Patents by Inventor Michael S. Hawkins

Michael S. Hawkins 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).

  • Publication number: 20240066595
    Abstract: A method for producing metal or metal alloy particles may include: mixing a mixture comprising: (a) a metal or a metal alloy, (b) a carrier fluid, and optionally (c) an emulsion stabilizer at a temperature at or greater than a melting point of the metal or the metal alloy to create a dispersion of molten droplets of the metal or the metal alloy dispersed in the carrier fluid; cooling the mixture to below the melting point of the metal or the metal alloy to form metal or metal alloy particles; and separating the metal or metal alloy particles from the carrier fluid, wherein the metal or metal alloy particles comprise the metal or the metal alloy and the emulsion stabilizer, if included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin KNAPIK, Michael S. HAWKINS, David LAWTON, Kimberly D. NOSELLA
  • Patent number: 11866562
    Abstract: Melt emulsification may be employed to form elastomeric particulates in a narrow size range when nanoparticles are included as an emulsion stabilizer. Such processes may comprise combining a polyurethane polymer and nanoparticles with a carrier fluid at a heating temperature at or above a melting point or a softening temperature of the polyurethane polymer, applying sufficient shear to disperse the polyurethane polymer as liquefied droplets in the presence of the nanoparticles in the carrier fluid at the heating temperature, cooling the carrier fluid at least until elastomeric particulates in a solidified state form, and separating the elastomeric particulates from the carrier fluid. In the elastomeric particulates, the polyurethane polymer defines a core and an outer surface of the elastomeric particulates and the nanoparticles are associated with the outer surface. The elastomeric particulates may have a D50 of about 1 ?m to about 1,000 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Cristina Resetco, Shivanthi Easwari Sriskandha, Edward G. Zwartz, Michael S. Hawkins, Valerie M. Farrugia
  • Publication number: 20230340264
    Abstract: Polymer coated particulates may be produced by melt emulsification methods, for example, by mixing a mixture comprising: a carrier fluid, particulates, a thermoplastic polymer, and optionally an emulsion stabilizer at a temperature at or greater than a melting point or softening temperature of the thermoplastic polymer, wherein a mass ratio of the particulates to the thermoplastic polymer is about 1:0.1 to about 1:5; cooling the mixture to below the melting point or softening temperature to form polymer coated particulates; and separating the polymer coated particulates from the carrier fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Valerie M. FARRUGIA, Michael S. HAWKINS, David LAWTON
  • Publication number: 20230250231
    Abstract: A sulfonated polymer fiber screen and a method for fabricating the same is disclosed. For example, a composition may include a plurality of sulfonated polymer fibers. The sulfonated polymer fibers may include polyether ether ketone (PEEK) fibers or polyaryl ether ketone (PAEK) fibers that are contacted with an acid bath that includes a sulfur containing group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Valerie M. Farrugia, Michael S. Hawkins
  • Publication number: 20210070993
    Abstract: Thermoplastic polymer particles can be produced that comprise a thermoplastic polymer and an emulsion stabilizer (e.g., nanoparticles and/or surfactant) associated with an outer surface of the particles. The nanoparticles may be embedded in the outer surface of the particles. Melt emulsification can be used to produce said particles. For example, a method may include: mixing a mixture comprising a thermoplastic polymer, an carrier fluid that is immiscible with the thermoplastic polymer, and the 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 the thermoplastic polymer particles; and separating the thermoplastic polymer particles from the carrier fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Valerie M. Farrugia, Cristina Resetco, Michael S. Hawkins, Shivanthi Easwari Sriskandha, Robert Claridge, Carolyn Patricia Moorlag
  • Publication number: 20210069958
    Abstract: A method of making thermoplastic polymer particles may include mixing in an extruder a mixture comprising a thermoplastic polymer and a carrier fluid that is immiscible with the thermoplastic polymer 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 thermoplastic polymer particles having a circularity of 0.90 or greater and that comprise the thermoplastic polymer; and separating the solidified particles from the carrier fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Valerie M. Farrugia, Michael S. Hawkins, David John William Lawton, Carolyn Patricia Moorlag
  • Publication number: 20210070953
    Abstract: Melt emulsification may be employed to form elastomeric particulates in a narrow size range when nanoparticles are included as an emulsion stabilizer. Such processes may comprise combining a polyurethane polymer and nanoparticles with a carrier fluid at a heating temperature at or above a melting point or a softening temperature of the polyurethane polymer, applying sufficient shear to disperse the polyurethane polymer as liquefied droplets in the presence of the nanoparticles in the carrier fluid at the heating temperature, cooling the carrier fluid at least until elastomeric particulates in a solidified state form, and separating the elastomeric particulates from the carrier fluid. In the elastomeric particulates, the polyurethane polymer defines a core and an outer surface of the elastomeric particulates and the nanoparticles are associated with the outer surface. The elastomeric particulates may have a D50 of about 1 ?m to about 1,000 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Cristina Resetco, Shivanthi Easwari Sriskandha, Edward G. Zwartz, Michael S. Hawkins, Valerie M. Farrugia
  • Publication number: 20200301296
    Abstract: Described herein is a method for manufacturing a low gloss toner. The method includes mixing a resin, a colorant and an optional wax in water to form an emulsion. The emulsion is heated in the presence of a polyion coagulant to form a plurality of aggregated particles, wherein the heating is to a temperature of below the glass transition temperature of the resin. Trisodium citrate dihydrate is added to the heated emulsion in amount of from 0.4 weight percent to about 1.0 percent by weight based on of a total weight of reagents while stirring, wherein the trisodium citrate dihydrate. The aggregated particles are heated to a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the resin to form toner particles have a volume average particle diameter of from 4.3 microns to 4.9 microns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Shivanthi Easwari Sriskandha, Richard P N Veregin, Edward G. Zwartz, Michael S. Hawkins
  • Patent number: 10655025
    Abstract: A process for producing unsaturated polyester microparticles comprising: melt-mixing an unsaturated polyester and an oil in an extruder; washing the microparticles with an organic solvent to reduce the amount of oil; and removing the organic solvent to form the microparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Valerie M. Farrugia, Michael S. Hawkins, Guerino G. Sacripante, Edward G. Zwartz
  • Publication number: 20190352521
    Abstract: A process for producing unsaturated polyester microparticles comprising: melt-mixing an unsaturated polyester and an oil in an extruder; washing the microparticles with an organic solvent to reduce the amount of oil; and removing the organic solvent to form the microparticles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventors: Valerie M. Farrugia, Michael S. Hawkins, Guerino G. Sacripante, Edward G. Zwartz
  • Patent number: 10268130
    Abstract: The instant disclosure describes methacrylate coated carrier resins with hydrophobic substituents for charge control and improved RH sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard P N Veregin, Qingbin Li, Andriy Kovalenko, Sergey Gusarov, Daryl W. Vanbesien, Michael S. Hawkins
  • Patent number: 10078282
    Abstract: Disclosed are toner compositions that include an amorphous polyester resin, a crystalline polyester resin, a colorant and a wax, and where the amorphous polyester resin contains in excess of zero weight percent of dodecylsuccinic anhydride to less than 16 weight percent of dodecylsuccinic anhydride, or where the amorphous polyester resin contains in excess of zero weight percent of dodecylsuccinic acid to less than 16 weight percent of dodecylsuccinic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Guerino G. Sacripante, Ke Zhou, Michael S. Hawkins, Edward G. Zwartz
  • Patent number: 9864291
    Abstract: A hybrid toner includes a core having at least one amorphous polyester resin and at least one crystalline polyester resin, and at least one styrene/acrylate resin, a shell comprising at least one styrene/acrylate resin, at least one wax, and optionally a pigment dispersion, the first modulated differential calorimetry scan of the hybrid toner shows at least two melting point peaks below about 80° C., and the difference between the two melting point peaks is less than or equal to about 15° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard P. N. Veregin, Valerie M. Farrugia, Frank Ping-Hay Lee, Michael J. D'Amato, Michael S. Hawkins, Edward G. Zwartz, Yulin Wang, Abdisamed Sheik-Qasim, Sandra J. Gardner
  • Publication number: 20170363984
    Abstract: A hybrid toner includes a core having at least one amorphous polyester resin and at least one crystalline polyester resin, and at least one styrene/acrylate resin, a shell comprising at least one styrene/acrylate resin, at least one wax, and optionally a pigment dispersion, the first modulated differential calorimetry scan of the hybrid toner shows at least two melting point peaks below about 80° C., and the difference between the two melting point peaks is less than or equal to about 15° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Richard P. N. Veregin, Valerie M. Farrugia, Frank Ping-Hay Lee, Michael J. D'Amato, Michael S. Hawkins, Edward G. Zwartz, Yulin Wang, Abdisamed Sheik-Qasim, Sandra J. Gardner
  • Patent number: 9740124
    Abstract: Disclosed are toner compositions that contain an amorphous polyester resin, a crystalline polyester resin, a colorant and a wax, and where the crystalline polyester resin is subjected to nucleation with a rosin acid or the salt of a rosin acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Guerino G. Sacripante, Richard P. N. Veregin, Kimberly D. Nosella, Michael S. Hawkins
  • Patent number: 9684257
    Abstract: Disclosed herein include styrene-acrylic-based binder compositions containing an antiplasticizer with particles having a core-shell type structure and methods for their preparation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Valerie M. Farrugia, Richard P. N. Veregin, Michael S. Hawkins
  • Publication number: 20170038696
    Abstract: Disclosed are toner compositions that include an amorphous polyester resin, a crystalline polyester resin, a colorant and a wax, and where the amorphous polyester resin contains in excess of zero weight percent of dodecylsuccinic anhydride to less than 16 weight percent of dodecylsuccinic anhydride, or where the amorphous polyester resin contains in excess of zero weight percent of dodecylsuccinic acid to less than 16 weight percent of dodecylsuccinic acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Guerino G. Sacripante, Ke Zhou, Michael S. Hawkins, Edward G. Zwartz
  • Publication number: 20160349641
    Abstract: Disclosed are toner compositions that contain an amorphous polyester resin, a crystalline polyester resin, a colorant and a wax, and where the crystalline polyester resin is subjected to nucleation with a rosin acid or the salt of a rosin acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Guerino G. Sacripante, Richard P.N. Veregin, Kimberly D. Nosella, Michael S. Hawkins
  • Patent number: 9405207
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for enzymatic polymerization to produce polyester resins suitable for use in manufacturing toners. In embodiments, crystalline copolymers, which are polyesters, may be synthesized from lactones, cyclic anhydrides, cyclic carbonates, and combinations thereof. These crystalline copolymers, in turn, may be utilized in the synthesis of toner particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Jordan H Wosnick, Santiago Faucher, Edward G Zwartz, Michael S Hawkins, Karen A Moffat
  • Patent number: 9399699
    Abstract: A composition for use in 3D printing includes a polyester resin including a 1,4-butanediol (BDO) monomer unit and a terephthalate monomer unit, the polyester resin being provided in a powdered form with a particle size in a range from about 100 microns to about 500 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ke Zhou, Guerino G. Sacripante, Michael S. Hawkins, Edward G. Zwartz