Patents by Inventor James H. Hurst

James H. Hurst 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: 8469685
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for allowing the resurfacing of a cylindrical member in a printer having a fuser member that is externally heated by a heater roller. The apparatus includes providing a cylindrical member having an outer surface of a high temperature fluorothermoplastic. When it is determined that the outer surface is in need of resurfacing, the fuser member is removed from the printer, and the cylindrical member is mounted in the place of the fuser member. The cylindrical member is rotated at a speed of at least 1 rpm while engaging the outer surface of the fuser member with the heater roller normally used to heat the fuser member at a pressure of at least 5 psi at a temperature of at least 10° C. below the fluorothermoplastic melting temperature for a time sufficient to resurface the outer surface of the cylindrical member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: James H. Hurst, Jiann-Hsing Chen, Donald S. Rimai, W. Charles Kasiske, Jr., Donna P. Suchy
  • Publication number: 20130155148
    Abstract: A printing system includes a printing system component and a wick assembly affixed to the printing system component. The wick assembly includes at least one textile pad for collecting condensation that forms on a surface of the printing system component. A hydrophilic coating can be disposed over the surface of the printing system component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventors: Borden H. Mills, III, Thomas A. Henderson, James H. Hurst, John L. Hryhorenko
  • Publication number: 20130155147
    Abstract: A printing system includes a printing system component and a wick assembly affixed to the printing system component. The wick assembly includes at least one textile pad for collecting condensation that forms on a surface of the printing system component. A heater for heating the wick assembly can be disposed within, adjacent to, or in contact with the wick assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventors: Borden H. Mills, III, Thomas A. Henderson, James H. Hurst, John L. Hryhorenko
  • Publication number: 20130120494
    Abstract: A printing system includes one or more printing system components positioned opposite a moving print media. A wick assembly can be attached to a printing system component to wick condensation away from a surface of the printing system component that is opposite the moving print media. A heating element can be in contact with one or both of the wick assembly and a printing system component. A protective layer can be attached to the surface of a printing system component that is opposite the moving print media to prevent condensation from forming on the component. A vacuum assembly can be positioned opposite the moving print media to produce suction over the print media that pushes humid air or some condensation into the vacuum assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Inventors: Borden H. Mills, III, Thomas A. Henderson, James H. Hurst, John L. Hryhorenko, W. Charles Kasiske, JR., Alan E. Rapkin, Timothy J. Hawryschuk, Andrew Ciaschi
  • Patent number: 8422930
    Abstract: Apparatus for heating toner on a receiver having an ignition energy, having an energy source for providing input energy; and a membrane disposed adjacent to the receiver. The membrane receives the input energy from the energy source; stores a portion of the input energy; and radiates emitted energy that is absorbed by the toner, the receiver, or a combination thereof, wherein the absorption causes the temperature of the toner to rise above a desired temperature. The stored portion of the input energy is less than the ignition energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: James H. Hurst, Andrew Ciaschi, Donald S. Rimai, Carl I. Bouwens
  • Publication number: 20120148274
    Abstract: Method of fixing marking particles to sheets having different basis weights in a continuous stream of receiver sheets, includes: providing two fixing members which engage each other to form a nip, at least one of the members being heated; and adjusting at least one parameter including temperature, speed, or pressure in the fixing nip, which will provide a predetermined gloss upon the sheet(s). The method further includes feeding the sheets of the higher basis weight through the nip so that the higher basis weight sheet(s) is fed more times through the nip than the other sheet(s); and applying marking particles to the prepared heavier basis weight sheets and passing them through the nip so that the gloss formed by the marking particles is substantially the same for heavier basis weight sheets as for lighter basis weight sheets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventors: Jerry A. Pickering, James H. Hurst
  • Patent number: 8177052
    Abstract: A sensor and controller for a belt moving about a path, the sensor and controller including an analog sensor including a medium that changes a characteristic to give a signal that varies continuously with any lateral belt edge position, thus yielding improved resolution of actual belt edge position, and a control mechanism responsive to the changes in characteristics of the medium for more accurate edge position control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: James H. Hurst, Carl I. Bouwens
  • Publication number: 20120020697
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus of fixing a heat curable toner to a carrier substrate are shown. In the method, a toner applied to a first surface of the carrier substrate is heated above the glass transition temperature of the toner by microwave radiation, using at least one microwave applicator as a first heat source, to thereby initiate thermal cross-linking of polymer chains of said toner. The temperature is kept above the glass transition temperature of the toner for a predetermined time of at least one second, by applying heat to the toner by means of at least one non-contact second heat source, to thereby allow the thermal cross-linking to proceed further and to thereby raise the glass transition temperature of the toner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Eric Carl Stelter, Dinesh Tyagi, James H. Hurst, Domingo Rohde, Knut Behnke, Detlef Schulze-Hagenest
  • Publication number: 20110236093
    Abstract: Apparatus for heating toner on a receiver having an ignition energy, having an energy source for providing input energy; and a membrane disposed adjacent to the receiver. The membrane receives the input energy from the energy source; stores a portion of the input energy; and radiates emitted energy that is absorbed by the toner, the receiver, or a combination thereof, wherein the absorption causes the temperature of the toner to rise above a desired temperature. The stored portion of the input energy is less than the ignition energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: James H. Hurst, Andrew Ciaschi, Donald S. Rimai, Carl I. Bouwens
  • Publication number: 20110139590
    Abstract: A sensor and controller for a belt moving about a path, the sensor and controller including an analog sensor including a medium that changes a characteristic to give a signal that varies continuously with any lateral belt edge position, thus yielding improved resolution of actual belt edge position, and a control mechanism responsive to the changes in characteristics of the medium for more accurate edge position control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: James H. Hurst, Carl I. Bouwens
  • Patent number: 7867678
    Abstract: A toner composition for fixing onto a receiver in conjunction with non-contact fuser capable of fusing one or more layers of toner on the receiver such that one or more toner layers reach a fusing temperature above a glass transition temperature. One or more cooling finish rollers are located downstream from the non-contact fuser to lower the toner temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Andrew Ciaschi, Dinesh Tyagi, James H. Hurst, Arun Chowdry, Eric C. Stelter, Robert D. Bobo, Muhammed Aslam
  • Patent number: 7749413
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of resurfacing a cylindrical member in a printer having a fuser member that is externally heated by a heater roller. The method includes providing a cylindrical member having an outer surface of a high temperature fluorothermoplastic. When it is determined that the outer surface is in need of resurfacing, the fuser member is removed from the printer, and the cylindrical member is mounted in the place of the fuser member. The cylindrical member is rotated at a speed of at least 1 rpm while engaging the outer surface of the fuser member with the heating roller normally used to heat the fuser member at a pressure of at least 5 psi at a temperature of at least 10° C. below the fluorothermoplastic melting temperature for a time sufficient to resurface of the outer surface of the cylindrical member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: James H. Hurst, Jiann-Hsing Chen, Donald S. Rimai, W. Charles Kasiske, Jr., Donna P. Suchy
  • Publication number: 20100148386
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of resurfacing a cylindrical member in a printer having a fuser member that is externally heated by a heater roller. The method includes providing a cylindrical member having an outer surface of a high temperature fluorothermoplastic. When it is determined that the outer surface is in need of resurfacing, the fuser member is removed from the printer, and the cylindrical member is mounted in the place of the fuser member. The cylindrical member is rotated at a speed of at least 1 rpm while engaging the outer surface of the fuser member with the heating roller normally used to heat the fuser member at a pressure of at least 5 psi at a temperature of at least 10° C. below the fluorothermoplastic melting temperature for a time sufficient to resurface of the outer surface of the cylindrical member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: James H. Hurst, Jiann-Hsing Chen, Donald S. Rimai, W. Charles Kasiske, JR., Donna P. Suchy
  • Publication number: 20100151068
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for allowing the resurfacing a cylindrical member in a printer having a fuser member that is externally heated by a heater roller. The apparatus includes providing a cylindrical member having an outer surface of a high temperature fluorothermoplastic. When it is determined that the outer surface is in need of resurfacing, the fuser member is removed from the printer, and the cylindrical member is mounted in the place of the fuser member. The cylindrical member is rotated at a speed of at least 1 rpm while engaging the outer surface of the fuser member with the heating roller normally used to heat the fuser member at a pressure of at least 5 psi at a temperature of at least 10° C. below the fluorothermoplastic melting temperature for a time sufficient to resurface of the outer surface of the cylindrical member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: James H. Hurst, Jiann-Hsing Chen, Donald S. Rimai, W. Charles Kasiske, JR., Donna P. Suchy
  • Publication number: 20100126021
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of resurfacing a pressure member in a printer having a fuser member that is externally heated by a heater roller. The method includes providing a pressure member having an outer surface of a high temperature fluorothermoplastic. When it is determined that the outer surface is in need of resurfacing, the fuser member is removed from the printer, and the pressure member is mounted in the place of the fuser member. The pressure member is rotated at a speed of at least 1 rpm while engaging the outer surface of the fuser member with the heating roller normally used to heat the fuser member at a pressure of at least 5 psi at a temperature of at least 10° C. below the fluorothermoplastic melting temperature for a time sufficient to resurface of the outer surface of the pressure member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventors: James H. Hurst, Shyh-Hua E. Jao, Jiann-Hsing Chen, Muhammed Aslam, Joseph A. Pavlisko
  • Patent number: 7680424
    Abstract: Internally-heated external rollers transfer heat rapidly to a fuser roller in an electrostatographic printer. Stored media process set points, input image content and input media type data are used to regulate the heat transfer rate by varying the nip width between the heated external rollers and the fuser roller. The rate of heat transfer and the rate of heat transfer adjustment are sufficiently rapid that many different media weights and types may be mixed in a print run without restrictions on media run lengths, without collation requirements per run, and without productivity losses due to slowing of feed rate for heavier receivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: James H. Hurst, John L. Hryhorenko, Muhammed Aslam, Douglas J. Kostyk
  • Publication number: 20090239172
    Abstract: An apparatus for fixing of toner onto a receiver, including: a non-contact fuser capable of fusing one or more layers of toner on a receiver such that one or more toner layers reach a fusing temperature above a glass transition temperature. The apparatus also includes one or more cooling finish rollers located downstream from the non-contact fuser to lower the toner temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventors: Andrew Ciaschi, Dinesh Tyagi, James H. Hurst, Arun Chowdry, Eric C. Stelter, Robert D. Bobo, Muhammed Aslam
  • Publication number: 20090087202
    Abstract: Internally-heated external rollers transfer heat rapidly to a fuser roller in an electrostatographic printer. Stored media process set points, input image content and input media type data are used to regulate the heat transfer rate by varying the nip width between the heated external rollers and the fuser roller. The rate of heat transfer and the rate of heat transfer adjustment are sufficiently rapid that many different media weights and types may be mixed in a print run without restrictions on media run lengths, without collation requirements per run, and without productivity losses due to slowing of feed rate for heavier receivers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: James H. Hurst, John L. Hryhorenko, Muhammed Aslam, Douglas J. Kostyk
  • Publication number: 20080280035
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of resurfacing a fuser member in-situ. The method includes providing a fuser member having an outer surface of a high temperature fluorothermoplastic. When it is determined that the outer surface is in need of resurfacing, the fuser member is rotated at a speed of at least 1 rpm while engaging the outer surface of the fuser member with at least one heating roller at a pressure of at least 5 psi at a temperature of at least 10° C. below the fluorothermoplastic melting temperature for a time sufficient to resurface of the outer surface of the fuser member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventors: Shyh-Hua E. Jao, Jiann-Hsing Chen, Muhammed Aslam, Joseph A. Pavlisko, James H. Hurst
  • Publication number: 20070280758
    Abstract: An apparatus for fixing of toner onto a receiver, including: a non-contact fuser capable of fusing one or more layers of toner on a receiver such that one or more toner layers reach a fusing temperature above a glass transition temperature. The apparatus also includes one or more cooling finish rollers located downstream from the non-contact fuser to lower the toner temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventors: Andrew Ciaschi, Dinesh Tyagi, James H. Hurst, Arun Chowdry, Eric C. Stelter, Robert D. Bobo, Muhammed Aslam