Patents by Inventor Roger M. Swanson

Roger M. Swanson 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: 5533720
    Abstract: An apparatus for advancing a sheet in a predetermined path is described. The apparatus includes a gripper for releasably grasping a lead edge of the sheet and a baffle for feeding the sheet into the gripper. The baffle includes a sheet directing member having a first facet and a second facet, with the second facet of the sheet directing member extending from the first facet and being angled towards the predetermined path of the sheet for deflecting the lead edge of the sheet being advanced into the gripper. One, two or more such two faceted sheet directing members may be coupled with one or more three faceted sheet directing members for further enhancing the sheet deflecting capabilities of the baffle. The baffle may be movable relative to the sheet path, and include a control member for moving the baffle between a first position engaging the lead edge of the sheet in the first position and second position in which the baffle is displaced from the path of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: David K. Ahl, Roger M. Swanson, James D. Apolito, Walter F. Wafler
  • Patent number: 5393047
    Abstract: An apparatus for gripping the leading edge portion of a sheet includes a first gripping member which substantially spans the leading edge portion of the sheet. The apparatus further includes a spring having a portion thereof defining a second gripping member which substantially spans the leading edge portion of the sheet, the second gripping member being urged toward the first gripping member to grip the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: David K Ahl, Eric A. Merz, Timothy G. Struczewski, Roger M. Swanson, George F. Rittberg
  • Patent number: 5211392
    Abstract: An apparatus is described for releasably gripping a sheet and advancing the sheet through a transfer zone and into registration with information developed on a moving member. The apparatus includes a first gripping member and a second gripping member adapted to be moved relative to the first gripping member. The apparatus further includes a mechanism for applying a force on the second gripping member to urge the second gripping member towards the first gripping member to grip the sheet. Moreover, the apparatus includes a mechanism for advancing the first gripping member and the second gripping member through the transfer zone. The apparatus additionally includes a mechanism for moving the second gripping member relative to the first gripping member to acquire or release the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Roger M. Swanson, Scott C. Durland, James R. Cassano, David T. Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 5201854
    Abstract: An apparatus for effecting electrical connection between the main machine and a module containing the apparatus for advancing a sheet through the transfer zone and to registration for information developed on the photoreceptor belt. The connector on the main machine is mounted to permit engagement with a complementary connector on the module, but provide for movement when the module is raised slightly to contact the photoreceptor module. The apparatus minimizes which otherwise would inhibit this upward movement and detract from proper operation of the machine and the quality of the copy produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: David K. Ahl, Roger M. Swanson, Timothy G. Struczewski, James C. Fox, Roy Lee, Michael Terietzki, Gary R. Skillman, Ross E. Schroll
  • Patent number: 5201516
    Abstract: An apparatus for gripping a sheet includes a first gripping member and a second gripping member. The second gripping member includes a base which is movable relative to the first gripping member. The second gripping member further includes a plate which is secured to the base, the plate being adapted to cooperate with the first gripping member to grip the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Abraham Cherian, Roger M. Swanson, Eric A. Merz
  • Patent number: 5169141
    Abstract: A registration transport and transfer module is located in a retractable drawer having a camshaft actuated by a lever. Rotation of the lever turns the cam which cooperates with a mounting to enable the transfer module to be lowered beneath a photoconductive belt. The drawer may then be pulled away from the machine and the transfer module pivoted about a point so as to expose portions of the copy sheet path for jam clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: David K. Ahl, Timothy G. Struczewski, Scott A. Reese, James R. Cassano, Roger M. Swanson, Scott C. Durland, Roman C. Kanola, Richard M. Dastin, Daniel R. Shavers, John H. Dearlove, Arthur J. Sobon, Miguel O. Martinez, Ashok T. Patel
  • Patent number: 5151745
    Abstract: An apparatus for advancing a sheet in a predetermined path is described. The apparatus includes a mechanism for advancing the sheet in the path. The apparatus further includes a first mechanism for controlling movement of the sheet while it is being advanced in the path, the first controlling mechanism being in contact with the sheet in a first mode of operation and being spaced apart from the sheet in a second mode of operation. Moreover, the apparatus includes a second mechanism for controlling movement of the sheet while it is being advanced in the path, the second controlling mechanism being in contact with the sheet in a first mode of operation and being spaced apart from the sheet in a second mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1992
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Scott C. Durland, James R. Cassano, Richard M. Dastin, Roger M. Swanson
  • Patent number: 5150163
    Abstract: A sheet transport system having a sheet release mechanism to effect release of a sheet from the sheet transport system at a point near the end of the transfer process. The sheet release mechanism includes a member positionable at a first fixed position spaced apart from the path of the sheet and a second fixed position within the path of the sheet. The sheet release mechanism is located on the side of the sheet opposite the side to which the toner image is transferred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Scott C. Durland, James R. Cassano, Richard M. Dastin, Dan F. Lockwood, Roger M. Swanson, Robert J. Tanniscoli
  • Patent number: 5136336
    Abstract: An apparatus is described which advances a sheet in a predetermined path through a transfer zone and into registration with information developed on a moving member. The apparatus charges the sheet to transfer the information from the moving member to the sheet. The apparatus includes a mechanism to maintain the charge on the sheet during advancement thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1992
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Richard M. Dastin, John E. Kosko, Roger M. Swanson
  • Patent number: 5016171
    Abstract: Customer billing system for electrostatographic reproducing machines in which a replaceable copy cartridge provides a guaranteed number of copies or prints, each cartridge having an integral copy counter which, on reaching a predetermined copy count, is disabled, rendering the cartridge dead and activating an additional copy counting mechanism for counting a limited number of grace copies that can be made using the dead cartridge, after which further operation of the machine is prevented until a new cartridge is installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas P. Connolly, Barry G. Rickett, Robert J. Yax, Roger M. Swanson