Patents by Inventor Michael William Lawrence

Michael William Lawrence 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: 20220204291
    Abstract: A paper feed device includes a cassette, a main body, an actuator, a first elastic member, and a guide member. The actuator reciprocates between first and second directions in the second direction intersecting the first direction. The first elastic member urges the actuator. The guide member includes a base end portion, a front end portion, and a guide unit. The guide unit includes an apex portion overhanging in an opposite direction to the second direction. The base end portion is located at a third position in the second direction. The front end portion is movable between the third and a fourth position separated more than at the first position in the second direction. The guide unit is provided so that the apex portion can be disposed at the same position as an end of the actuator in the second direction at the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Katsuya Oshida, Brad Wesley Towe, Michael William Lawrence, William Michael Conners
  • Publication number: 20210070571
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a paper feed device includes a cassette, a main body, an actuator, a first elastic member, and a guide member. The actuator reciprocates between first and second directions in the second direction intersecting the first direction. The first elastic member urges the actuator. The guide member includes a base end portion, a front end portion, and a guide unit. The guide unit includes an apex portion overhanging in an opposite direction to the second direction. The base end portion is located at a third position in the second direction. The front end portion is movable between the third and a fourth position separated more than at the first position in the second direction. The guide unit is provided so that the apex portion can be disposed at the same position as an end of the actuator in the second direction at the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Katsuya Oshida, Brad Wesley Towe, Michael William Lawrence, William Michael Conners
  • Patent number: 9988224
    Abstract: A removable media tray assembly for an image forming device according to one embodiment includes a media tray having a bottom surface and a front wall extending upward from the bottom surface. A bottom surface defines a media storage location for storing a stack of media sheets. The assembly includes a housing having an opening therein to receive the media tray. A magnet and a plate provide a latching force FL greater than a pick motor stall force keeping the media tray in a closed position during media picking. A handle assembly including a finger bar and a pivoting link is mounted to the front wall. With the media tray being held closed by the latching force, a user-supplied actuation force FA that is less than 22.2 N applied to the finger bar, pivots the link which acts as a force multiplier providing a release force exceeding the latching force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael William Lawrence, Dustin Daniel Fichter, Neal Douglas McFarland, Stacey Vaughan Mitchell, Angel Macuha Alagos, Douglas Andagan Baena, Jr., Pat Marlon Cartagena Limosnero
  • Publication number: 20170267470
    Abstract: A removable media tray assembly for an image forming device according to one embodiment includes a media tray having a bottom surface and a front wall extending upward from the bottom surface. A bottom surface defines a media storage location for storing a stack of media sheets. The assembly includes a housing having an opening therein to receive the media tray. A magnet and a plate provide a latching force FL greater than a pick motor stall force keeping the media tray in a closed position during media picking. A handle assembly including a finger bar and a pivoting link is mounted to the front wall. With the media tray being held closed by the latching force, a user-supplied actuation force FA that is less than 22.2 N applied to the finger bar, pivots the link which acts as a force multiplier providing a release force exceeding the latching force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: MICHAEL WILLIAM LAWRENCE, DUSTIN DANIEL FICHTER, NEAL DOUGLAS MCFARLAND, STACEY VAUGHAN MITCHELL, ANGEL MACUHA ALAGOS, DOUGLAS ANDAGAN BAENA, JR., PAT MARLON CARTAGENA LIMOSNERO
  • Publication number: 20170247210
    Abstract: A removable media tray assembly for an image forming device according to one embodiment includes a media tray having a bottom surface and a front wall extending upward from the bottom surface. A bottom surface defines a media storage location for storing a stack of media sheets. The assembly includes a housing having an opening therein to receive the media tray. A magnet and a plate provide a latching force FL greater than a pick motor stall force keeping the media tray in a closed position during media picking. A handle assembly including a finger bar and a pivoting link is mounted to the front wall. With the media tray being held closed by the latching force, a user-supplied actuation force FA that is less than 22.2 N applied to the finger bar, pivots the link which acts as a force multiplier providing a release force exceeding the latching force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: MICHAEL WILLIAM LAWRENCE, DUSTIN DANIEL FICHTER, NEAL DOUGLAS MCFARLAND, STACEY VAUGHAN MITCHELL, ANGEL MACUHA ALAGOS, DOUGLAS ANDAGAN BAENA, JR., PAT MARLON CARTAGENA LIMOSNERO
  • Patent number: 9745154
    Abstract: A removable media tray assembly for an image forming device according to one embodiment includes a media tray having a bottom surface and a front wall extending upward from the bottom surface. A bottom surface defines a media storage location for storing a stack of media sheets. The assembly includes a housing having an opening therein to receive the media tray. A magnet and a plate provide a latching force FL greater than a pick motor stall force keeping the media tray in a closed position during media picking. A handle assembly including a finger bar and a pivoting link is mounted to the front wall. With the media tray being held closed by the latching force, a user-supplied actuation force FA that is less than 22.2 N applied to the finger bar, pivots the link which acts as a force multiplier providing a release force exceeding the latching force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Lexmark International Inc.
    Inventors: Michael William Lawrence, Dustin Daniel Fichter, Neal Douglas McFarland, Stacey Vaughan Mitchell, Angel Macuha Alagos, Douglas Andagan Baena, Jr., Pat Marlon Cartagena Limosnero
  • Patent number: 7980554
    Abstract: A friction backup roller assembly for a peripheral device, comprising an auto-compensating mechanism having a pick tire at one end, a media tray disposed adjacent to the auto-compensating mechanism, a backup roller extending through an aperture in the media tray, the backup roller having a tire, the auto-compensating mechanism pivotally positioned for engagement and disengagement of the pick tire with the backup roller, and a biasing element acting on the backup roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean Alan Eltzroth, Kevin Matthew Johnson, Michael William Lawrence, Robert Sandheinrich
  • Patent number: 7766444
    Abstract: A method for controlling the media feed of a print media sheet in an imaging apparatus having a media feed roller includes selecting between using absolute positioning of the media feed roller and relative positioning of the media feed roller for various media feed roller moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael William Lawrence, Michael Anthony Marra, III, Barry Baxter Stout, Jay William Vessels, John Thomas Writt
  • Patent number: 7584953
    Abstract: A media pick assembly has a media tray for retaining a stack of media in a peripheral device, an auto-compensating mechanism disposed adjacent to the media tray, the auto-compensating mechanism movable through an operating range including a starting angular position and an ending angular position, and a media biasing member engaging the auto-compensating mechanism and providing a discontinuous force on the auto-compensating mechanism through the operating range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Matthew Johnson, Michael William Lawrence
  • Patent number: 7559711
    Abstract: A method for controlling the media feed of a print media sheet in an imaging apparatus having a media feed roller includes selecting between using absolute positioning of the media feed roller and relative positioning of the media feed roller for various media feed roller moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael William Lawrence, Michael Anthony Marra, III, Barry Baxter Stout, Jay William Vessels, John Thomas Writt
  • Publication number: 20090096829
    Abstract: A method for controlling the media feed of a print media sheet in an imaging apparatus having a media feed roller includes selecting between using absolute positioning of the media feed roller and relative positioning of the media feed roller for various media feed roller moves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventors: Michael William Lawrence, Michael Anthony Marra, III, Barry Baxter Stout, Jay William Vessels, John Thomas Writt
  • Publication number: 20080150220
    Abstract: A friction backup roller assembly for a peripheral device, comprising an auto-compensating mechanism having a pick tire at one end, a media tray disposed adjacent to the auto-compensating mechanism, a backup roller extending through an aperture in the media tray, the backup roller having a tire, the auto-compensating mechanism pivotally positioned for engagement and disengagement of the pick tire with the backup roller, and a biasing element acting on the backup roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Dean Alan Eltzroth, Kevin Matthew Johnson, Michael William Lawrence, Robert Sandheinrich
  • Publication number: 20080116627
    Abstract: A media pick assembly has a media tray for retaining a stack of media in a peripheral device, an auto-compensating mechanism disposed adjacent to the media tray, the auto-compensating mechanism movable through an operating range including a starting angular position and an ending angular position, and a media biasing member engaging the auto-compensating mechanism and providing a discontinuous force on the auto-compensating mechanism through the operating range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventors: Kevin Matthew Johnson, Michael William Lawrence
  • Patent number: 7287922
    Abstract: A backup roller is formed by a member having a rotational axis and a circumferential region around which a plurality of teeth are arranged. Each tooth of the plurality of teeth has a tip end extending in a direction away from the rotational axis. When the backup roller is rotated the tip end of each of the plurality of teeth sequentially extends toward the rotational axis of a drive roller at an angle non-orthogonal to the rotational axis of the drive roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Andrew Buxton, Daniel Robert LaBar, Michael William Lawrence, Robert Michael Meadows
  • Patent number: 7258335
    Abstract: Drag from media sensor (80) of a printer is eliminated by it being pivoted through a slip connection off of pivoted media feed system (19) to briefly contact papers. The pivoted media feed is then moved in reverse a limited amount at which a rotatably biased member (94) moves ledge (94a) of the member to face abutment surface (92a) of the media sensor. Media feed system 19 is then moved back to drive media while the media sensor is blocked from movement and the slip connection simply slips. After the media is fed, the media feed system is moved away a longer amount while the media sensor is blocked against for the same movement by an abutment (110) in the printer. The media feed system after the longer movement moves a lever (94f) of the biased member and rotates the ledge to free the media sensor to again move to the media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Matthew Johnson, Michael William Lawrence, Bryan Christopher Scharf
  • Patent number: 7198265
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a printing mechanism having a media path. A print media source is provided for supplying a sheet of print media to the printing mechanism. A drive unit is provided, with a drive shaft coupled to the drive unit. A media sensor device is mounted to the drive shaft, wherein as the drive shaft is rotated in a first direction the media sensor device is moved from a first position that is out of the media path to a second position that is in the media path for sensing the sheet of print media. As the drive shaft is rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction the media sensor device is moved from the second position that is in the media path for sensing the sheet of print media to the first position that is out of the media path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mahesan Chelvayohan, Brian Dale Cook, Timothy Lorn Howard, Kevin Matthew Johnson, William Scott Klein, Michael William Lawrence
  • Patent number: 7140708
    Abstract: An edge-to-edge imaging method includes generating a reflectance profile of a mid-frame of an imaging apparatus by taking optical readings along the mid-frame with no print media present in a direction substantially orthogonal to the sheet feed direction, the reflectance profile distinguishing between the media support surface and the waste ink collection trough; taking optical readings across the mid-frame in the direction substantially orthogonal to the sheet feed direction with the sheet of print media present; comparing the optical readings taken with the sheet of print media present with the reflectance profile of the mid-frame; and applying an algorithm to adjust an amount of ink overspray along the lateral edges of the sheet of print media based on a result of the comparing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael William Lawrence, Brian Keith Owens
  • Patent number: 7121546
    Abstract: A speed mode for a printer (1) which has a pivotally mounted autocompensating system (19) mounted at an intermediate position in paper guide (17). That system (19) is driven by a motor (40) through a slip drive (70, 72, 74). The motor also drives paper feed system (15). When the motor turns in a direction to feed by system (15), the intermediate system is moved away from the paper guide. In basic operation, when a sheet (5) reaches a position to be fed by the intermediate system, the motor is reversed, and the intermediate system pivots against the paper for moving it further through the paper guide. In the speed mode the intermediate system is not employed and all of the feed is by the system at the tray. Since this will not feed shorter sheets, preferably the speed mode must be positively invoked, as by operator input or definitive information in the header of a print job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Matthew Johnson, Michael William Lawrence, Barry Baxter Stout