Patents by Inventor James J. Spence
James J. Spence 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).
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Patent number: 11214000Abstract: An additive manufacturing system for fabricating multi-sided printed composite sheet structures includes a roll fed duplex architecture that prints polymer images on both sides of a substrate sheet to form two-sided 3D composite layers. A substrate web is fed into the machine, and a top side is printed with a wetting agent, powdered, and the excess powder is removed. The image may be pinned to the substrate in a fusing step so that the web can be inverted to print a second image on the other side. The inversion architecture could include inverting rollers, tubes or a Mobius strip that may flip the substrate for backside printing using a single imaging station. The resulting two-side powdered and pinned substrate would then be cut, stacked, heated and compressed to create a 3-D object with more polymer in the stack, resulting in better adhesive binding characteristics at a much higher production speed.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2019Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Marc D. Daniels, Jeffrey W. Drawe, James J. Spence, Paul M. Fromm, Paul N. Richards
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Patent number: 11014381Abstract: Disclosed is a media transport system utilizing a honeycomb core platen for transporting and maintaining the flatness of a sheet of media in an associated printing system. According to one exemplary embodiment, the honeycomb platen includes a plurality of laminated layers that include features configured to communicate vacuum throughout the entire thickness of the platen.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2019Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Carlos M. Terrero, Brian J. Dunham, James J. Spence
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Patent number: 10987952Abstract: Disclosed is a media transport system utilizing a chambered honeycomb core platen for transporting and maintaining the flatness of a sheet of media in an associated printing system. According to one exemplary embodiment, the chambered honeycomb platen includes a plurality of rows of cross-drilled hollow columnar cells configured to independently communicate vacuum through the platen.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2019Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Carlos M. Terrero, Brian J. Dunham, James J. Spence
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Publication number: 20210008901Abstract: Disclosed is a media transport system utilizing a honeycomb core platen for transporting and maintaining the flatness of a sheet of media in an associated printing system. According to one exemplary embodiment, the honeycomb platen includes a plurality of laminated layers that include features configured to communicate vacuum throughout the entire thickness of the platen.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2019Publication date: January 14, 2021Applicant: Xerox CorporationInventors: Carlos M. Terrero, Brian J. Dunham, James J. Spence
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Publication number: 20200316854Abstract: An additive manufacturing system for fabricating multi-sided printed composite sheet structures includes a roll fed duplex architecture that prints polymer images on both sides of a substrate sheet to form two-sided 3D composite layers. A substrate web is fed into the machine, and a top side is printed with a wetting agent, powdered, and the excess powder is removed. The image may be pinned to the substrate in a fusing step so that the web can be inverted to print a second image on the other side. The inversion architecture could include inverting rollers, tubes or a Mobius strip that may flip the substrate for backside printing using a single imaging station. The resulting two-side powdered and pinned substrate would then be cut, stacked, heated and compressed to create a 3-D object with more polymer in the stack, resulting in better adhesive binding characteristics at a much higher production speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2019Publication date: October 8, 2020Inventors: Marc D. DANIELS, Jeffrey W. DRAWE, James J. SPENCE, Paul M. FROMM, Paul N. RICHARDS
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Patent number: 10786943Abstract: A printer is configured with at least two printheads that are separated from one another in a cross-process direction by an integral multiple of printhead widths. This configuration enables parallel swaths of material to be ejected and then movement of the printheads in the cross-process direction by a distance corresponding to one or more integral numbers of the printhead width enables the area between the swaths to be completed and the area outside of the original swaths printed.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2018Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Barry P. Mandel, James L. Giacobbi, Paul J. McConville, David A. Mantell, James J. Spence, James P. Calamita
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Patent number: 10328632Abstract: A printhead maintenance module is configured as a replaceable unit. The module includes a frame, at least two rollers detachably mounted within the frame, at least two electric motors, a platen, an optical sensor, and a controller. Each electric motor is operatively connected to one of the rollers in a one-to-one correspondence. The controller is configured to operate one of the electric motors to rotate one of the rollers to move media from a position opposite a printhead where a test pattern is printed on the media to a position opposite the optical sensor, receive image data of the printed test pattern generated by the optical sensor, and identify inoperative ejectors with reference to the image data of the test pattern.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2016Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Erwin Ruiz, Paul M. Fromm, Jeffrey N. Swing, James J. Spence, Mark A. Atwood
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Patent number: 10277756Abstract: An apparatus and process overcoats a rendered image on a substrate with a liquid material. The apparatus includes a scanning device and a marking module aligned with the scanning device. The scanning device is used to scan the substrate including the rendered image to acquire scan data. A movable transport member moves the scanned substrate including the rendered image to a location underneath the marking subsystem. A controller uses registration and image data, generated from the scan data, to overcoat the rendered image on the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2017Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: James J. Spence, Wayne A. Buchar, Joseph F. Casey
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Publication number: 20190111614Abstract: A printer is configured with at least two printheads that are separated from one another in a cross-process direction by an integral multiple of printhead widths. This configuration enables parallel swaths of material to be ejected and then movement of the printheads in the cross-process direction by a distance corresponding to one or more integral numbers of the printhead width enables the area between the swaths to be completed and the area outside of the original swaths printed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2018Publication date: April 18, 2019Inventors: Barry P. Mandel, James L. Giacobbi, Paul J. McConville, David A. Mantell, James J. Spence, James P. Calamita
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Publication number: 20190098147Abstract: An apparatus and process overcoats a rendered image on a substrate with a liquid material. The apparatus includes a scanning device and a marking module aligned with the scanning device. The scanning device is used to scan the substrate including the rendered image to acquire scan data. A movable transport member moves the scanned substrate including the rendered image to a location underneath the marking subsystem. A controller uses registration and image data, generated from the scan data, to overcoat the rendered image on the substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2017Publication date: March 28, 2019Applicant: Xerox CorporationInventors: James J. Spence, Wayne A. Buchar, Joseph F. Casey
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Patent number: 10239328Abstract: A printing system facilitates the printing of articles of manufacture. The system includes an array of printheads, a support member positioned to be parallel to a plane formed by the array of printheads, a member movably mounted to the support member, an actuator operatively connected to the movably mounted member, an object holder configured to mount to the movably mounted member, and a controller operatively connected to the plurality of printheads and the actuator. The controller is configured to operate the actuator to move the object holder past the array of printheads and to operate the plurality of printheads to eject marking material onto objects held by the object holder as the object holder passes the array of printheads. The support member and printhead array are oriented vertically to enable the printing system to be installed in a vertical cabinet that provides a small footprint in a non-production environment.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2017Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Wayne A. Buchar, James J. Spence, Jack G. Elliot, Michael F. Leo
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Patent number: 10207452Abstract: A printer is configured with at least two printheads that are separated from one another in a cross-process direction by an integral multiple of printhead widths. This configuration enables parallel swaths of material to be ejected and then movement of the printheads in the cross-process direction by a distance corresponding to one or more integral numbers of the printhead width enables the area between the swaths to be completed and the area outside of the original swaths printed.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2016Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Barry P. Mandel, James L. Giacobbi, Paul J. McConville, David A. Mantell, James J. Spence, James P. Calamita
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Patent number: 9943886Abstract: A cleaning cart for a three-dimensional object printing system wipes an ejector head to remove debris from the ejector head. The cleaning cart includes a platform having a plurality of bearings configured to move the platform on rails of the printing system. A cleaning mechanism is movably mounted to the platform, and an actuator is mounted to the platform. The actuator is configured to move the cleaning mechanism relative to the platform to enable the cleaning mechanism to clean an ejector head that is positioned opposite the rails of the printing system.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2014Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Mark A. Atwood, James J. Spence
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Publication number: 20180001662Abstract: A printing system facilitates the printing of articles of manufacture. The system includes an array of printheads, a support member positioned to be parallel to a plane formed by the array of printheads, a member movably mounted to the support member, an actuator operatively connected to the movably mounted member, an object holder configured to mount to the movably mounted member, and a controller operatively connected to the plurality of printheads and the actuator. The controller is configured to operate the actuator to move the object holder past the array of printheads and to operate the plurality of printheads to eject marking material onto objects held by the object holder as the object holder passes the array of printheads. The support member and printhead array are oriented vertically to enable the printing system to be installed in a vertical cabinet that provides a small footprint in a non-production environment.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2017Publication date: January 4, 2018Inventors: Wayne A. Buchar, James J. Spence, Jack G. Elliot, Michael F. Leo
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Publication number: 20170368741Abstract: A printer is configured with at least two printheads that are separated from one another in a cross-process direction by an integral multiple of printhead widths. This configuration enables parallel swaths of material to be ejected and then movement of the printheads in the cross-process direction by a distance corresponding to one or more integral numbers of the printhead width enables the area between the swaths to be completed and the area outside of the original swaths printed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2016Publication date: December 28, 2017Inventors: Barry P. Mandel, James L. Giacobbi, Paul J. McConville, David A. Mantell, James J. Spence, James P. Calamita
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Publication number: 20170341414Abstract: A printing system facilitates the printing of articles of manufacture. The system includes an array of printheads, a support member positioned to be parallel to a plane formed by the array of printheads, a member movably mounted to the support member, an actuator operatively connected to the movably mounted member, an object holder configured to mount to the movably mounted member, and a controller operatively connected to the plurality of printheads and the actuator. The controller is configured to operate the actuator to move the object holder past the array of printheads and to operate the plurality of printheads to eject marking material onto objects held by the object holder as the object holder passes the array of printheads. The support member and printhead array are oriented vertically to enable the printing system to be installed in a vertical cabinet that provides a small footprint in a non-production environment.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2016Publication date: November 30, 2017Inventors: Wayne A. Buchar, James J. Spence, Jack G. Elliot, Michael F. Leo
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Publication number: 20170341295Abstract: A printhead maintenance module is configured as a replaceable unit. The module includes a frame, at least two rollers detachably mounted within the frame, at least two electric motors, a platen, an optical sensor, and a controller. Each electric motor is operatively connected to one of the rollers in a one-to-one correspondence. The controller is configured to operate one of the electric motors to rotate one of the rollers to move media from a position opposite a printhead where a test pattern is printed on the media to a position opposite the optical sensor, receive image data of the printed test pattern generated by the optical sensor, and identify inoperative ejectors with reference to the image data of the test pattern.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2016Publication date: November 30, 2017Inventors: Erwin Ruiz, Paul M. Fromm, Jeffrey N. Swing, James J. Spence, Mark A. Atwood
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Patent number: 9827784Abstract: A printing system facilitates the printing of articles of manufacture. The system includes an array of printheads, a support member positioned to be parallel to a plane formed by the array of printheads, a member movably mounted to the support member, an actuator operatively connected to the movably mounted member, an object holder configured to mount to the movably mounted member, and a controller operatively connected to the plurality of printheads and the actuator. The controller is configured to operate the actuator to move the object holder past the array of printheads and to operate the plurality of printheads to eject marking material onto objects held by the object holder as the object holder passes the array of printheads. The support member and printhead array are oriented vertically to enable the printing system to be installed in a vertical cabinet that provides a small footprint in a non-production environment.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2016Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Wayne A. Buchar, James J. Spence, Jack G. Elliot, Michael F. Leo
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Patent number: 9630407Abstract: A print head includes a backup plate and a nozzle plate. The backup plate has a non-planar lower surface. The nozzle plate also has a non-planar lower surface. The nozzle plate is coupled to the lower surface of the backup plate.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2016Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: XEROX CORPORATIONInventors: James J. Spence, Mark A. Atwood, Jack Gaynor Elliot, Marc D. Daniels
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Publication number: 20160158818Abstract: A cleaning cart for a three-dimensional object printing system wipes an ejector head to remove debris from the ejector head. The cleaning cart includes a platform having a plurality of bearings configured to move the platform on rails of the printing system. A cleaning mechanism is movably mounted to the platform, and an actuator is mounted to the platform. The actuator is configured to move the cleaning mechanism relative to the platform to enable the cleaning mechanism to clean an ejector head that is positioned opposite the rails of the printing system.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2014Publication date: June 9, 2016Inventors: Mark A. Atwood, James J. Spence