Patents by Inventor Ian Pitts

Ian Pitts 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: 5272509
    Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid dispensing apparatus suitable for use in the fuser of an electrostatographic recording machine such as, for example, a xerographic copier or a printer. The apparatus includes a trough (41), a wick (100) extending along its length and a roller (47) in contact with the wick (100). A metering blade (49) is located adjacent the roller (47) in such a manner as to scrape off excess liquid from the surface of the roller (47), the metering blade (49) being disposed relative to the wick (100) such that the excess liquid falls on the wick (100) thereby ensuring saturation of the wick (100). Return paths for the excess liquid are provided between the wick (100) and the wall of the trough (41) so as to prevent build up of the excess liquid above the wick (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Ian Pitts, James E. Knight, Duncan I. Stevenson, Andrew E. Taylor, John W. D. Cooper
  • Patent number: 4905049
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying release oil to a fuser roller pair in a xerographic copier comprises an elongated trough containing a supply of oil in the base thereof, and wick for drawing up the oil from the trough and applying it to a metering roller. The metering roller applies the oil to a donor roller which, in turn, transfers the oil to the heated roller of the fuser roller pair. An upper guide device is provided on the exit side of the fuser by ribs formed integrally on the underside of the trough. The trough and guide ribs may thus have a compact configuration that is suited to inexpensive manufacture, e.g. by molding, as a one piece item. A lower guide member is fixed to the fuser assembly. Also, stripper fingers are mounted integrally on the trough adjacent the upper guides, the fingers being provided with slots through which the ribs extends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Alan E. Bickerstaff, Barry J. Collier, Joseph F. Hale, Peter M. Hitchmough, Ian Pitts, Ghulam Rasul
  • Patent number: 4870446
    Abstract: A liquid dispensing apparatus especially suitable for use in dispensing release oil in the fusing apparatus of a xerographic copier comprises a storage reservoir (101), a dispensing container (41) and an overflow tank (52). The storage reservoir (101) is arranged to deliver liquid to the dispensing container (41) on the application of heat, generated for example by operation of a fusing apparatus, to the storage reservoir. The dispensing container (41) includes an outlet through which liquid overflows into the overflow tank (52) when the liquid in the dispensing container reaches a predetermined level (53). Cooling of the liquid in the storage reservoir causes liquid to be drawn from the overflow tank back into the storage reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1989
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Alan E. Bickerstaff, Barry J. Collier, Joseph F. Hale, Peter M. Hitchmough, Ian Pitts, Ghulam Rasul, Barry Saggers, Kevin J. Smyth, Duncan Stevenson, Mark A. Stewart
  • Patent number: 4870445
    Abstract: Apparatus for applying release oil to a fuser roller pair (10a, 10b) ina xerographic copier comprises an elongate trough (41) containing a supply of oil (42) in the base (44) thereof, and a wick (45) for drawing up the oil from the trough and applying it to a metering roller (47). The metering roller applies the oil to a doner roller (48) which in turn transfers the oil to the heated roller (10a) of the fuser roller pair. The amount of oil on the metering roller (47) is checked by a blade (49) and surplus oil removed by the blade is allowed to fall back towards the trough. In order to promote enhanced distribution of oil along the length of the trough a series of ramps (51a, 51b, 51c) is sawtooth configuration is provided in or adjacent a side wall of the trough beneath the blade (49) to receive the oil removed from the metering roller before it is returned to the base (44) of the trough. The base of the trough may slope in the opposite direction to the ramps to establish continuous circulation for the oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1989
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Barry J. Collier, Joseph F. Hale, Ian Pitts