Patents by Inventor Eric A. Merz

Eric A. Merz 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).

  • Publication number: 20040257393
    Abstract: A fluid ejector assembly includes a container that stores a fluid to be ejected, a heat sink attached to the container, and a die module bonded to the heat sink. The heat sink is molded from a polymer that has at least one thermally conductive filler material mixed into the polymer. The heat sink is shaped to dissipate heat. The fluid ejector assembly is manufactured by mixing the at least one thermally conductive filler material with the polymer, molding the heat sink using the polymer and thermally-conductive filler material mixture, and attaching the heat sink to a die module and, optionally, to a fluid-containing container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Applicant: Fuji Xerox Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Eric A. Merz
  • Publication number: 20040246283
    Abstract: A fluid reservoir sensing system includes a pair of optical prisms that reflect light when a fluid level is below one of the pair of prisms. The pair of optical prisms includes a low prism usable to sense a low liquid level in the fluid reservoir, and a high prism usable to sense a high liquid level in the fluid reservoir. The fluid reservoir sensing system optionally includes an emitter and a photosensor. The emitter projects light through at least one of the low prism to the low incident surface and the high prism to the high incident surface. The photosensor senses light reflected from the low prism while the liquid is below the low prism. The photosensor also senses light from the high prism while the liquid level is below the high prism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eric A. Merz, Brian S. Hilton
  • Publication number: 20040135862
    Abstract: A liquid ink cartridge, such as ink jet ink cartridge, includes a container defining an ink reservoir, the ink reservoir having an ink outlet at one end and capable of receiving a supply of ink in the ink reservoir; and an ink follower composition located in the ink reservoir apart from the ink outlet. The ink follower composition includes a viscous gel material that provides a negative pressure in the ink reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Eric A. Merz, Juan Becerra, Jeffrey M. Koff
  • Patent number: 6663234
    Abstract: A fluid cartridge for dispensing fluid, such as liquid ink for a drop on demand ink jet printer, includes a housing that encloses a capillary chamber, and has an outlet port through the one wall of the housing into the capillary chamber. Capillary material in the capillary chamber is arranged so that it has a higher density adjacent the outlet port than away from the outlet port, to enhance the flow of the fluid toward the outlet port. The interior of the capillary chamber is structured to provide greater compression to the capillary material around the outlet port, and provide stability to retain the variable compression of the capillary material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Bryan J. Roof, Dennis M. Lengyel, Edward M. Carrese, David P. Breemes, Sr., Louis F. Lavallee, Sara Reynolds, Hiep H. Nguyen, Eric A. Merz, Christopher S. Mullin
  • Publication number: 20030151734
    Abstract: Method and system for detecting the presence and determining characteristics of objects such as ink cartridges in printing systems. The system includes a signal transceiver capable of transmitting signals using a photo emitter and capable of receiving signals sent from the objects using a photo detector, and a monitoring system coupled to the signal transceiver for processing received signals to determine characteristics of the objects. Further, the photo emitter is at least partially covered by a first optical polarizer and the objects include a reflective surface that is at least partially covered by a second optical polarizer. When signals are transmitted from the signal transceiver to the objects, the second optical polarizer allows the signals to reach the reflective surface and reflect back towards the signal transceiver if the orientations of the first and second optical polarizers are substantially the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick A. Donahue, Eric A. Merz
  • Patent number: 6527383
    Abstract: An ink tank which has an ink delivery port chamber and one or more free ink chambers is provided with free ink chamber ceiling heights which are lower than the ceiling height of the ink delivery port chamber to reduce the amount of air trapped in the ink tank when the ink tank is filled with ink, and to locate air trapped in the ink tank in the ink delivery port chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis M. Lengyel, Eric A. Merz, Edward M. Carrese, David P. Breemes, Hiep Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6520612
    Abstract: A low ink sensing system is combined with an ink cartridge detection system to enable a more efficient ink jet printer. An ink container which supplies ink to an associated printhead is modified by the incorporation of two light directing elements, in the preferred embodiment, a curvilinear prism-like structure and a curvilinear roof mirror, into a transparent wall of the container housing. The cartridge, comprising the ink container and associated printhead, is mounted on a scan carriage. Periodically, the carriage is conveyed to a sensing station comprising a pair of light sources and a commonly used photosensor. A first light source is energized and a beam of light is directed to a location where the curvilinear roof mirror would be positioned if the cartridge is present. If the cartridge is absent, lack of a reflected return signal is sensed, indicating a cartridge has not been inserted. Print operation is halted until a cartridge is inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Eric A. Merz, Richard E. Butts, Dennis M. Lengyel
  • Publication number: 20030026640
    Abstract: Backlash is reduced by stopping substrate short of a printing position, then slowly advancing the drive system to move the substrate to the printing position. Where a stepper motor drives a driven roller via a gear train, the stepper motor stops the substrate a predetermined number of steps shy of the printing position. The stepper motor is then advanced by the predetermined number of steps, taking up backlash and moving the substrate to the printing position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2001
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Steven R. Moore, Eric A. Merz
  • Publication number: 20020186286
    Abstract: A fluid cartridge for dispensing fluid, such as liquid ink for a drop on demand ink jet printer, includes a housing that encloses a capillary chamber, and has an outlet port through the one wall of the housing into the capillary chamber. Capillary material in the capillary chamber is arranged so that it has a higher density adjacent the outlet port than away from the outlet port, to enhance the flow of the fluid toward the outlet port. The interior of the capillary chamber is structured to provide greater compression to the capillary material around the outlet port, and provide stability to retain the variable compression of the capillary material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Bryan J. Roof, Dennis M. Lengyel, Edward M. Carrese, David P. Breemes, Louis F. Lavallee, Sara Reynolds, Hiep H. Nguyen, Eric A. Merz, Christopher S. Mullin
  • Patent number: 6467869
    Abstract: A printer determines the characteristics of the ink of the replaceble ink cartridge by set of ink cartridges. Each ink cartridge is formed of a housing and includes marks on the exterior surface of the housing. The marks on the cartridge housing are arranged so that the marks on the several ink cartridges collectively form a pattern of marks. The printer electronically scans the pattern of marks, and automatically produces an indication in accordance with the pattern of marks to identify the brand and/or type of ink contained in the set of cartridges, the ink capacity of the cartridges, as well as to verify that an appropriate combination of cartridges has been installed. Printer performance characteristics, such as expected print yield, can be determined based on the indication produced by scanning the pattern of marks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Eric A. Merz, Richard E. Butts, Craig Tiller
  • Patent number: 6412911
    Abstract: An ink tank and ink tank support structure which contains structural elements which are designed to permit proper installation of the ink tank in the ink tank support structure while minimizing the chances of improper installation of the ink tank in the ink tank structure. A primary ink tank seal is provided in the ink tank, and a relatively low compressive force seal is provided between the ink tank support structure and the ink tank to reduce leakage of fluid from the tank and limit evaporation of fluid from the tank despite repeated insertions and removals of the ink tank from the ink tank support structure. A variable capacity ink tank and an ink tank with staggered height walls are disclosed, as well as a code reader for determining characteristics of ink tanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Brian S. Hilton, Edward M. Carrese, Eric A. Merz, Steven R. Moore, James R. Brown, Arthur J. Sobon
  • Publication number: 20020071012
    Abstract: A fluid cartridge, such as a cartridge for supplying ink for to an ink jet printhead, includes a wick chamber having outer walls, an ink outlet passing through one of the outer walls, and a porous wick member located in the wick chamber. Inner surfaces of the outer walls of the wick chamber are formed such that a portion of the wick proximate to the ink outlet is compressed by the inner surfaces to a larger degree than are portions of the wick distant from the ink outlet. The inner surfaces of the outer walls of the wick chamber may be formed such that they converge approaching the ink outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: David P. Breemes, Eric A. Merz
  • Patent number: 6402284
    Abstract: A particular ink tank, and therefore its characteristics, are determined by detecting the existence or absence of magnets at predetermined positions on the ink tank. The detection of the magnets is performed by hall effect sensors located on an ink tank holder of an image recording apparatus when the ink tank is positioned in the ink tank holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Eric A. Merz
  • Patent number: 6390615
    Abstract: An ink tank and ink tank support structure which contains structural elements which are designed to permit proper installation of the ink in the ink tank support structure while minimizing the chances of improper installation of the ink tank in the ink tank structure. A primary ink tank seal is provided in the ink tank, and a relatively low compressive force seal is provided between the ink tank support structure and the ink tank to reduce leakage of fluid from tank and limit evaporation of fluid from the tank despite repeated insertions and removals of the ink tank from the ink tank support structure. A variable capacity ink tank and an ink tank with staggered height walls are disclosed, as well as a code reader for determining characteristics of ink tanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Edward M. Carrese, Brian S. Hilton, Eric A. Merz, James R. Brown, Steven R. Moore, Arthur J. Sobon, Hiep Nguyen, Kenneth W. Altfather
  • Patent number: 6350029
    Abstract: A printing device having a frame, an input holding area, and an output holding area. The frame supports a printhead and a feed roller system for feeding print medium to the printhead. The input holding area is disposed on the frame. The output holding area is disposed on the frame. The input holding area holds print medium to be fed into the feed roller system. The output holding area has a support section to receive and support print medium output from the feed roller system. The support section of the output holding area has a bypass feed slot formed therein. The bypass feed slot is substantially straight. The bypass feed slot includes a first slot portion and a second slot portion adjoining the first portion. The second slot portion has a slot width different from the first slot portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas F. Szlucha, Vittal Shenoy, William R. Burger, Eric A. Merz
  • Publication number: 20020005882
    Abstract: A fluid cartridge, such as a cartridge for filling with ink for use in ink jet printhead includes a housing enclosing a wick chamber, the housing including a top wall. The housing also includes an ink chamber. A fluid conduit connects the ink chamber and the wick chamber. The outer surface of the top wall of the housing is formed with a recess. A vent opening through the top wall of the wick chamber, at the recess, provides communication between the wick chamber and the recess. A covering over the top surface of the housing encloses the recess. An outlet opening through an outer wall other than the top wall of the wick chamber provides fluid communication for the ink to flow from the wick chamber. One end of an overflow tube is in fluid communication with the recess in the top wall of the housing. The other end of the overflow tube opens to the ambient environment at another point on the exterior of the housing, such as near the outlet opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Publication date: January 17, 2002
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Eric A. Merz, Hiep H. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6290351
    Abstract: A printer and a method for producing precise registered images are provided. The method in the printer is carried out by an included sheet transport and control assembly for moving a sheet of paper along a sheet path through a printing zone. The sheet transport and control assembly includes drive device; a moveable sheet carrying web member having a first edge and a second edge having an array of precision holes, including adjacent holes spaced a precise distance apart, formed through at least the first edge and the second edge. The sheet transport and control assembly also includes a programmable controller connected to the drive device, and a dual sensor assembly mounted along the sheet path and connected to the programmable controller for responsively generating and inputting precision hole position signals to the programmable controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Eric A. Merz
  • Patent number: D448797
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Edward M. Carrese, Hiep Nguyen, Eric A. Merz, Bruce A. LaPlant, Richard E. Butts, Douglas J. Baxendell, Dennis M. Lengyel, David P. Breemes
  • Patent number: D452875
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Edward M. Carrese, Hiep Nguyen, Eric A. Merz, Bruce A. LaPlant, Richard E. Butts, Douglas J. Baxendell, Dennis M. Lengyel, David P. Breemes
  • Patent number: D456446
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Edward M. Carrese, Hiep Nguyen, Eric A. Merz, Bruce A. LaPlant, Richard B. Butts, Douglas J. Baxendell, Dennis M. Lengyel, David P. Breemes