Patents by Inventor Robert Alan Clark

Robert Alan Clark 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: 8757479
    Abstract: A personalized package creation system uses an imaging device to capture an image of a barcode. An image capture module decodes the barcode to retrieve data, such as package dimension data and one or more package structural parameters. Based on the package dimensions and the structural parameter, a processing device defines a set of cutting instructions. An automated package generation device applies the cutting instructions and uses a cutting device to creating a package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Alan Clark, Jess Robert Gentner, William J. Nowak, Reiner Eschbach
  • Publication number: 20140038802
    Abstract: A personalized package creation system uses an imaging device to capture an image of a barcode. An image capture module decodes the barcode to retrieve data, such as package dimension data and one or more package structural parameters. Based on the package dimensions and the structural parameter, a processing device defines a set of cutting instructions. An automated package generation device applies the cutting instructions and uses a cutting device to creating a package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Alan Clark, Jess Robert Gentner, William J. Nowak, Reiner Eschbach
  • Patent number: 8485517
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for feeding sheets of media from a media stack in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include fluffing a stack of media with a predetermined amount of air flow, sensing a number of fluffed media sheets in the media stack, determining if the number of fluffed media sheets equals or exceeds a predetermined value, wherein if it is determined that the number of fluffed media sheets equals or exceeds the predetermined value, feeding the fluffed media sheets to an image production section of the image production device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Alan Clark, Zhigang Fan
  • Patent number: 7913995
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-contact measurement of a media stack in an image production device is disclosed that may include detecting the position of an unfluffed media stack, setting a desired media stack height by changing a media elevator position using a media elevator control unit based on the detected unfluffed media stack position, determining if printing and fluffing has started, wherein if it is determined that printing and fluffing has started, detecting the position of the transition between the fluffed and unfluffed portions of the media stack using the one or more sensors, determining if the position of the transition between the fluffed and unfluffed portions of the media stack is below a predetermined threshold, wherein if it is determined that the position of the transition between the fluffed and unfluffed portions of the media stack is below the predetermined threshold, setting the desired media stack height by changing the media elevator position based on the detected position of the tr
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Alan Clark, Kenneth Paul Moore
  • Publication number: 20100298971
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for feeding sheets of media from a media stack in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include fluffing a stack of media with a predetermined amount of air flow, sensing a number of fluffed media sheets in the media stack, determining if the number of fluffed media sheets equals or exceeds a predetermined value, wherein if it is determined that the number of fluffed media sheets equals or exceeds the predetermined value, feeding the fluffed media sheets to an image production section of the image production device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Alan Clark, Zhigang Fan
  • Publication number: 20100289209
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-contact measurement of a media stack in an image production device is disclosed that may include detecting the position of an unfluffed media stack, setting a desired media stack height by changing a media elevator position using a media elevator control unit based on the detected unfluffed media stack position, determining if printing and fluffing has started, wherein if it is determined that printing and fluffing has started, detecting the position of the transition between the fluffed and unfluffed portions of the media stack using the one or more sensors, determining if the position of the transition between the fluffed and unfluffed portions of the media stack is below a predetermined threshold, wherein if it is determined that the position of the transition between the fluffed and unfluffed portions of the media stack is below the predetermined threshold, setting the desired media stack height by changing the media elevator position based on the detected position of the tr
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Alan CLARK, Kenneth Paul MOORE
  • Patent number: 7770884
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for fluff management in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include fluffing a stack of media with a predetermined amount of air flow, sensing sheet separation in the media stack, determining if the sheet separation meets predetermined criteria, wherein if the sheet separation does not meet the predetermined criteria, adjusting the air flow used for fluffing the media stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Alan Clark, Lloyd Williams
  • Publication number: 20100158593
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for fluffer environmental control in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include determining a media type to be used for processing a print job, determining a target relative humidity for the determined media type, measuring an ambient temperature and relative humidity, determining whether air blown from a media stack fluffer needs to be heated based on the determined target relative humidity and the measured ambient temperature and relative humidity, wherein if it is determined that the fluffer air needs to be heated, heating the fluffer air to reach target relative humidity, and processing the print job.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Robert Alan CLARK
  • Publication number: 20100032892
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for fluff management in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include fluffing a stack of media with a predetermined amount of air flow, sensing sheet separation in the media stack, determining if the sheet separation meets predetermined criteria, wherein if the sheet separation does not meet the predetermined criteria, adjusting the air flow used for fluffing the media stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Alan CLARK, Lloyd Williams
  • Patent number: 7588245
    Abstract: A retard feeder adapted to separate and advance media sheets comprising a media sheet advancing device including a drive roll and a retard roll. The drive roll and the retard roll include a feed nip therebetween for driving the media sheets at a velocity. A first drive system is provided to selectively drive the drive roll and the at least one nudger roll in a forward direction. A second drive system drives the retard roll through a slip clutch having a torque wherein the slip clutch torque allows the retard roll to rotate at substantially the same velocity as the drive roll when only one sheet is in the feed nip. The retard feeder further includes a motion sensor for detecting a signal when the retard roll stops rotating at the velocity of the drive roll corresponding to when more than one sheet is in the feed nip. The second drive system can selectively vary the velocity of the retard roll in response to the signal from the retard roll motion sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Barry P. Mandel, Robert Alan Clark