Patents by Inventor Maria Bírau

Maria Bírau 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: 11939478
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a metallic ink composition for use in digital offset printing, comprising: metallic effect pigment particles, wherein an average equivalent sphere diameter of at least about 90% of the metallic effect pigment particles ranges from greater than 1 micrometer (?m) to 150 ?m; at least one dispersant; at least one curable oligomer; and a photo initiator, wherein the metallic ink composition has a viscosity ranging from 150,000 to 1,000,000 millipascal seconds (mPa·s) at 0.1 rad/s at 25° C. Also provided is a method of digital offset printing using the metallic ink composition of the present disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mihaela Maria Birau, C. Geoffrey Allen, Aurelian Valeriu Magdalinis
  • Patent number: 11866581
    Abstract: A method for producing highly spherical polymer particles comprising a polyamide having an optical absorber in a backbone of the polyamide (IBOA-polyamide) may comprise: mixing a mixture comprising the IBOA-polyamide, a carrier fluid that is immiscible with the IBOA-polyamide, and optionally an emulsion stabilizer at a temperature greater than a melting point or softening temperature of the IBOA-polyamide and at a shear rate sufficiently high to disperse the IBOA-polyamide in the carrier fluid; and cooling the mixture to below the melting point or softening temperature of the IBOA-polyamide to form particles comprising the IBOA-polyamide and the emulsion stabilizer, when present, associated with an outer surface of the particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Valerie M. Farrugia, Mihaela Maria Birau
  • Patent number: 11859051
    Abstract: Methods for synthesizing a polyamide having the optical absorber in the backbone of the polyamide may comprise: polymerizing polyamide monomers in the presence of an optical absorber selected from the group consisting of a polyamine optical absorber, a polyacid optical absorber, an amino acid optical absorber, and any combination thereof to yield the polyamide having the optical absorber in the backbone of the polyamide. Said polyamides having the optical absorber in the backbone of the polyamide may be useful in producing objects by methods that include melt extrusion, injection molding, compression molding, melt spinning, melt emulsification, spray drying, cryogenic milling, freeze drying polymer dispersions, and precipitation of polymer dispersions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Valerie M. Farrugia, Mihaela Maria Birau
  • Publication number: 20230407087
    Abstract: A method for producing highly spherical polymer particles comprising a polyamide having an optical absorber pendent from a backbone of the polyamide (OAMB-polyamide) may comprise: mixing a mixture comprising the OAMB-polyamide, a carrier fluid that is immiscible with the OAMB-polyamide, and optionally an emulsion stabilizer at a temperature greater than a melting point or softening temperature of the OAMB-polyamide and at a shear rate sufficiently high to disperse the OAMB-polyamide in the carrier fluid; and cooling the mixture to below the melting point or softening temperature of the OAMB-polyamide to form particles comprising the OAMB-polyamide and the emulsion stabilizer, when present, associated with an outer surface of the particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Mihaela Maria BIRAU, Valerie M. FARRUGIA
  • Patent number: 11834580
    Abstract: Ink compositions are provided which may comprise water; resin particles; a colorant; and optionally, a wax, wherein the resin particles comprise a polymerization product of reactants comprising a dioxane/dioxalane monomer and an additional monomer, wherein the dioxane/dioxalane monomer is an ester of (meth)acrylic acid with an alcohol comprising a dioxane moiety, an ester of (meth)acrylic acid with an alcohol comprising a dioxalane moiety, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Sepehr M. Tehrani, Carlos Dondon, Syed Mohsin Ali, Biby Esther Abraham, C. Geoffrey Allen, Mihaela Maria Birau, Atousa Abdollahi, Karen A. Moffat
  • Publication number: 20230373130
    Abstract: Optical absorber-containing thermoplastic polymer particles (OACTP particles) may be produced by methods that comprise: mixing a mixture comprising a thermoplastic polymer, a carrier fluid that is immiscible with the thermoplastic polymer, and optionally an emulsion stabilizer at a temperature greater than a melting point or softening temperature of the thermoplastic polymer and at a shear rate sufficiently high to disperse the thermoplastic polymer in the carrier fluid; cooling the mixture to below the melting point or softening temperature of the thermoplastic polymer to form solidified particles comprising the thermoplastic polymer; separating the solidified particles from the carrier fluid; and exposing the solidified particles to an optical absorber to produce the OACTP particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Valerie M. FARRUGIA, Mihaela Maria BIRAU
  • Publication number: 20230374218
    Abstract: Methods for producing a polyamide having an optical absorber pendent from the polyamide's backbone (OAMB-polyamide) may comprise: esterifying a hydroxyl-pendent optical absorber with a halogen-terminal aliphatic acid to yield a halogen-terminal alkyl-optical absorber; and N-alkylating a polyamide with the halogen-terminal alkyl-optical absorber to yield the OAMB-polyamide. Other methods for producing an OAMB-polyamide may comprise: esterifying a carboxyl-pendent optical absorber with a halogen-terminal aliphatic alcohol to yield a halogen-terminal alkyl-optical absorber; and N-alkylating a polyamide with the modified optical absorber to yield a polyamide having the OAMB-polyamide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Mihaela Maria BIRAU, Valerie M. FARRUGIA
  • Patent number: 11801617
    Abstract: Optical absorber-containing thermoplastic polymer particles (OACTP particles) may be produced by methods that comprise: mixing a mixture comprising a thermoplastic polymer, a carrier fluid that is immiscible with the thermoplastic polymer, and optionally an emulsion stabilizer at a temperature greater than a melting point or softening temperature of the thermoplastic polymer and at a shear rate sufficiently high to disperse the thermoplastic polymer in the carrier fluid; cooling the mixture to below the melting point or softening temperature of the thermoplastic polymer to form solidified particles comprising the thermoplastic polymer; separating the solidified particles from the carrier fluid; and exposing the solidified particles to an optical absorber to produce the OACTP particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Valerie M. Farrugia, Mihaela Maria Birau
  • Publication number: 20230332002
    Abstract: An aqueous inkjet ink composition including water; an optional co-solvent; an optional dispersant; an optional resin; an optional wax; and a BaSO4 pigment; wherein a particle size distribution is defined as Span=(Dn90?Dn10)/(Dn50); and wherein the BaSO4 pigment has a wide particle size distribution wherein the Span is 0.75 or greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2022
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Varun Sambhy, Santokh S. Badesha, Mihaela Maria Birau, Sepehr M. Tehrani, Syed Mohsin Ali
  • Patent number: 11787937
    Abstract: A method for producing highly spherical polymer particles comprising a polyamide having an optical absorber pendent from a backbone of the polyamide (OAMB-polyamide) may comprise: mixing a mixture comprising the OAMB-polyamide, a carrier fluid that is immiscible with the OAMB-polyamide, and optionally an emulsion stabilizer at a temperature greater than a melting point or softening temperature of the OAMB-polyamide and at a shear rate sufficiently high to disperse the OAMB-polyamide in the carrier fluid; and cooling the mixture to below the melting point or softening temperature of the OAMB-polyamide to form particles comprising the OAMB-polyamide and the emulsion stabilizer, when present, associated with an outer surface of the particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Mihaela Maria Birau, Valerie M. Farrugia
  • Patent number: 11781025
    Abstract: Aqueous inkjet ink compositions are provided. In an embodiment, such an aqueous inkjet ink composition comprises a solvent system comprising water, a first organic solvent, and a second organic solvent, wherein the second organic solvent is an alkanediol having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and the second organic solvent is present at an amount of from greater than 0 weight % to about 8 weight %; a white pigment; and resin particles. Methods of making and using the aqueous inkjet ink compositions are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Sepehr M. Tehrani, Syed Mohsin Ali, Carlos Dondon, Biby Esther Abraham, C. Geoffrey Allen, Mihaela Maria Birau
  • Patent number: 11753505
    Abstract: Methods for producing a polyamide having an optical absorber pendent from the polyamide's backbone (OAMB-polyamide) may comprise: esterifying a hydroxyl-pendent optical absorber with a halogen-terminal aliphatic acid to yield a halogen-terminal alkyl-optical absorber; and N-alkylating a polyamide with the halogen-terminal alkyl-optical absorber to yield the OAMB-polyamide. Other methods for producing an OAMB-polyamide may comprise: esterifying a carboxyl-pendent optical absorber with a halogen-terminal aliphatic alcohol to yield a halogen-terminal alkyl-optical absorber; and N-alkylating a polyamide with the modified optical absorber to yield a polyamide having the OAMB-polyamide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Mihaela Maria Birau, Valerie M. Farrugia
  • Patent number: 11708504
    Abstract: Aqueous inkjet ink compositions are provided. In an embodiment, such a composition comprises water; resin particles; and a colorant; wherein the resin particles comprise a polymerization product of reactants comprising a monomer, an acidic monomer, a multifunctional monomer, and a reactive surfactant, the resin particles having a D(z, ave) of no greater than about 150 nm, a D(v,90) of less than about 200 nm, and a polydispersity index (PDI) of no greater than about 0.050. Methods of forming and using the aqueous inkjet ink compositions are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Sepehr M. Tehrani, Marcel P. Breton, Syed Mohsin Ali, Carlos Dondon, Biby Esther Abraham, C. Geoffrey Allen, Mihaela Maria Birau
  • Publication number: 20230183503
    Abstract: Aqueous inkjet ink compositions are provided. In embodiments, an aqueous inkjet ink composition comprises water, a colorant, resin particles, and optionally, a wax, wherein the resin particles comprise a polymerization product of reactants comprising one or more types of hydrophobic monomers; and one or more types of acidic monomers comprising one or more types of phosphoric acid monomers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Sepehr M. Tehrani, Syed Mohsin Ali, Biby Esther Abraham, C. Geoffrey Allen, Carlos Dondon, Jennifer Kim, Mihaela Maria Birau
  • Publication number: 20230055456
    Abstract: Ink compositions are provided which may comprise water; resin particles; a colorant; and optionally, a wax, wherein the resin particles comprise a polymerization product of reactants comprising a dioxane/dioxalane monomer and an additional monomer, wherein the dioxane/dioxalane monomer is an ester of (meth)acrylic acid with an alcohol comprising a dioxane moiety, an ester of (meth)acrylic acid with an alcohol comprising a dioxalane moiety, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Sepehr M. Tehrani, Carlos Dondon, Syed Mohsin Ali, Biby Esther Abraham, C. Geoffrey Allen, Mihaela Maria Birau, Atousa Abdollahi, Karen A. Moffat
  • Publication number: 20220356360
    Abstract: Aqueous inkjet ink compositions are provided. In an embodiment, such an aqueous inkjet ink composition comprises a solvent system comprising water, a first organic solvent, and a second organic solvent, wherein the second organic solvent is an alkanediol having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and the second organic solvent is present at an amount of from greater than 0 weight % to about 8 weight %; a white pigment; and resin particles. Methods of making and using the aqueous inkjet ink compositions are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Sepehr M. Tehrani, Syed Mohsin Ali, Carlos Dondon, Biby Esther Abraham, C. Geoffrey Allen, Mihaela Maria Birau
  • Publication number: 20220195221
    Abstract: A white ink composition comprises an ink vehicle comprising at least one compound chosen from acrylate monomers, methacrylate monomers, acrylate oligomers and methacrylate oligomers; at least one polyol adhesive resin that is solid at 25° C.; at least one photoinitiator; and at least one white colorant. A method of printing the ink composition is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: C. Geoffrey Allen, Mihaela Maria Birau, Aurelian Valeriu Magdalinis
  • Publication number: 20220162460
    Abstract: Aqueous inkjet ink compositions are provided. In an embodiment, such an aqueous inkjet ink composition comprises water; a high viscosity latex; a colorant; and optionally, a wax. The high viscosity latex comprises water and resin particles comprising a polymerization product of a monomer, an acidic monomer, a hydrophilic monomer, a difunctional monomer, and a reactive surfactant. The high viscosity latex is characterized by a viscosity in a range of from 10 cP to 100 cP as measured at a solid content of 30% and at room temperature. The aqueous inkjet ink composition is free of a water-soluble binder. Methods of forming and using the aqueous inkjet ink compositions are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Sepehr M. Tehrani, Syed Mohsin Ali, Carlos Dondon, Biby Esther Abraham, C. Geoffrey Allen, Mihaela Maria Birau, Jennifer L. Belelie
  • Publication number: 20220162461
    Abstract: Aqueous inkjet ink compositions are provided. In an embodiment, such a composition comprises water; resin particles; and a colorant; wherein the resin particles comprise a polymerization product of reactants comprising a monomer, an acidic monomer, a multifunctional monomer, and a reactive surfactant, the resin particles having a D(z, ave) of no greater than about 150 nm, a D(v,90) of less than about 200 nm, and a polydispersity index (PDI) of no greater than about 0.050. Methods of forming and using the aqueous inkjet ink compositions are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Sepehr M. Tehrani, Marcel P. Breton, Syed Mohsin Ali, Carlos Dondon, Biby Esther Abraham, C. Geoffrey Allen, Mihaela Maria Birau
  • Publication number: 20220162465
    Abstract: Aqueous inkjet ink compositions are provided. In an embodiment, such a composition comprises water; a monodisperse latex; and a colorant; wherein the monodisperse latex comprises resin particles comprising a polymerization product of a monomer, an acidic monomer, a multifunctional monomer, and a reactive surfactant, the resin particles having a D(z, ave) of no greater than 150 nm, a D(z, 90) of less than 200 nm, and a polydispersity index (PDI) of no greater than 0.050. Methods of forming and using the aqueous inkjet ink compositions are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Marcel P. Breton, Sepehr M. Tehrani, Syed Mohsin Ali, Carlos Dondon, Biby Esther Abraham, C. Geoffrey Allen, Mihaela Maria Birau