Patents by Inventor Richard G. Chambers
Richard G. Chambers 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).
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Patent number: 8313182Abstract: A solid ink loading system for a phase change ink imaging device includes an ink loader having a first end, a second end, and at least one feed channel extending between the first and the second end. The at least one feed channel includes an insertion region intermediate the first and the second end where ink sticks enter the at least one feed channel. The at least one feed channel is configured to guide ink sticks in a feed direction from the insertion region toward the second end. An ink stick retractor is configured for movement between a forward position and a rearward position substantially parallel to at least a portion of the at least one feed channel. The forward position is closer to the second end of the feed channel than the first position. The ink stick retractor is configured to selectively move ink sticks in the at least one feed channel in a retraction direction toward the first end.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2010Date of Patent: November 20, 2012Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Brent Rodney Jones, Frederick T. Mattern, Richard G. Chambers
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Patent number: 8210671Abstract: An ink loader for a phase change ink imaging device includes an automated access control system that enables ink stick insertion based on user initiated ink load requests with reference to the operating state of the imaging device.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2010Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Frederick T. Mattern, Brent Rodney Jones, Richard G. Chambers, Martin Scott Walsh
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Publication number: 20120086760Abstract: A solid ink loading system for a phase change ink imaging device includes an ink loader having a first end, a second end, and at least one feed channel extending between the first and the second end. The at least one feed channel includes an insertion region intermediate the first and the second end where ink sticks enter the at least one feed channel. The at least one feed channel is configured to guide ink sticks in a feed direction from the insertion region toward the second end. An ink stick retractor is configured for movement between a forward position and a rearward position substantially parallel to at least a portion of the at least one feed channel. The forward position is closer to the second end of the feed channel than the first position. The ink stick retractor is configured to selectively move ink sticks in the at least one feed channel in a retraction direction toward the first end.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2010Publication date: April 12, 2012Applicant: XEROX CORPORATIONInventors: Brent Rodney Jones, Frederick T. Mattern, Richard G. Chambers
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Publication number: 20120050436Abstract: An image transfer mechanism includes a pressure element and a lever system. The lever system has a load attachment point with a range of position that depends on the thickness of a print medium positioned between the imaging element and the pressure element. A load mechanism includes a load connector with a distal end attached to the lever system load attachment point so that displacement of the lever system attachment point causes longitudinal movement of the load connector. The load mechanism applies a load that is substantially constant throughout the range of position of the lever system load attachment point. The load mechanism includes a spring and a crank attached to the spring and to the proximal end of the load connector. The crank is configured so that a change in the spring force produces a lesser change in the load force at the distal end of the load connector.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2011Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: XEROX CORPORATIONInventors: Daniel C. Park, Donald B. Maclane, Richard G. Chambers, Timothy L. Crawford, Darrell R. Finneman, William Y. Pong
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Publication number: 20120026218Abstract: An ink loader for a phase change ink imaging device includes an automated access control system that enables ink stick insertion based on user initiated ink load requests with reference to the operating state of the imaging device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2010Publication date: February 2, 2012Applicant: XEROX CORPORATIONInventors: Frederick T. Mattern, Brent Rodney Jones, Richard G. Chambers, Martin Scott Walsh
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Patent number: 8075118Abstract: A method facilitates insertion of a segmented ink stick into an ink feed system of a phase change ink jet printer. The method includes bending of a flexible strand between ink stick segments during insertion of the ink stick segments and then straightening the flexible strand to orient the ink stick segments in the ink feed system.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2010Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Richard G. Chambers, Brent R. Jones, David L. Knierim, Barry D. Reeves, Edward F. Burress, Ernest I. Esplin, Jasper Wong
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Patent number: 8075128Abstract: An image transfer mechanism includes a pressure element and a lever system. The lever system has a load attachment point with a range of position that depends on the thickness of a print medium positioned between the imaging element and the pressure element. A load mechanism includes a load connector with a distal end attached to the lever system load attachment point so that displacement of the lever system attachment point causes longitudinal movement of the load connector. The load mechanism applies a load that is substantially constant throughout the range of position of the lever system load attachment point. The load mechanism includes a spring and a crank attached to the spring and to the proximal end of the load connector. The crank is configured so that a change in the spring force produces a lesser change in the load force at the distal end of the load connector.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2009Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Daniel C. Park, Donald B. Maclane, Richard G. Chambers, Timothy L. Crawford, Darrell R. Finneman, William Y. Pong
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Publication number: 20100277557Abstract: A method facilitates insertion of a segmented ink stick into an ink feed system of a phase change ink jet printer. The method includes bending of a flexible strand between ink stick segments during insertion of the ink stick segments and then straightening the flexible strand to orient the ink stick segments in the ink feed system.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2010Publication date: November 4, 2010Applicant: XEROX CORPORATIONInventors: Richard G. Chambers, Brent R. Jones, David L. Knierim, Barry D. Reeves, Edward F. Burress, Ernest I. Esplin, Jasper Wong
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Patent number: 7753509Abstract: An ink stick for a phase change ink jet printer is provided. The ink stick includes a first ink stick body segment having a proximal portion and a distal portion, a second ink stick body segment having a proximal portion and a distal portion, and one or more flexible strand portions. The strand portion is formed integrally with the first ink stick body segment and the second ink stick body segment, and connects the proximal portion of the first ink stick body segment and the proximal portion of the second ink stick body segment. The strand portion flexes to permit variation in the distance between the distal portion of the first ink stick body segment and the distal portion of the second ink stick body segment.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2006Date of Patent: July 13, 2010Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Richard G. Chambers, Brent R. Jones, David L. Knierim, Barry D. Reeves, Edward F. Burress, Ernest I. Esplin, Jasper Wong
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Publication number: 20090153635Abstract: An image transfer mechanism includes a pressure element and a lever system. The lever system has a load attachment point with a range of position that depends on the thickness of a print medium positioned between the imaging element and the pressure element. A load mechanism includes a load connector with a distal end attached to the lever system load attachment point so that displacement of the lever system attachment point causes longitudinal movement of the load connector. The load mechanism applies a load that is substantially constant throughout the range of position of the lever system load attachment point. The load mechanism includes a spring and a crank attached to the spring and to the proximal end of the load connector. The crank is configured so that a change in the spring force produces a lesser change in the load force at the distal end of the load connector.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2009Publication date: June 18, 2009Applicant: Xerox CorporationInventors: Daniel C. Park, Donald B. Maclane, Richard G. Chambers, Timothy L. Crawford, Darrell R. Finneman, William Y. Pong
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Patent number: 7497566Abstract: An image transfer mechanism includes a pressure element and a lever system. The lever system has a load attachment point with a range of position that depends on the thickness of a print medium positioned between the imaging element and the pressure element. A load mechanism includes a load connector with a distal end attached to the lever system load attachment point so that displacement of the lever system attachment point causes longitudinal movement of the load connector. The load mechanism applies a load that is substantially constant throughout the range of position of the lever system load attachment point. The load mechanism includes a spring and a crank attached to the spring and to the proximal end of the load connector. The crank is configured so that a change in the spring force produces a lesser change in the load force at the distal end of the load connector.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2004Date of Patent: March 3, 2009Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Daniel C. Park, Donald B. Maclane, Richard G. Chambers, Timothy L. Crawford, Darrell R. Finneman, William Y. Pong
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Patent number: 7438402Abstract: An ink stick for use in a phase change ink jet printer is provided wherein the ink jet printer has an ink feed channel having a feed direction leading to a melt plate. The ink stick comprises an ink stick body having an external surface and an axis of rotation. The ink stick body is adapted for insertion into the ink feed channel so that the axis of rotation is oriented substantially perpendicular to the feed direction. The external surface of the ink stick body forms a circle on a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2006Date of Patent: October 21, 2008Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Brent R. Jones, David L. Knierim, Barry D. Reeves, Edward F. Burress, Ernest I. Esplin, Richard G. Chambers, Jasper Wong
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Publication number: 20080036836Abstract: An ink stick for a phase change ink jet printer is provided. The ink stick comprises a first ink stick body segment having a proximal portion and a distal portion, a second ink stick body segment having a proximal portion and a distal portion, and one or more flexible strand portions. The strand portion is formed integrally with the first ink stick body segment and the second ink stick body segment, and connects the proximal portion of the first ink stick body segment and the proximal portion of the second ink stick body segment. The strand portion flexes to permit variation in the distance between the distal portion of the first ink stick body segment and the distal portion of the second ink stick body segment.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2006Publication date: February 14, 2008Inventors: Richard G. Chambers, Brent R. Jones, David L. Knierim, Barry D. Reeves, Edward F. Burress, Ernest I. Esplin, Jasper Wong
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Patent number: 6783026Abstract: An articulated flag body member permitting bi-directional passage of an object. The articulated flag body member has a flag body pivotably connected to a flag foot. As rotation of the flag foot occurs in one direction, the flag body rotates by engagement of a recess of the flag foot with a stop member extending along a projecting leg of the flag body. As the flag body rotates, a notch at the upper portion of the flag body changes positions such that light, or other signals, may no longer pass through the notch. Thus, positional indication of an object detected by rotation of the flag body. As rotation of the flag foot occurs in an opposite direction, an object may be extricated or removed.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2003Date of Patent: August 31, 2004Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Richard G. Chambers, Craig F. Robillard, Barry G. Mannie, Donald B. Maclane
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Publication number: 20040135311Abstract: An articulated flag body member permitting bidirectional passage of an object. The articulated flag body member has a flag body pivotably connected to a flag foot. As rotation of the flag foot occurs in one direction, the flag body rotates by engagement of a recess of the flag foot with a stop member extending along a projecting leg of the flag body. As the flag body rotates, a notch at the upper portion of the flag body changes positions such that light, or other signals, may no longer pass through the notch. Thus, positional indication of an object detected by rotation of the flag body. As rotation of the flag foot occurs in an opposite direction, an object may be extricated or removed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2003Publication date: July 15, 2004Inventors: Richard G. Chambers, Craig F. Robillard, Barry G. Mannie, Donald B. Maclane
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Patent number: 6293545Abstract: A stripper blade assembly for an ink jet offset printer has a thin blade fixedly mounted on a top surface of a blade holder. The blade holder includes at a trailing edge flexible eyelet portions that extend downwards to snap over protuberances on mechanical connectors overmolded onto a rotatable shaft in order to secure the blade holder to the shaft. The thin blade engages the surface of an offset drum of the ink jet offset printer along the width of the drum at an appropriate point in the print process to strip the leading edge of a print medium from the offset drum surface, minimizing damage to the offset drum surface and to the printed image on the print medium while also minimizing the risk of a jam.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 1999Date of Patent: September 25, 2001Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: David W. Hanks, Donald B. MacLane, Richard G. Chambers
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Patent number: 6015205Abstract: A print head restraint mechanism for limiting movement of a print head during transport of the printing apparatus is provided. The restraint mechanism includes a moveable pin that selectively engages the print head. An engaging mechanism moves the pin into and out of engagement with the print head when the print head is positioned in a restraint position. During printing the restraint mechanism is positioned away from the travel path of the print head to avoid interfering with print head motion. An interlock prevents actuation of the restraint mechanism when the print head is away from the restraint position.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 1997Date of Patent: January 18, 2000Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Richard G. Chambers, Kenichi Naruki
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Patent number: D530361Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2003Date of Patent: October 17, 2006Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventor: Richard G. Chambers
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Patent number: D642610Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2009Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Joseph B Gault, Michael C Gordon, Richard Watson, David Pearce, Anthony Peters, Richard G Chambers, Kevin Swain, Brian G Russell, Lee J O'Brien
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Patent number: D702285Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2012Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: John B Gilbert, Richard G Chambers, Frederick T Mattern