Patents by Inventor Michael C. Leemhuis

Michael C. Leemhuis 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: 7055946
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for ink-jet printing including an intermediate transfer medium, a transfer medium, and an ink-jet print head to jet ink toward the intermediate transfer medium, to transfer an ink image from the intermediate transfer medium to media with an optimum image transfer and optical density. The optimum image transfer and optical density is accomplished by generating uniform pressure across a nip generated by the intermediate transfer medium and the transfer medium, and control of a release coating thickness resident on the intermediate transfer medium and a time delay between a jetting of ink toward the intermediate transfer medium and transfer of jetted ink resident on a surface of the intermediate transfer medium to the media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Ligia A. Bejat, Gerald L Fish, Michael C. Leemhuis, Claudia A. Marin, Jean Marie Massie, Calvin D. Murphy
  • Patent number: 6935734
    Abstract: An apparatus for ink-jet printing including an ink-jet print head to jet ink, a coating solid, and a coating holder to support the coating solid, wherein the coating holder transfers a portion of the coating solid onto a medium to form a coating solid layer. The coating holder and coating solid may be combined in a removable cartridge. In addition, the medium may be an intermediate transfer medium, a media support medium, a transfer medium, or media, such as paper. A method for inkjet printing also includes applying a coating solid to a medium to form a layer of the coating solid, in a solid form, having predetermined thickness, and applying ink to the medium. The layer of coating solid may interact with the applied ink to destabilize colorant in the ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Askren, Ronald W. Baker, Ligia Aura Bejat, Charles J. Cheek, Gerald L. Fish, Hrishikesh Pramod Gogate, Bhaskar Gopalanarayanan, Jason Gordon, Philip J. Heink, John W. Kietzman, Michael C. Leemhuis, Claudia A. Marin, Sean D. Smith, Donald W. Stafford
  • Publication number: 20040252175
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for ink-jet printing including an intermediate transfer medium, a transfer medium, and an ink-jet print head to jet ink toward the intermediate transfer medium, to transfer an ink image from the intermediate transfer medium to media with an optimum image transfer and optical density. The optimum image transfer and optical density is accomplished by generating uniform pressure across a nip generated by the intermediate transfer medium and the transfer medium, and control of a release coating thickness resident on the intermediate transfer medium and a time delay between a jetting of ink toward the intermediate transfer medium and transfer of jetted ink resident on a surface of the intermediate transfer medium to the media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventors: Ligia A. Bejat, Gerald L. Fish, Michael C. Leemhuis, Claudia A. Marin, Jean Marie Massie, Calvin D. Murphy
  • Publication number: 20040246318
    Abstract: An apparatus for ink-jet printing including an ink-jet print head to jet ink, a coating solid, and a coating holder to support the coating solid, wherein the coating holder transfers a portion of the coating solid onto a medium to form a coating solid layer. The coating holder and coating solid may be combined in a removable cartridge. In addition, the medium may be an intermediate transfer medium, a media support medium, a transfer medium, or media, such as paper. A method for inkjet printing also includes applying a coating solid to a medium to form a layer of the coating solid, in a solid form, having predetermined thickness, and applying ink to the medium. The layer of coating solid may interact with the applied ink to destabilize colorant in the ink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Askren, Ronald W. Baker, Ligia Aura Bejat, Charles J. Cheek, Gerald L. Fish, Hrishikesh Pramod Gogate, Bhaskar Gopalanarayanan, Jason Gordon, Philip J. Heink, John W. Kietzman, Michael C. Leemhuis, Claudia A. Marin, Sean D. Smith, Donald W. Stafford
  • Patent number: 6181908
    Abstract: An apparatus for corrugating material includes an upper shaft rotating about a first longitudinal axis and a lower shaft rotating about a second longitudinal axis. Either the upper shaft, the lower shaft, or both shafts are constructed of a flexible material. At least one upper corrugation roll is secured to the upper shaft, and at least one lower corrugation roll is secured to the lower shaft. The upper corrugation roll and the lower corrugation roll are interspersed relative to each other and spaced such that the material is fed between the upper and the lower corrugation roll to corrugate the material. Materials of varying rigidities may be passed between the upper and lower corrugation rolls such that lighter weight material is corrugated while heavier weight material deflects the flexible shaft(s) to reduce corrugation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Leemhuis, Daniel J. Westhoff
  • Patent number: 5618036
    Abstract: A printer (1) and portable stations (2 and 3) when located side-by-side form a guide (1a, 2a, and 3a) for paper sheets sent out by printer 1. The paper is moved upward into U-shaped guide 1a by pinch rollers (6 and 7) and then moved laterally by pinch rollers (8 and 9) in guide 1a. Similar rollers are in guides 2a and 3a to direct the paper to the selected station and then downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Earl G. Edwards, Armando V. Flores, John W. Gassett, James P. Harden, Daniel L. Huber, Michael C. Leemhuis, Stephen T. Olson, Bernard L. Wilzbach
  • Patent number: 5316539
    Abstract: Lower, arced decurling guide (1) is pivoted on pin (3) and biased upward by spring (7). Upper stop (11) prevents the lower guide from moving closer to upper decurling roller (15). Paper (9) is guided between these upper and lower guides and the lower guide is moved outward in proportion to the rigidity of the paper being decurled. This automatic adjustment provides good decurling for all papers within a broad range of rigidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Leemhuis, Daniel J. Westhoff
  • Patent number: 5005820
    Abstract: A paper bin assembly including a movable bottom tray for holding a stack of print receiving material, such as paper. The assembly is designed for insertion into a machine using sheets of paper, such as a copier or printer. A leaf spring is used to move the tray upwardly to keep the top sheet of the stack in position for being fed from the stack by a paper feeding mechanism. As sheets are fed from the stack, the spring continues to provide the top sheet in position, and continues to provide a correct normal force between the paper feeding mechanism and the top sheet. This is accomplished over a wide range of paper size and density by affording an adjustment mechanism to vary the spring rate. The adjustment mechanism involves a movable spring support member which moves in one direction relative to a fixed spring support member, and by providing an offset in a second dimension between the two spring support members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Michael C. Leemhuis
  • Patent number: D356816
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel P. Cahill, Gordon R. Dunning, Michael C. Leemhuis, Steven A. Silverstein, Daniel J. Westhoff, Edward W. Yohon, Jr.