Patents by Inventor Gary Lenz

Gary Lenz 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: 6832866
    Abstract: An identification card printer or laminator system includes a card transport mechanism configured to transport a card along a path, a printer or lamination mechanism configured to print or laminate the card, a print or lamination consumable supply, and a controller. The printer or lamination consumable supply includes a tag circuit that contains supply data including a tag security code. The controller is configured for communication with the tag circuit and is further configured to allow operation of the printer or laminator system with the consumable supply when the tag security code is valid, and to prevent operation of the printer or laminator system with the consumable supply when the tag security code is invalid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Fargo Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary M. Klinefelter, Matthew K. Dunham, Jeffrey D. Upin, Gary A. Lenz
  • Publication number: 20040158334
    Abstract: A two-wire field-mounted process device with multiple isolated channels includes a channel that can be an input channel or an output channel. The given input or output channel can couple to multiple sensors or actuators, respectively. The process device is wholly powered by the two-wire process control loop. The process device includes a controller adapted to measure one or more characteristics of sensors coupled to an input channel and to control actuators coupled to an output channel. The controller can be further adapted to execute a user generated control algorithm relating process input information with process output commands. The process device also includes a loop communicator that is adapted to communicate over the two-wire loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Applicant: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Kirkpatrick, Robert J. Karschnia, Marcos Peluso, Steven J. DiMarco, Gary A. Lenz
  • Publication number: 20040136768
    Abstract: An identification card printer or laminator system includes a card transport mechanism configured to transport a card along a path, a printer or lamination mechanism configured to print or laminate the card, a print or lamination consumable supply, and a controller. The printer or lamination consumable supply includes a tag circuit that contains supply data including a tag security code. The controller is configured for communication with the tag circuit and is further configured to allow operation of the printer or laminator system with the consumable supply when the tag security code is valid, and to prevent operation of the printer or laminator system with the consumable supply when the tag security code is invalid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: Gary M. Klinefelter, Matthew K. Dunham, Jeffrey D. Upin, Gary A. Lenz
  • Patent number: 6758616
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an identification card printer that can be used with a card cartridge that protects a stack of cards stored therein from environmental contamination and establishes a card transport plane, from which other components of the identification card printer can be aligned, independent of the card cartridge. The identification card printer includes a cartridge receiver adapted to receive the card cartridge and a card transport mechanism. The card transport mechanism includes a pair of feed rollers, portions of which extend to the cartridge receiver and define the card transport plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Fargo Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin A. Pribula, James R. Meier, Stacy W. Lukaskawcez, Gary M. Klinefelter, Leonid S. Gershenovich, Gary A. Lenz, Jeffrey D. Upin
  • Publication number: 20040114981
    Abstract: A ribbon cartridge includes a cartridge housing, a supply spool, a take-up spool, and a supply of ribbon. The cartridge housing includes a supply spool enclosure, a take-up spool enclosure, a pair of ribbon guides, and a gap between the ribbon guides and the supply and take-up spool enclosures. The supply spool is contained in the supply spool enclosure, and the take-up spool is contained in the take-up spool enclosure. The ribbon extends from the supply spool, over the ribbon guides and the gap, and to the take-up spool. Another aspect of the ribbon cartridge includes a cartridge housing and a cleaner roller. The cartridge housing includes front and rear walls. The cleaner roller is rotatably supported between the front and rear walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: Fargo Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Meier, Chadwick M. Johnson, Gary P. Countryman, Stacy W. Lukaskawcez, Gary M. Klinefelter, Ryan G. Park, Matthew K. Dunham, Jeffrey D. Upin, Gary A. Lenz, Leon Gershenovich, Thomas C. Platner
  • Patent number: 6748644
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a carrier for use with a printer that can support irregularly shaped substrates having a top surface. The carrier includes first and second planar members. The first planar member has top and bottom surfaces, a thickness, and an inner edge that conforms to an irregularly shaped outer edge of a substrate. The second planar member has a top surface that is coupled to the bottom surface of the first planar member. A recess, defined by the inner edge of the first planar member and the top surface of the second planar member, is adapted to receive the substrate such that top surfaces of the substrate and the first planar member are coplanar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Fargo Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary A. Lenz, William Gibbs
  • Patent number: 6751575
    Abstract: The disclosed invention includes a system and method for monitoring and control of processes and machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Infoglide Corporation
    Inventors: Gary A. Lenz, David B. Wheeler
  • Publication number: 20040109715
    Abstract: An identification card printer includes a card input, a card transport, a printhead, and a card output. The card transport is configured to feed a card from the card input along a print path. The printhead is positioned below the print path and is configured to print an image on a surface of the card. The card can then be discharged through the card output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: Fargo Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Meier, Chadwick M. Johnson, Gary P. Countryman, Stacy W. Lukaskawcez, Gary M. Klinefelter, Ryan G. Park, Matthew K. Dunham, Jeffrey D. Upin, Gary A. Lenz, Martin A. Pribula, Thomas C. Platner, Leon Gershenovich, Jon J. Ibs
  • Patent number: 6735484
    Abstract: An identification card printer for printing an identification card includes a print mechanism configured to print onto the identification card. A process signal input is configured to receive a process signal related to operation of the identification card printer. A memory contains a nominal process signal statistical parameter and a rule. A microprocessor is coupled to the memory and configured to receive the process signal from the process signal input and calculates a statistical parameter of the process signal. The microprocessor compares the calculated statistical parameter to the nominal statistical parameter based upon the rule and responsively provides an event output as a function of the comparison. The event output is related to an occurrence of an event during operation of the identification card printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Fargo Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary A. Lenz
  • Patent number: 6711446
    Abstract: A two-wire field-mounted process device with multiple isolated channels includes a channel that can be an input channel or an output channel. The given input or output channel can couple to multiple sensors or actuators, respectively. The process device is wholly powered by the two-wire process control loop. The process device includes a controller adapted to measure one or more characteristics of sensors coupled to an input channel and to control actuators coupled to an output channel. The controller can be further adapted to execute a user generated control algorithm relating process input information with process output commands. The process device also includes a loop communicator that is adapted to communicate over the two-wire loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Rosemount, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Kirkpatrick, Robert J. Karschnia, Marcos Peluso, Steven J. DiMarco, Gary A. Lenz
  • Patent number: 6698947
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a carrier for use with a printer that can support irregularly shaped substrates having a top surface. The carrier includes first and second planar members. The first planar member has top and bottom surfaces, a thickness, and an inner edge that conforms to an irregularly shaped outer edge of a substrate. The second planar member has a top surface that is coupled to the bottom surface of the first planar member. A recess, defined by the inner edge of the first planar member and the top surface of the second planar member, is adapted to receive the substrate such that top surfaces of the substrate and the first planar member are coplanar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Fargo Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary A. Lenz, William Gibbs
  • Patent number: 6701274
    Abstract: A pressure transmitter with an output predicting the magnitude of error in the pressure transmitter's output. A pressure sensor is adapted to sense a process pressure. A controller coupled to the pressure sensor generates a transmitter output representing the process pressure. A memory stores predetermined data predicting magnitudes of transmitter output error as a function of cumulative excessive sensor output levels, and also stores a record of cumulative excessive sensor output levels. The controller calculates a predicted present magnitude of transmitter output error as a function of the accumulated record and the predetermined data, and generates the prediction output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventors: Evren Eryurek, Gary A. Lenz, Kadir Kavaklioglu
  • Patent number: 6694884
    Abstract: A card supply for use with an identification card printing system includes a card hopper and a supply circuit. The card hopper contains a stack of cards. The supply circuit is mounted to the card hopper that includes a memory containing supply information relating to parameters of the card supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Fargo Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary M. Klinefelter, Jeffrey D. Upin, Gary A. Lenz, Martin A. Pribula, James R. Meier
  • Patent number: 6685312
    Abstract: An ink jet card printer is disclosed that includes an ink jet printhead and a transport mechanism. The ink jet printhead is adapted to print on portions of a surface of a card that are presented in a print position along a print path. The transport mechanism includes at least one cantilevering mechanism that is positioned to a side of the print position along the print path. The cantilevering mechanism is adapted to unobstructively present the surface of the card to the printhead in the print position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Fargo Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary M. Klinefelter, Kathleen Phillips, Martin A. Pribula, Jeffrey D. Upin, Gary A. Lenz
  • Publication number: 20030181996
    Abstract: A two-wire field-mounted process device with multiple isolated channels includes a channel that can be an input channel or an output channel. The given input or output channel can couple to multiple sensors or actuators, respectively. The process device is wholly powered by the two-wire process control loop. The process device includes a controller adapted to measure one or more characteristics of sensors coupled to an input channel and to control actuators coupled to an output channel. The controller can be further adapted to execute a user generated control algorithm relating process input information with process output commands. The process device also includes a loop communicator that is adapted to communicate over the two-wire loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: William R. Kirkpatrick, Robert J. Karschnia, Marcos Peluso, Steven J. DiMarco, Gary A. Lenz
  • Publication number: 20030179413
    Abstract: In a method of processing a primary print job corresponding to a primary image using an identification card manufacturing system, a watermarked image is generated that includes a combination of the primary image and a watermark image. The watermark image includes embedded data. Next, the watermarked image is printed on a card substrate. Also provided is an identification card manufacturing system that is adapted to implement the above-described method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Gary A. Lenz, Gary M. Klinefelter
  • Publication number: 20030152409
    Abstract: A card cartridge includes a housing having a pair of opposing side walls, a top, a front wall, a back wall opposite the front wall, and a base. The housing includes an interior cavity that is sized to accommodate a stack of cards, a card access, and a card output slot. The card access allows a card transport mechanism to engage a lead card contained in the housing and feed the lead card through the card output slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventors: Martin A. Pribula, James R. Meier, Stacy W. Lukaskawcez, Anthony L. Lokken, Gary A. Lenz, Jeffrey D. Upin, Gary M. Klinefelter
  • Publication number: 20030123915
    Abstract: A ribbon for a thermal printer has a series of frames of different colors in a sequence that are correlated to the position of cards to be printed. The ribbon has indexing marks for each frame and also indicators for each repeating sequence of frames. The index marks are arranged in a line across the ribbon and the marks can be coded to individually indicate the color or other characteristic of the frame associated with the line of index mark. This information is received by a controller to control various printer functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: Gary M. Klinefelter, Gary A. Lenz
  • Patent number: 6574515
    Abstract: A two-wire field-mounted process device with multiple isolated channels includes a channel that can be an input channel or an output channel. The given input or output channel can couple to multiple sensors or actuators, respectively. The process device is wholly powered by the two-wire process control loop. The process device includes a controller adapted to measure one or more characteristics of sensors coupled to an input channel and to control actuators coupled to an output channel. The controller can be further adapted to execute a user generated control algorithm relating process input information with process output commands. The process device also includes a loop communicator that is adapted to communicate over the two-wire loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Kirkpatrick, Robert J. Karschnia, Marcos Peluso, Steven J. DiMarco, Gary A. Lenz
  • Publication number: 20030090712
    Abstract: An identification card printer for printing an image on an identification card, is provided which includes a print mechanism adapted to deposit material on to the card. A network adapter is configured to couple to a network. A print drive module controls the print mechanism in response to a drive module input. A client/server module is coupled to the network adapter and functions as a client on the network to responsively provide data to the drive module input. The client/server module can further function as a server on the network to serve data to the network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventors: Gary A. Lenz, Robert J. Innes