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).

  • Patent number: 6276780
    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: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Edward M. Carrese, Brian S. Hilton, Eric A. Merz, Steven R. Moore, James R. Brown, Arthur J. Sobon
  • Patent number: 6254227
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Eric A. Merz, Hiep H. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6250749
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Eric A. Merz, Hiep H. Nguyen, Edward M. Carrese, Dennis M. Lengyel
  • Patent number: 6246776
    Abstract: An image recording media determination system is used with an imaging processing device and is operative for determining whether to form an image on a sheet of image recording media that is fed from a media source. The image recording media determination system includes a determination device and a controller device. The determination device determines whether the sheet of image recording media is compatible with the image processing device. The controller device which is in communication with the determination device permits forming the image on the sheet of image recording material by the image processing device when the determination device determines that the sheet of image recording media is compatible with the image processing device. The controller device also prohibits forming the image on the sheet of image recording media by the image processing device when the determination device determines that the sheet of image recording media is incompatible with the image processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Eric A. Merz, Kamal G. Escalona, Charles M. Gardiner
  • Patent number: 6179285
    Abstract: A media transport system for transporting a media sheet in a marking device includes an entrance drive assembly, an exit drive assembly and a vacuum generator that applies a vacuum force to the media sheet to form a wide, flat printing zone. The entrance drive assembly receives and transports the media sheet in a process direction by contacting top and bottom surfaces of the media sheet, thereby exerting an entrance drive force on the media sheet. The exit drive assembly receives and transports the media sheet by contacting the top and bottom surfaces of the media sheet, thereby exerting an exit drive force on the media sheet. The vacuum force is applied to the media sheet in an area of the media sheet between the entrance drive assembly and the exit drive assembly. The vacuum force on the media sheet acts in a vacuum force direction substantially normal to the process direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Roger G. Teumer, William R. Burger, Paul S. DeHond, Eric A. Merz, W. Keith Gilliland
  • Patent number: 6158837
    Abstract: An ink jet printer of the type having at least one customer replaceable ink cartridge with an ink monitoring system detects whether or not the ink in the cartridge contains qualified ink or not and adjusts the normal printing mode to a non-normal printing when non-qualified ink is detected, thereby providing the customer the option to print with non-qualified ink with minimized effect on the printer or print quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Brian S. Hilton, Eric A. Merz, Frederick A. Donahue
  • Patent number: 5565657
    Abstract: An user interface for accepting three dimensional information (such as x, y and z axis positioning information) for input into a computer, printer, copier or other electronic device. In addition to indicating the x and y axis position coordinates of the input, the input pad of the user interface also registers a z axis coordinate based on the pressure applied by the operator on the outer surface of the input pad. This z axis force component is enabled by the force sensing layers of parallel conductors in the input pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Eric A. Merz
  • Patent number: 5393047
    Abstract: An apparatus for gripping the leading edge portion of a sheet includes a first gripping member which substantially spans the leading edge portion of the sheet. The apparatus further includes a spring having a portion thereof defining a second gripping member which substantially spans the leading edge portion of the sheet, the second gripping member being urged toward the first gripping member to grip the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: David K Ahl, Eric A. Merz, Timothy G. Struczewski, Roger M. Swanson, George F. Rittberg
  • Patent number: 5329338
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting and discriminating a copy sheet in an electronic reprographic printing system has a diffuse reflective sensor disposed adjacent a portion of the path over which the copy sheet moves. The sensor is disposed so that its optical axis intersects the copy sheet where the angle of intersection between the copy sheet and the optical axis remains within a specified range of angles for the maximum length of the copy sheet. A diffuse reflective sensor is also disposed adjacent inlet baffles with its optical axis aligned so that a transparent copy sheet is not detected while an opaque copy sheet is.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Eric A. Merz, Jacqueline L. Holmes, Kenneth G. Christy
  • Patent number: 5201516
    Abstract: An apparatus for gripping a sheet includes a first gripping member and a second gripping member. The second gripping member includes a base which is movable relative to the first gripping member. The second gripping member further includes a plate which is secured to the base, the plate being adapted to cooperate with the first gripping member to grip the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Abraham Cherian, Roger M. Swanson, Eric A. Merz
  • Patent number: 5177541
    Abstract: An apparatus which advances a sheet through a transfer zone and into registration with information developed on a moving member. The sheet is advanced to a position wherein a leading portion thereof is immediately ahead of the transfer zone relative to the forward direction of movement of the moving member and a trailing portion thereof is within the transfer zone. The leading portion of the sheet forms a presentation angle of 7-10 degrees with the horizontal. The trailing portion of the sheet is advanced through the transfer zone at a first velocity and the leading edge of the sheet is advanced in a region immediately ahead of the transfer zone at a second velocity, which is less than the first velocity, so as to create a buckle in the leading portion of the sheet positioned immediately ahead of the transfer zone relative to the forward direction of movement of the moving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Vittorio Castelli, James R. Cassano, Richard M. Dastin, John E. Kosko, James D. Apolito, Kenneth G. Christy, Robert J. Tannascoli, Eric A. Merz, Richard J. Laws, Jr., Roger Swanson