Patents by Inventor Jerry W. Smith

Jerry W. Smith 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: 7693464
    Abstract: A user-removable stabilizer for a toner cartridge assembly comprises of at least one member that becomes inserted in the toner cartridge assembly for capturing a first movable section of the toiler cartridge assembly and interconnecting at least the first movable section with a second movable section of the toner cartridge assembly, and a stopping member protruding upwardly from the at least one member for limiting insertion of the stabilizer into the toner cartridge assembly. A method of stabilizing movable sections of a toner cartridge assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard C. Farris, Abigail S. Marsh, Jerry W. Smith, James E. Dickerson
  • Publication number: 20080260433
    Abstract: A stabilizer for interconnecting two movable sections of a toner cartridge assembly. A toner cartridge assembly incorporating a stabilizer and a method of stabilizing movable sections of a toner cartridge assembly are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: Howard C. Farris, Abigail S. Marsh, Jerry W. Smith, James E. Dickerson
  • Patent number: 7352988
    Abstract: A fuser member adapted to fuse toner onto the surface of a recording medium as the recording medium passes a nip area of the fuser member comprises a electrically conductive polymer layer, a resistive layer, and an electrically conductive layer. The fuser member further comprises a current supply element and a current return element, wherein the current supply element and the current return element are configured to provide current flow through the electrically conductive polymer layer and the resistive layer to generate fusing heat at the nip area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley L. Beach, Ronald L. Roe, Jerry W. Smith
  • Patent number: 7336919
    Abstract: A fuser member adapted to fuse toner onto the surface of a recording medium as the recording medium passes a nip area of the fuser member comprises a electrically conductive polymer layer, a resistive layer, an electrically conductive layer, a primer layer, and a release layer. The fuser member further comprises a current supply element and a current return element, wherein the current supply element and the current return element are configured to provide current flow through the electrically conductive polymer layer and the resistive layer to generate fusing heat at the nip area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley L. Beach, Ronald L. Roe, Jerry W. Smith
  • Patent number: 7193180
    Abstract: A resistive heater adapted for heating a fuser belt is provided. The heater comprises a substrate, a first resistive trace formed over the substrate, and a second resistive trace formed so as to at least partially overlap the first resistive trace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: William Paul Cook, Steven Jeffrey Harris, John William Kietzman, Gregory Hardin McClure, Mark Kevin DeMoor, Jerry W. Smith
  • Patent number: 6879803
    Abstract: A fuser for fusing an image to print media in a color electrophotographic printer. The fuser includes an endless idling belt defining an inner loop, and a ceramic heater positioned in contact with the belt, within the inner loop. A pressure roller defines a nip with the belt. The belt includes a compliant layer for conforming to variations in toner pile height. The heater is configured to provide a cooler nip exit and a hotter nip entrance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Hrishikesh P. Gogate, James A. Lokovich, Calvin D. Murphy, Edward A. Rush, Jerry W. Smith
  • Patent number: 6870140
    Abstract: A plurality of universal fuser heating apparatus embodiments are provided, each of which is capable of receiving any one of a number of input AC line voltages falling within at least two AC line voltage ranges. In each embodiment, the fuser heating apparatus has a first, low effective resistance corresponding to AC line voltages falling within low AC line voltage ranges and a second, high effective resistance corresponding to AC line voltages falling within high AC line voltage ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: William P. Cook, Mark K. DeMoor, Steven J. Harris, John W. Kietzman, Gregory H. McClure, Jerry W. Smith
  • Patent number: 6865351
    Abstract: A fuser for fusing an image to print media in a color electrophotographic printer. The fuser includes an endless idling belt defining an inner loop, and a ceramic heater positioned in contact with the belt, within the inner loop. A pressure roller defines a nip with the belt. The belt includes a compliant layer for conforming to variations in toner pile height. Operating methods improve printer performance by reducing variations in media transport velocity through the fuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Hrishikesh P. Gogate, John W. Kietzman, Calvin D. Murphy, Jerry W. Smith
  • Publication number: 20040245236
    Abstract: A resistive heater adapted for heating a fuser belt is provided. The heater comprises a substrate, a first resistive trace formed over the substrate, and a second resistive trace formed so as to at least partially overlap the first resistive trace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: William Paul Cook, Steven Jeffrey Harris, John William Kietzman, Gregory Hardin McClure, Mark Kevin DeMoor, Jerry W. Smith
  • Publication number: 20040232137
    Abstract: A plurality of universal fuser heating apparatus embodiments are provided, each of which is capable of receiving any one of a number of input AC line voltages falling within at least two AC line voltage ranges. In each embodiment, the fuser heating apparatus has a first, low effective resistance corresponding to AC line voltages falling within low AC line voltage ranges and a second, high effective resistance corresponding to AC line voltages falling within high AC line voltage ranges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: William P. Cook, Mark K. DeMoor, Steven J. Harris, John W. Kietzman, Gregory H. McClure, Jerry W. Smith
  • Publication number: 20040218950
    Abstract: A fuser for fusing an image to print media in a color electrophotographic printer. The fuser includes an endless idling belt defining an inner loop, and a ceramic heater positioned in contact with the belt, within the inner loop. A pressure roller defines a nip with the belt. The belt includes a compliant layer for conforming to variations in toner pile height. The heater is configured to provide a cooler nip exit and a hotter nip entrance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: Hrishikesh P. Gogate, James A. Lokovich, Calvin D. Murphy, Edward A. Rush, Jerry W. Smith
  • Publication number: 20040218942
    Abstract: A fuser for fusing an image to print media in a color electrophotographic printer. The fuser includes an endless idling belt defining an inner loop, and a ceramic heater positioned in contact with the belt, within the inner loop. A pressure roller defines a nip with the belt. The belt includes a compliant layer for conforming to variations in toner pile height. Operating methods improve printer performance by reducing variations in media transport velocity through the fuser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: Hrishikesh P. Gogate, John W. Kietzman, Calvin D. Murphy, Jerry W. Smith
  • Patent number: 6670174
    Abstract: A culture package system comprising a package preferably in the form of a container containing one or more conventional culture media dishes containing solidified culture media. Each dish includes a bottom wall and a peripheral side wall and a removable cover having a bottom wall and a peripheral side side wall which is loosely telescoped over the dish. A plurality of the dishes are preferably provided in inverted stacked relation in the container. A cover is hermetically sealed to close the container. The interior of the package has a gaseous atmosphere having less than 1% oxygen. An oxygen absorber is placed in the package to facilitate maintaining the atmosphere at less than 1% oxygen. Preferably a moisture absorber is also placed in the package. The package is made of plastic material which is impermeable to oxygen and moisture and preferably is in the form of a container which has a base wall and a peripheral wall and a cover sealed thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Difco Laboratories Incorporated
    Inventors: Jerry W. Smith, Nadine M. Sullivan, Ruth F. Eden
  • Patent number: 5772967
    Abstract: Apparatus for performing and measuring chemical reactions includes a reaction test apparatus having reaction wells wherein reactants are controllably mixed, and exposure apparatus which receives and positions the reaction test apparatus adjacent a photographic film. Each of the reaction wells includes at least two reaction chambers, arranged in a side by side fashion. All but the final reaction chamber have upwardly sloping sides, so that liquid placed in one reaction chamber can flow to the next reaction chamber when the apparatus is tilted. In a preferred embodiment, the reaction wells are supported in a plate that is structurally integral with the wells but separates the wells from each other. The test plate is retained in the exposure apparatus, and liquid is controllably flowed from one reaction chamber to the next by tilting the exposure apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Inventors: Jon C. Wannlund, Jerry W. Smith
  • Patent number: 5411893
    Abstract: A test slide (10) for performing diagnostic tests for detecting the presence of cells, their enzymes, metabolites and other cellular derivatives. The test slide (10) comprises a support strip (14), a coating (34) comprising a carrier and a diagnostic reagent disposed on the support strip (14), and a mount (12) comprising a front wall (18) and a rear wall (20). The coating (34) has the properties of being dry and stable, and water soluble. Further, the coating (34) and the diagnostic reagent are capable of rehydration. The support strip (14) is disposed between the front wall (18) and the rear wall (20) of the mount (12). Both the front (18) and rear (20) walls can have coinciding openings (28,28a) that overlie the support strip (14) thereby allowing spectroscopic, visual and microscopic examination of the support strip (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: Difco Laboratories
    Inventors: Ruth F. Eden, Jerry W. Smith, Amy T. Meszaros, Leon F. Strenkoski
  • Patent number: 5380230
    Abstract: An incandescent lamp having a filament with an integral support portion between its ends which bears against the lamp envelope for supporting the filament therein is produced. The integral support portion includes a length of electrically conductive support wire enclosed within the filament, the filament being continuously coiled over the entire length of said support wire. Accordingly to a favorable embodiment, the support wire is a retained length of winding mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Philips Electronics North America Corporation
    Inventors: Jerry W. Smith, Larry R. Fields
  • Patent number: 5270609
    Abstract: An incandescent lamp having a filament with an integral support portion between its ends which bears against the lamp envelope for supporting the filament therein. The integral support portion includes a length of electrically conductive support wire enclosed within the filament, the filament being continuously coiled over the entire length of said support wire. Accordingly to a favorable embodiment, the support wire is a retained length of winding mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Jerry W. Smith, Larry R. Fields
  • Patent number: 5199787
    Abstract: A reflector lamp having a lens with an annular surface portion which surrounds a central stippled portion. The annular portion includes a plurality of beam forming elements in the form of oblique flutes which extend at an acute angle to respective radius through the optical axis. According to a preferred embodiment, the flutes are also curved in the plane of the lens surface according to an arc of circle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: North American Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Gary L. King, Jerry W. Smith
  • Patent number: 4988302
    Abstract: A culture media package comprising a container having a bottom wall and a peripheral side wall which is substantially filled with a culture medium, a removable insert over the top wall and having a portion defining a planar undersurface and a removable protective cover over the container and insert. The container and insert have radially extending flanges which are bonded to one another. The package is made by filling the container with a molten culture medium in a sterile environment, bonding the insert to the container in a sterile environment, inverting the sealed container such that the molten medium contacts the planar surface of the insert permitting any gases and bubbles to rise toward a space adjacent the bottom of the container and maintaining the container with the insert thereon in an inverted position until the medium has solidified. The removable cover may be applied to the sealed package of the container and insert either before the sealed package is inverted or after the medium has solidified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: Difco Laboratories Incorporated
    Inventors: Jerry W. Smith, Nadine M. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 4985631
    Abstract: Apparatus for performing and measuring chemical reactions includes a reaction test apparatus having reaction wells wherein reactants are controllably mixed, and exposure apparatus which receives and positions the reaction test apparatus adjacent a photographic film. Each of the reaction wells includes at least two reaction chambers, arranged in a side by side fashion. All but the final reaction chamber have upwardly sloping sides, so that liquid placed in one reaction chamber can flow to the next reaction chamber when the apparatus is tilted. In a preferred embodiment, the reaction wells are supported in a plate that is structurally integral with the wells but separates the wells from each other. The test plate is retained in the exposure apparatus, and liquid is controllably flowed from one reaction chamber to the next by tilting the exposure apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1991
    Inventors: Jon C. Wannlund, Jerry W. Smith