by a thermal processor. The article includes a first cooling section on which the imaging material rides after the imaging material exits the thermal processor. The first cooling section is at a lower temperature than the first temperature. The first cooling section has a curved shape such that the imaging material is curved when riding on and being cooled by the first cooling section.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 1996Date of Patent: December 15, 1998Assignee: Imation Corp.Inventors: Duane A. Preszler, Kent R. Struble, David J. McDaniel, George G. Lunde
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Patent number: 5293913Abstract: The system ensures the proper placement of bottles which deliver material to a system. The system prevents male components from being mounted on incorrect female components. The male components can be tubes, and the female components can be covers which fit on the openings of bottles. A first key is formed on a first male component and a complementarily-shaped first keyway is formed on a first female component. Additional male and female component pairs have similar key-keyway pairs. Each key and each keyway includes first and second projections. The first projection is located in a reference position, and the second projection is located a predetermined distance from the reference position. This distance for each component pair is selected to identify the particular component pair.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 1993Date of Patent: March 15, 1994Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventor: Duane A. Preszler
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Patent number: 5255056Abstract: A clamping and tensioning system for securing a sheet of photoconductor film to an outer circumferential surface of a carrier drum includes a clamp rod mounted to the carrier drum by first and second mounting blocks. The first and second mounting blocks include elongated slots that allow the clamp rod to rotate about its longitudinal axis and further permit linear radial movement of the clamp rod with respect to the carrier drum. The clamp rod includes mounting pins and spring tabs that engage leading and trailing edges of the photoconductor film. The leading and trailing edges of the photoconductor film are releasibly clamped to the clamp rod by a clamp bar. Leaf spring elements associated with the first and second mounting blocks bias the clamp rod radially inward to a first position wherein the photoconductor film extends loosely about the outer surface of the carrier drum.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 1993Date of Patent: October 19, 1993Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co.Inventors: Duane A. Preszler, Donald L. Knutson, Lawrence M. Lucking
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Patent number: 5053820Abstract: A drive system for positioning any one of a plurality of toner developing modules relative to a photoconductor drum of an electrographic printer includes an indexing assembly having a chain drive mechanism. The chain drive mechanism includes a motor driven tow bar that is configured to releasably engage a tow hook mounted to a movable toner cart. The toner cart includes a developer rack that supports the plurality of developing modules. The drive system further includes a lift assembly that is configured to engage any one of developing modules and move it away from the rack to a developing position adjacent the photoconductor drum and back to the developer rack. The lift assembly includes a pair of lift arms, each of which is defined by a four bar linkage. The lift arms include hook assemblies that are configured to engage lift pins mounted on opposite ends of the developing modules. Each hook assembly includes a first centering member that supports a movable spring biased second centering member.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 1990Date of Patent: October 1, 1991Assignee: Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Duane A. Preszler, Gregory L. Zwadlo