Patents by Inventor Frank M. Hughes
Frank M. Hughes 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: 6967669Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising an accumulator drum for receiving toner images from a plurality of imaging units and transferring the toner images to a receiving media. The basic components of the image forming apparatus comprise an accumulator drum having a plurality of imaging units with photoconductive drums positioned about the accumulator drum, and a laser assembly. In one embodiment, a laser emits light beams for forming a latent image on each of the photoconductive drums with each light beam having a different external optical path length. In one embodiment, a drive mechanism operatively connected to the imaging units drives the accumulator drum. In one embodiment, the imaging units are positioned about the accumulator drum is a specific angular placement. In one embodiment, the imaging units are at least partially positioned within the interior of the accumulator drum.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2003Date of Patent: November 22, 2005Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Scott R. Castle, Frank M. Hughes, Edward A. Rush
-
Publication number: 20040183881Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising an accumulator drum for receiving toner images from a plurality of imaging units and transferring the toner images to a receiving media. The basic components of the image forming apparatus comprise an accumulator drum having a plurality of imaging units with photoconductive drums positioned about the accumulator drum, and a laser assembly. In one embodiment, a laser emits light beams for forming a latent image on each of the photoconductive drums with each light beam having a different external optical path length. In one embodiment, a drive mechanism operatively connected to the imaging units drives the accumulator drum. In one embodiment, the imaging units are positioned about the accumulator drum is a specific angular placement. In one embodiment, the imaging units are at least partially positioned within the interior of the accumulator drum.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2003Publication date: September 23, 2004Inventors: Scott R. Castle, Frank M. Hughes, Edward A. Rush
-
Patent number: 6692107Abstract: The invention relates to an ink cartridge body which is removably mountable in a printer carriage area of an ink jet printer and an alignment and latching mechanism for the ink cartridge body. The printer carriage area includes at least first and second spaced-apart elongate guide rails and the ink cartridge body includes a printhead and at least two bearing points at predetermined locations on the ink cartridge body, each of the bearing points disposed on the cartridge body for separately engaging at least one of the elongate guide rails for aligning and maintaining the printhead in a predetermined orientation relative to the print media in the printer. The invention substantially reduces the number of parts and tolerances thereof required for aligning a printhead relative to a print media by directly aligning the cartridge body rather than the carrier in the carriage area of the printer.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2001Date of Patent: February 17, 2004Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Michael D. Lattuca, James P. Harden, Larry S. Foster, Frank M. Hughes, Darren W. Tosh, Michael S. Leiter, Benjamin A. Askren, David A. Ward, Brian D. Smith, Robert A. Samples, Donn D. Bryant, Paul D. Horrall, David M. Cseledy
-
Publication number: 20010048453Abstract: The invention relates to an ink cartridge body which is removably mountable in a printer carriage area of an ink jet printer and an alignment and latching mechanism for the ink cartridge body. The printer carriage area includes at least first and second spaced-apart elongate guide rails and the ink cartridge body includes a printhead and at least two bearing points at predetermined locations on the ink cartridge body, each of the bearing points disposed on the cartridge body for separately engaging at least one of the elongate guide rails for aligning and maintaining the printhead in a predetermined orientation relative to the print media in the printer. The invention substantially reduces the number of parts and tolerances thereof required for aligning a printhead relative to a print media by directly aligning the cartridge body rather than the carrier in the carriage area of the printer.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2001Publication date: December 6, 2001Inventors: Michael D. Lattuca, James P. Harden, Larry S. Foster, Frank M. Hughes, Darren W. Tosh, Michael S. Leiter, Benjamin A. Askren, David A. Ward, Brian D. Smith, Robert A. Samples, Donn D. Bryant, Paul D. Horrall, David M. Cseledy
-
Patent number: 5136333Abstract: An electrophotographic printer (11) having a base (13) and a top (12), the top (12) being pivotable about an axis (23) between a closed position and an open position. The printer (11) receives a supply cartridge (14) on a shelf (22) which is pivotable about the same axis (23) as the top (12) of the printer (11). A counterbalance spring (34) helps to support the shelf (22) and the cartridge (14) below the top (12) of the printer (11) and above the printer base (13) when the top (12) of the printer (11) is in its open position. When the top (12) of the printer (11) is closed, the cartridge (14) is urged into a position adjacent the printer base (13) and locked into an operative position.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 1989Date of Patent: August 4, 1992Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: James A. Craft, William L. Dollenmayer, James P. Harden, Frank M. Hughes, James J. Molloy
-
Patent number: 4650351Abstract: A thermal printer (10) has a thermal transfer medium (28) fed past a thermal printhead (21) at a substantially constant velocity by a feed roll (82) engaging the thermal transfer medium just prior to the printhead to maintain a portion of the thermal transfer medium between the printhead and the feed roll relatively stiff. The feed roll is mounted on a cartridge (30) having the thermal transfer medium supplied therefrom. A drag brake (70) is disposed in the feed path of the thermal transfer medium prior to the feed roll to cause a substantially constant premetering tension to be applied to the thermal transfer medium irrespective of the coefficient of friction between the drag brake and the thermal transfer medium. A carrier (14), which supports the printhead and a feed roll driver (90), is driven separately from the feed roll driver so that various ratios between the velocities of the thermal transfer medium and the carrier are obtained to produce various print qualities.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 1985Date of Patent: March 17, 1987Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Vencil D. Engle, Cameron H. Hafer, Frank M. Hughes, Donald J. Steger, Edward G. Stewart, Ramon L. Street, John A. Thompson
-
Patent number: 4525086Abstract: A print mechanism is described which has a constant current driven solenoid acting against an arch-shaped hammer to power the hammer through an arc of powered flight followed by an arc of free flight. The solenoid/hammer engagement point removes the solenoid to a position which does not obstruct print line visibility and the hammer rest position is withdrawn to improve print line visibility.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 1984Date of Patent: June 25, 1985Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Thomas R. Field, Frank M. Hughes, Iraj D. Shakib, Edward J. Vitek, Jr.