Patents by Inventor Edward M. Eck
Edward M. Eck 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: 8457513Abstract: A controlled fuser assembly for a reproduction apparatus. The fuser assembly includes a fuser member for fusing a marking particle image to a receiver member and a cooling system for controlling the temperature of the fuser system. Optional external heater rollers have a heat transfer surface adapted to be selectively engaged with the fuser member, and a device for heating said heat transfer surfaces. A mechanism is provided for controlling the heat transfer with the fuser member to selectively change the amount of heat transferred from the fuser.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2010Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Borden H. Mills, III, Edward M. Eck, Anne F. Lairmore
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Patent number: 8452204Abstract: A dry electrophotographic printer is operated to remove toner from a longitudinal member. A process-control time interval, and a cleaning time interval that is a positive multiple thereof, are selected. Prints are produced until the process-control time interval elapses, as measured by a timing device. A process-control patch is produced in a process-control frame. This is repeated until the cleaning interval has elapsed. In the process-control frame, after the cleaning interval elapses, the photoreceptor and development member are spaced apart, then, after a selected time delay, brought into operational relationship, so that a stop at one end of the photoreceptor contacts an end block at one end of the development member, and toner is removed from the longitudinal member, which is connected to the end block.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2010Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Edward M. Eck, Alfred J. Gonnella, Anne F. Lairmore
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Patent number: 8406642Abstract: Apparatus for removing toner after a selected time interval from a longitudinal member in a dry electrophotographic printer for printing a visible image on a receiver. An end block is disposed at one end of a rotatable development member, and a longitudinal member is disposed adjacent to the development member or photoreceptor and is connected to the end block. A backup bar is disposed adjacent to the photoreceptor and can selectively make physical contact with at least one point on the end block. When a measured time interval of printer operation reaches the selected time interval, a controller causes the backup bar to apply a selected force to the end block to cause toner on the longitudinal member to be removed from the member.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2010Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Edward M. Eck, Alfred J. Gonnella, Anne F. Lairmore
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Patent number: 8311434Abstract: Toner is removed, after a selected time interval, from a skive mount in a dry electrophotographic printer. An end block is disposed at one end of the rotatable development member, and a skive mount disposed adjacent to the development member connects a skive to the end block. A timing device measures a time interval of printer operation. At the selected time interval, a controller causes a backup bar to lift away from the photoreceptor, then, after a selected time delay, causes the backup bar to make physical contact with at least one point on the end block, so that the backup bar applies a selected force to the end block to cause toner on the skive mount to be removed.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2010Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Edward M. Eck, Alfred J. Gonnella
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Patent number: 8265505Abstract: A controlled fuser assembly for a reproduction apparatus. The fuser assembly includes a fuser member for fusing a marking particle image to a receiver member and a cooling system for controlling the temperature of the fuser system. Optional external heater rollers have a heat transfer surface adapted to be selectively engaged with the fuser member, and a device for heating said heat transfer surfaces. A mechanism is provided for controlling the heat transfer with the fuser member to selectively change the amount of heat transferred from the fuser.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2010Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Borden H. Mills, III, Edward M. Eck, Anne F. Lairmore
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Patent number: 8265514Abstract: Toner is removed from a skive mount in a dry electrophotographic printer. An end block is disposed at one end of the rotatable development member, and a skive mount disposed adjacent to the development member connects a skive to the end block. A timing device measures time intervals of printer operation. A process-control time interval and a cleaning time interval that is a non-negative multiple of the process-control time interval are selected. Prints are made until the process-control time interval elapses. A process-control patch is produced in a process-control frame. Once the cleaning interval has elapsed, in the process-control frame, a backup bar is lifted lift away from the photoreceptor, then, after a selected time delay, brought into physical contact with at least one point on the end block, so that toner is removed from the skive mount.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2010Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Edward M. Eck, Alfred J. Gonnella
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Publication number: 20110299876Abstract: Toner is removed from a skive mount in a dry electrophotographic printer. An end block is disposed at one end of the rotatable development member, and a skive mount disposed adjacent to the development member connects a skive to the end block. A timing device measures time intervals of printer operation. A process-control time interval and a cleaning time interval that is a non-negative multiple of the process-control time interval are selected. Prints are made until the process-control time interval elapses. A process-control patch is produced in a process-control frame. Once the cleaning interval has elapsed, in the process-control frame, a backup bar is lifted lift away from the photoreceptor, then, after a selected time delay, brought into physical contact with at least one point on the end block, so that toner is removed from the skive mount.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2010Publication date: December 8, 2011Inventors: Edward M. Eck, Alfred J. Gonnella
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Publication number: 20110299865Abstract: A dry electrophotographic printer is operated to remove toner from a longitudinal member. A process-control time interval, and a cleaning time interval that is a positive multiple thereof, are selected. Prints are produced until the process-control time interval elapses, as measured by a timing device. A process-control patch is produced in a process-control frame. This is repeated until the cleaning interval has elapsed. In the process-control frame, after the cleaning interval elapses, the photoreceptor and development member are spaced apart, then, after a selected time delay, brought into operational relationship, so that a stop at one end of the photoreceptor contacts an end block at one end of the development member, and toner is removed from the longitudinal member, which is connected to the end block.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2010Publication date: December 8, 2011Inventors: Edward M. Eck, Alfred J. Gonnella, Anne F. Lairmore
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Publication number: 20110299877Abstract: Toner is removed, after a selected time interval, from a skive mount in a dry electrophotographic printer. An end block is disposed at one end of the rotatable development member, and a skive mount disposed adjacent to the development member connects a skive to the end block. A timing device measures a time interval of printer operation. At the selected time interval, a controller causes a backup bar to lift away from the photoreceptor, then, after a selected time delay, causes the backup bar to make physical contact with at least one point on the end block, so that the backup bar applies a selected force to the end block to cause toner on the skive mount to be removed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2010Publication date: December 8, 2011Inventors: Edward M. Eck, Alfred J. Gonnella
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Publication number: 20110299864Abstract: Apparatus for removing toner after a selected time interval from a longitudinal member in a dry electrophotographic printer for printing a visible image on a receiver. An end block is disposed at one end of a rotatable development member, and a longitudinal member is disposed adjacent to the development member or photoreceptor and is connected to the end block. A backup bar is disposed adjacent to the photoreceptor and can selectively make physical contact with at least one point on the end block. When a measured time interval of printer operation reaches the selected time interval, a controller causes the backup bar to apply a selected force to the end block to cause toner on the longitudinal member to be removed from the member.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2010Publication date: December 8, 2011Inventors: Edward M. Eck, Alfred J. Gonnella, Anne F. Lairmore
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Publication number: 20110194867Abstract: A controlled fuser assembly for a reproduction apparatus. The fuser assembly includes a fuser member for fusing a marking particle image to a receiver member and a cooling system for controlling the temperature of the fuser system. Optional external heater rollers have a heat transfer surface adapted to be selectively engaged with the fuser member, and a device for heating said heat transfer surfaces. A mechanism is provided for controlling the heat transfer with the fuser member to selectively change the amount of heat transferred from the fuser.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2010Publication date: August 11, 2011Inventors: Borden H. Mills, III, Edward M. Eck, Anne F. Lairmore
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Publication number: 20110194868Abstract: A controlled fuser assembly for a reproduction apparatus. The fuser assembly includes a fuser member for fusing a marking particle image to a receiver member and a cooling system for controlling the temperature of the fuser system. Optional external heater rollers have a heat transfer surface adapted to be selectively engaged with the fuser member, and a device for heating said heat transfer surfaces. A mechanism is provided for controlling the heat transfer with the fuser member to selectively change the amount of heat transferred from the fuser.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2010Publication date: August 11, 2011Inventors: Borden H. Mills, III, Edward M. Eck, Anne F. Lairmore
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Patent number: 7885584Abstract: An apparatus and related method for a self-cleaning toner roller device adjacent a toner roller. The cleaning device having one or more shields to capture the toner debris from the toner roller, a toner debris receptacle to collect the toner debris, and a controller to move the applicator from an operational mode to a self-cleaning mode.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2007Date of Patent: February 8, 2011Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Philip A. Stern, Edward M. Eck, Paul E. Thompson, Timothy Reynolds, Gerard M. Darby
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Publication number: 20090003887Abstract: An apparatus and related method for a self-cleaning toner roller device adjacent a toner roller. The cleaning device having one or more shields to capture the toner debris from the toner roller, a toner debris receptacle to collect the toner debris, and a controller to move the applicator from an operational mode to a self-cleaning mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2007Publication date: January 1, 2009Inventors: Philip A. Stern, Edward M. Eck, Paul E. Thompson, Timothy Reynolds, Gerard M. Darby
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Patent number: 7110706Abstract: The invention relates to a toner replenisher and method for an electrographic imaging machine, including flow of toner through a toner replenisher and sealing between a toner replenisher and a toner bottle. According to the numerous aspects of the invention, a toner replenisher and method for an electrographic imaging machine are provided, including improved flow of toner through a toner replenisher and/or improved sealing between a toner replenisher and a toner bottle.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2004Date of Patent: September 19, 2006Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Gerald Francis Barnes, Paul Essic Thompson, Edward M. Eck
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Patent number: 7054014Abstract: A method of estimating toner consumption of a input digital image when printed, the digital image comprised of an array of pixels and wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information, the method comprising the steps of identifying each pixel as background pixels or foreground pixels; adding the digital values of foreground pixels together; and, estimating toner usage based on the sum of the added values. The rendering of the present invention occurs post RIP.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2004Date of Patent: May 30, 2006Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Thomas J. Foster, Anne F. Lairmore, Edward M. Eck, David G. Watson
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Publication number: 20040196479Abstract: A method of estimating toner consumption of a input digital image when printed, the digital image comprised of an array of pixels and wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information, the method comprising the steps of identifying each pixel as background pixels or foreground pixels; adding the digital values of foreground pixels together; and, estimating toner usage based on the sum of the added values. The rendering of the present invention occurs post RIP.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2004Publication date: October 7, 2004Inventors: Thomas J. Foster, Anne F. Lairmore, Edward M. Eck, David G. Watson
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Patent number: 6775505Abstract: The invention relates generally to processes for electrostatic image development, and setpoints that provide uniform image development. In particular, an apparatus and process having a magnetic brush that implements a rotating magnetic core within a shell is disclosed. The process implements one or more of the following optimum setpoints: a range of shell surface speeds that provide uniform toning density, a range of shell surface speeds that prevent toner plate-out, a skive spacing that minimizes sensitivity to variation, a magnetic core speed that minimizes sensitivity to variation, and an imaging member spacing that minimizes sensitivity to variation.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2003Date of Patent: August 10, 2004Assignee: NexPress Digital LLCInventors: Eric C. Stelter, Joseph E. Guth, Matthias H. Regelsberger, Edward M. Eck
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Patent number: 6775490Abstract: An electrostatographic reproduction apparatus having a transfer assembly, including an electrically biased transfer roller in nip relation with a dielectric support member, for effecting transfer of a pigmented marking particle image from an image area of a dielectric support member to a receiver member in transfer relation with the dielectric support member in the transfer nip, a mechanism for cleaning the transfer roller including a control for the electrical bias on the transfer roller. The electrical bias control has a power supply generating an electrical output, of a settable polarity, connected to the transfer roller for applying an electrical bias of a set polarity thereto. A mechanism disables the power supply for a period of time during a start-up phase of reproduction so as to prevent transfer of residual marking particles from the dielectric support member to the transfer roller.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2002Date of Patent: August 10, 2004Assignee: NexPress Digital LLCInventors: Edward M. Eck, Kenneth P. Friedrich, Philip A. Stern, James A. Zimmer, Jr.
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Patent number: 6728503Abstract: Apparatus and methods for electrographic image development, wherein the image development process is optimized by setting the average developer bulk flow velocity with reference to the imaging member velocity, for example, where the average developer bulk velocity is about the same as the imaging member velocity, or within preferred ranges, such as between about 40% to about 130% of the imaging member velocity.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2001Date of Patent: April 27, 2004Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AGInventors: Eric C. Stelter, Joseph E. Guth, Matthias H. Regelsberger, Edward M. Eck, Ulrich Mutze