Patents by Inventor Rory A. Heim

Rory A. Heim 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: 6789883
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an inkjet printing system configured for receiving a replaceable ink container. The replaceable ink container has an ink extraction characteristic that varies with ink level in the replaceable ink container. The inkjet printing system includes an ink level determining device for determining ink level within the replaceable ink container. Also included is a control device for selecting a print mode based on ink extraction characteristics of the replaceable ink container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Rory A. Heim, David R. Otis, Jr., David Olsen
  • Patent number: 6607262
    Abstract: An inkjet printing system and method that enables printing to continue after an ink supply has been depleted without damaging the printhead associated with the depleted ink supply. The method detects whether less than a predetermined reserve amount of ink remains in a depleted ink supply and, if so, then ink drops will be ejected from that depleted ink supply only during servicing operations. Since ink drops from non-depleted ink supplies will still be ejected during both printing operations and servicing operations, printing can continue, though possibly with reduced image quality. This is particularly advantageous in printing systems that include fax capability, since fax messages that cannot be printed may be lost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Ronald G. Paul, Rory A. Heim
  • Publication number: 20020191042
    Abstract: An inkjet printing system and method that enables printing to continue after an ink supply has been depleted without damaging the printhead associated with the depleted ink supply. The method detects whether less than a predetermined reserve amount of ink remains in a depleted ink supply and, if so, then ink drops will be ejected from that depleted ink supply only during servicing operations. Since ink drops from non-depleted ink supplies will still be ejected during both printing operations and servicing operations, printing can continue, though possibly with reduced image quality. This is particularly advantageous in printing systems that include fax capability, since fax messages that cannot be printed may be lost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventors: Ronald G. Paul, Rory A. Heim
  • Publication number: 20020167572
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an inkjet printing system configured for receiving a replaceable ink container. The replaceable ink container has an ink extraction characteristic that varies with ink level in the replaceable ink container. The inkjet printing system includes an ink level determining device for determining ink level within the replaceable ink container. Also included is a control device for selecting a print mode based on ink extraction characteristics of the replaceable ink container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Inventors: Rory A. Heim, David R. Otis, David Olsen
  • Patent number: 6454381
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a replaceable ink container for providing ink to an inkjet printing system. The inkjet printing system has a plurality of print modes with each print mode having an ink usage rate associated therewith. The replaceable ink container includes an information storage device containing print mode control information. The installation of the replaceable ink container into the inkjet printing system allows the print mode control information to be provided to the inkjet printing system. This print mode control information is used by the printing system for selecting a print mode from the plurality of print modes based on available ink within the replaceable ink container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: David Olsen, Rory A. Heim, David R. Otis, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6452618
    Abstract: An inkjet printer uses a printhead that passes repeatedly across a print medium in individual swaths. The printhead has individual nozzles that are fired repeatedly during each printhead swath to apply an ink pattern to the print medium. Before any given swath, the printer analyzes factors that might require a reduction in print density. Anticipated printhead temperature is one factor that might require a reduction in print density. The printer monitors the print density and a printhead temperature during each printhead swath. It then uses these values to calculate, prior to each new swath, a maximum permissible print density. If a reduction in print density is indicated, the printer temporarily reduces the printhead velocity relative to the page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Rory A. Heim
  • Patent number: 6431673
    Abstract: The gauging method generally follows a drop count approach to ink level gauging while making more precise the relationship between the expelled-drop count and the weight of ink actually expelled, thereby to provide more accurate ink level gauging. The printhead temperature is monitored as each swath of an image is printed. Moreover, temperature variations that occur within each swath are noted so that the corresponding intra-swath variations in drop weight are factored into the calculation of a net ink drop weight that more closely approximates the drop weight actually ejected. The method also factors in the effect that printing frequency has on drop weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Rory A. Heim, Steven T. Castle
  • Patent number: 6145959
    Abstract: An inkjet printer uses a printhead that passes repeatedly across a print medium in individual swaths. The printhead has individual nozzles that are fired repeatedly during each printhead swath to apply an ink pattern to the print medium. Before any given swath, the printer analyzes factors that might require a reduction in print density. Anticipated printhead temperature is one factor that might require a reduction in print density. The printer monitors the print density and peak printhead temperature during each printhead swath. It then uses these values to calculate, prior to each new swath, a maximum permissible print density. If a reduction in print density is required, the printer temporarily disables selected nozzles to produce a reduced-height swath rather than pausing between swaths or reducing the printhead velocity relative to the page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Mark D. Lund, Rory A. Heim, Steven T. Castle