Patents by Inventor Jeffrey Allen Ardery
Jeffrey Allen Ardery 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: 7693473Abstract: A fuser assembly configured to fix a toner image to a sheet of print media includes a fuser belt having a first side edge and a second side edge. A plurality of end cap assemblies is positioned to locate the fuser belt. The plurality of end cap assemblies include a first end cap assembly having a first compliant stopping flange positioned to engage the first side edge of the fuser belt, and a second end cap assembly having a second compliant flange positioned to engage the second side edge of the fuser belt.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Ardery, Douglas Campbell Hamilton, Katherine Mary Mulloy, Jason Kyle Romain
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Patent number: 7627279Abstract: A fuser assembly configured to fix a toner image to a sheet of print media includes a fuser belt having a first side edge, a second side edge spaced apart from the first side edge, an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a hollow interior defined by the interior surface. A pair of end cap assemblies is positioned to locate the fuser belt, and the fuser belt is positioned between and supported by the pair of end cap assemblies. Each end cap assembly of the pair of end cap assemblies includes an end cap body and a belt support mechanism. The belt support mechanism is coupled to the end cap body for supporting the fuser belt and is configured to be compliant in a direction perpendicular to a rotational axis of the fuser belt to apply a biasing force to the interior surface of the fuser belt.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2007Date of Patent: December 1, 2009Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Ardery, Douglas C. Hamilton, Jason Kyle Romain
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Publication number: 20090047047Abstract: A fuser assembly configured to fix a toner image to a sheet of print media includes a fuser belt having a first side edge, a second side edge spaced apart from the first side edge, an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a hollow interior defined by the interior surface. A pair of end cap assemblies is positioned to locate the fuser belt, and the fuser belt is positioned between and supported by the pair of end cap assemblies. Each end cap assembly of the pair of end cap assemblies includes an end cap body and a belt support mechanism. The belt support mechanism is coupled to the end cap body for supporting the fuser belt and is configured to be compliant in a direction perpendicular to a rotational axis of the fuser belt to apply a biasing force to the interior surface of the fuser belt.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2007Publication date: February 19, 2009Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Ardery, Douglas C. Hamilton, Jason Kyle Romain
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Publication number: 20080317522Abstract: A fuser assembly includes a first end cap, and a second end cap spaced apart from the first end cap along an axis orthogonal to a sheet feed direction. A fuser belt is positioned between and supported by the first end cap and the second end cap to rotate around the axis in a belt moving direction at the nip corresponding to the sheet feed direction. A heater assembly is located in the hollow interior of the fuser belt. A plurality of ribs is positioned to contact the interior surface of the fuser belt. A first rib is connected to one of the first end cap and the heater assembly. A second rib is connected to one of the second end cap and the heater assembly. Each of the plurality of ribs is oriented to longitudinally extend at an acute angle with respect to the belt moving direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2007Publication date: December 25, 2008Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Ardery, Jason Kyle Romain, Jerry Wayne Smith, Fangsheng Wu
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Publication number: 20080232870Abstract: A fuser assembly configured to fix a toner image to a sheet of print media includes a fuser belt having a first side edge and a second side edge. A plurality of end cap assemblies is positioned to locate the fuser belt. The plurality of end cap assemblies include a first end cap assembly having a first compliant stopping flange positioned to engage the first side edge of the fuser belt, and a second end cap assembly having a second compliant flange positioned to engage the second side edge of the fuser belt.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2007Publication date: September 25, 2008Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Ardery, Douglas Campbell Hamilton, Katherine Mary Mulloy, Jason Kyle Romain
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Patent number: 6550758Abstract: Sheets (57) exit printer (1) into finisher (3) where they are moved against perpendicular reference walls (61, 69) by frictional fingers (21, 23). The fingers are rotated away while a sheet is moved downward. Since the fingers are near their reference surface, buckling of the sheets normally does not occur, so the sheet stays in place. In an embodiment, the fingers move with a resilient force selected to be low enough so that the fingers stop when the sheet contacts the reference wall.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2001Date of Patent: April 22, 2003Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Ardery, Michael Kurt Gordon, David Emerson Greer, Stacey Vaughan Mitchell, Daniel Joseph Westhoff
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Patent number: 6547238Abstract: A pivotally mounted bail actuator is pivotally moved from its home position to an elevated position by the leading edge of a sheet of paper exiting from sheet path exit rollers of a printer. The pivotally mounted bail actuator has a wire bail extending for more than half of the sheet width. When the sheet exits from the sheet path exit rollers, both the pivotally mounted bail actuator and the sheet simultaneously fall by gravity, and the wire bail contacts the sheet to remove any longitudinal beam and to create a lateral beam extending the width of the sheet. A rear portion of the sheet falls onto an upper support surface with most of the sheet falling onto a lower support surface. If the sheet does not have a longitudinal beam, a lateral beam is created by the height difference of the two support surfaces on which the sheet is supported. The sheet is aligned on the upper support surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Ardery, Michael Kurt Gordon, Daniel Joseph Westhoff
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Publication number: 20020171197Abstract: A pivotally mounted bail actuator is pivotally moved from its home position to an elevated position by the leading edge of a sheet of paper exiting from sheet path exit rollers of a printer. The pivotally mounted bail actuator has a wire bail extending for more than half of the sheet width. When the sheet exits from the sheet path exit rollers, both the pivotally mounted bail actuator and the sheet simultaneously fall by gravity, and the wire bail contacts the sheet to remove any longitudinal beam and to create a lateral beam extending the width of the sheet. A rear portion of the sheet falls onto an upper support surface with most of the sheet falling onto a lower support surface. If the sheet does not have a longitudinal beam, a lateral beam is created by the height difference of the two support surfaces on which the sheet is supported. The sheet is aligned on the upper support surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2001Publication date: November 21, 2002Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Ardery, Michael Kurt Gordon, Daniel Joseph Westhoff
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Publication number: 20020101029Abstract: Sheets (57) exit printer (1) into finisher (3) where they are moved against perpendicular reference walls (61, 69) by frictional fingers (21, 23). The fingers are rotated away while a sheet is moved downward. Since the fingers are near their reference surface, buckling of the sheets normally does not occur, so the sheet stays in place. In an embodiment, the fingers move with a resilient force selected to be low enough so that the fingers stop when the sheet contacts the reference wall.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2001Publication date: August 1, 2002Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Ardery, Michael Kurt Gordon, David Emerson Greer, Stacey Vaughan Mitchell, Daniel Joseph Westhoff