Patents by Inventor Steven J. Dietl

Steven J. Dietl 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: 8517514
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes a printhead die including an array of nozzles disposed along a nozzle array direction on a first surface, and an ink feed opening disposed on a second surface opposite the first surface, the ink feed opening being fluidically connected to the array of nozzles; a printhead chassis including an ink inlet port; a manifold affixed to the printhead chassis, the manifold including an ink outlet and an ink path that is fluidically connected to the ink outlet and to the ink inlet port of the printhead chassis; and a gasket that provides a fluidic seal between the ink outlet of the manifold and the ink feed opening of the printhead die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Steven J. Dietl
  • Patent number: 8485637
    Abstract: A carriage for conveying an inkjet printhead in a printer, the carriage including a holding receptacle for the inkjet printhead, the holding receptacle includes a first sidewall; a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall; and a bottom wall extending between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, the bottom wall including a frame surrounding an opening, wherein the frame is configured to be sealingly engageable with a face of the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Steven J. Dietl
  • Publication number: 20120210580
    Abstract: A method of assembling an inkjet printhead, the method includes providing a printhead die including an array of nozzles on a first surface and an ink feed opening disposed on a second surface opposite the first surface, the ink feed opening being fluidically connected to the array of nozzles; positioning the printhead die adjacent to a flexible printed wiring member; making electrical interconnections between the printhead die and the flexible printed wiring member; overmolding a support structure in contact with the printhead die, the electrical interconnections and a die interconnect portion of the flexible printed wiring member; providing a manifold including an ink outlet and an ink path that is fluidically connected to the ink outlet; and providing a fluidic seal between the ink outlet of the manifold and the ink feed opening of the printhead die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventor: Steven J. Dietl
  • Publication number: 20120212540
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes a printhead die including an array of nozzles disposed along a nozzle array direction on a first surface, and an ink feed opening disposed on a second surface opposite the first surface, the ink feed opening being fluidically connected to the array of nozzles; a printhead chassis including an ink inlet port; a manifold affixed to the printhead chassis, the manifold including an ink outlet and an ink path that is fluidically connected to the ink outlet and to the ink inlet port of the printhead chassis; and a gasket that provides a fluidic seal between the ink outlet of the manifold and the ink feed opening of the printhead die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventor: Steven J. Dietl
  • Patent number: 8246141
    Abstract: A marking assembly includes a substrate and a marking device. The substrate includes a first portion made from a first material including a plurality of alignment features, and a second portion made from a second material affixed to the first portion of the substrate. The marking device is affixed to the second portion of the substrate and aligned to the alignment features of the first portion of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Dwight J. Petruchik, Mario J. Ciminelli, James E. Vianco, Eric A. Merz, Steven J. Dietl, Steven L. Moore
  • Publication number: 20120194612
    Abstract: A carriage for conveying an inkjet printhead in a printer, the carriage including a holding receptacle for the inkjet printhead, the holding receptacle includes a first sidewall; a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall; and a bottom wall extending between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, the bottom wall including a frame surrounding an opening, wherein the frame is configured to be sealingly engageable with a face of the printhead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventor: Steven J. Dietl
  • Patent number: 8029117
    Abstract: A method for filling an ink tank to one of several selectable ink fill volumes, by providing an ink tank including an ink reservoir having a maximum fill volume V and selecting an ink fill volume Vi to store in the ink reservoir. One subsequently determines a quantity of pellets to add to the ink reservoir, wherein the total pellet volume Vp>(V?Vi?2) cubic centimeters. Upon adding the determined quantity of pellets to the ink reservoir, the ink reservoir is sealed with a lid. Whereupon, ink, in the amount Vi, is added to the ink reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Steven J. Dietl, Brian G. Price
  • Publication number: 20100149287
    Abstract: A method for filling an ink tank to one of several selectable ink fill volumes, by providing an ink tank including an ink reservoir having a maximum fill volume V and selecting an ink fill volume Vi to store in the ink reservoir. One subsequently determines a quantity of pellets to add to the ink reservoir, wherein the total pellet volume Vp>(V?Vi?2) cubic centimeters. Upon adding the determined quantity of pellets to the ink reservoir, the ink reservoir is sealed with a lid. Whereupon, ink, in the amount Vi, is added to the ink reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: Steven J. Dietl, Brian G. Price
  • Publication number: 20080149024
    Abstract: A marking assembly includes a substrate and a marking device. The substrate includes a first portion made from a first material including a plurality of alignment features, and a second portion made from a second material affixed to the first portion of the substrate. The marking device is affixed to the second portion of the substrate and aligned to the alignment features of the first portion of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Dwight J. Petruchik, Mario J. Ciminelli, James E. Vianco, Eric A. Merz, Steven J. Dietl, Steven L. Moore
  • Patent number: 7350902
    Abstract: A fluid ejection device and a printhead including one or more such fluid ejection devices are provided. The fluid ejection device includes a substrate having a first nozzle array and a second nozzle array, each array having a plurality of nozzles and being arranged along a first direction, the first nozzle array being arranged spaced apart in a second direction from the second nozzle array. A first fluid delivery pathway is in fluid communication with the first nozzle array, and a second fluid delivery pathway is in fluid communication with the second nozzle array. Nozzles of the first nozzle array have a first opening area and are arranged along the first nozzle array at a pitch P. Nozzles of the second nozzle array have a second opening area, the second opening area being less than the first opening area. At least one nozzle of the second array is arranged offset in the first direction from at least one nozzle of the first array by a distance which is less than pitch P.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Steven J. Dietl, Steven A. Billow, William E. Bland, James M. Chwalek
  • Patent number: 6908180
    Abstract: An ink delivery apparatus for an inkjet printhead, comprising an ink reservoir for delivering some ink at a slight negative pressure to a printhead, and a pressure regulator and ink replenishment mechanism that maintains substantially constant negative pressure in the reservoir when some ink in the reservoir is delivered to the printhead and in response to the ink delivery replenishes some ink to the reservoir from an ink supply source, is characterized in that: the pressure regulator and ink replenishment mechanism includes a pressure regulator member that air-tightly covers an opening in the reservoir and is compliant to maintain substantially constant negative pressure in the reservoir, and a replenishment activator connected to the pressure regulator member outside the reservoir to avoid being exposed to the ink and which initiates ink replenishment to the reservoir when some ink in the reservoir is delivered to the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Steven J. Dietl
  • Patent number: 6789874
    Abstract: A method of cleaning spaced nozzles in a printhead of a drop-on-demand inkjet printer in which a slight negative pressure is desired in an ink reservoir in order to prevent ink drool from the nozzles, comprises: deforming a compliant pressure regulator membrane that covers an opening in an ink reservoir, inwardly at the opening, to decrease the ink holding volume of the reservoir; deforming a compliant valve membrane that covers an opening in the ink reservoir and caps an ink conduit projecting into the reservoir, outwardly at the opening and away from the ink conduit, to uncap the ink conduit in order that the ink conduit can provide ink delivery at a positive pressure into the reservoir and out through the nozzles to clean the nozzles; returning the compliant valve membrane inwardly towards the ink conduit to recap the ink conduit in order to terminate ink delivery into the reservoir; and returning the compliant pressure regulator membrane outwardly to increase the ink holding volume of the reservoir in ord
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Steven J. Dietl
  • Publication number: 20040169696
    Abstract: A method of cleaning spaced nozzles in a printhead of a drop-on-demand inkjet printer in which a slight negative pressure is desired in an ink reservoir in order to prevent ink drool from the nozzles, comprises: deforming a compliant pressure regulator membrane that covers an opening in an ink reservoir, inwardly at the opening, to decrease the ink holding volume of the reservoir; deforming a compliant valve membrane that covers an opening in the ink reservoir and caps an ink conduit projecting into the reservoir, outwardly at the opening and away from the ink conduit, to uncap the ink conduit in order that the ink conduit can provide ink delivery at a positive pressure into the reservoir and out through the nozzles to clean the nozzles; returning the compliant valve membrane inwardly towards the ink conduit to recap the ink conduit in order to terminate ink delivery into the reservoir; and returning the compliant pressure regulator membrane outwardly to increase the ink holding volume of the reservoir in ord
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Steven J. Dietl
  • Publication number: 20040165039
    Abstract: An ink delivery apparatus for an inkjet printhead, comprising an ink reservoir for delivering some ink at a slight negative pressure to a printhead, and a pressure regulator and ink replenishment mechanism that maintains substantially constant negative pressure in the reservoir when some ink in the reservoir is delivered to the printhead and in response to the ink delivery replenishes some ink to the reservoir from an ink supply source, is characterized in that: the pressure regulator and ink replenishment mechanism includes a pressure regulator member that air-tightly covers an opening in the reservoir and is compliant to maintain substantially constant negative pressure in the reservoir, and a replenishment activator connected to the pressure regulator member outside the reservoir to avoid being exposed to the ink and which initiates ink replenishment to the reservoir when some ink in the reservoir is delivered to the printhead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Steven J. Dietl
  • Patent number: 6715864
    Abstract: A fitting is attached to a disposable ink supply bag and has an ink egress snout for discharging an ink supply from the bag. The fitting is configured to engage with a housing for the bag to permit the bag to be connected to the housing when the ink supply is to be discharged from the snout and to disengage from the housing to permit the bag to be disconnected from the housing in order to dispose of the bag when emptied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Mark D. Perkins, Kenneth D. Corby, Steven J. Dietl, Diana C. Petranek
  • Patent number: 6709093
    Abstract: An ink cartridge includes an ink supply bag, a fitting attached to the bag and including an integral ink egress snout, and a pair of housing halves that contain the bag and at respective wall portions have opening halves that form a bottom opening for the snout when the housing halves are connected together. The fitting and only one of the wall portions each have mutually engageable members that engage to connect the fitting and the one wall portion to secure the bag within the housing half that includes the one wall portion. The housing half that includes another of the wall portions has stakes that are adhered to the engageable members of the fitting and/or the engageable members of the housing half that includes the one wall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Mark D. Perkins, Kenneth D. Corby, Steven J. Dietl, Diana C. Petranek
  • Publication number: 20040027431
    Abstract: An ink cartridge comprises an ink supply bag, a fitting attached to the bag and including an integral ink egress snout, and a pair of housing halves that contain the bag and at respective wall portions have opening halves that form a bottom opening for the snout when the housing halves are connected together. The fitting and only one of the wall portions each have mutually engageable members that engage to connect the fitting and the one wall portion to secure the bag within the housing half that includes the one wall portion. The housing half that includes another of the wall portions has stakes that are adhered to the engageable members of the fitting and/or the engageable members of the housing half that includes the one wall portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Mark D. Perkins, Kenneth D. Corby, Steven J. Dietl, Diana C. Petranek
  • Publication number: 20040012658
    Abstract: A fitting is attached to a disposable ink supply bag and has an ink egress snout for discharging an ink supply from the bag. The fitting is configured to engage with a housing for the bag to permit the bag to be connected to the housing when the ink supply is to be discharged from the snout and to disengage from the housing to permit the bag to be disconnected from the housing in order to dispose of the bag when emptied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Mark D. Perkins, Kenneth D. Corby, Steven J. Dietl, Diana C. Petranek
  • Publication number: 20040012660
    Abstract: An ink cartridge comprising an ink supply bag, a housing for the bag, and a fitting attached to the bag and which has an ink egress snout for discharging an ink supply from the bag. The housing and the fitting are mutually configured to permit the bag to be connected to the housing when an ink supply is to be discharged from the snout and to be disconnected from the housing in order to dispose of the bag when emptied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Mark D. Perkins, Kenneth D. Corby, Steven J. Dietl, Diana C. Petranek
  • Patent number: 6669336
    Abstract: An ink jet printhead has an upper substrate containing a reservoir with ink inlet and a lower substrate having a linear array of droplet generating elements and addressing electrodes thereon. At least two layers of polymeric material are serially deposited and patterned over the droplet generating elements and addressing electrodes prior to mating the two substrates. The patterned polymeric layers define an elongated opening containing an array of posts therein and a plurality of channels, each channel containing a droplet generating element. One end of the channels is open to serve as nozzles and the other end is in communication with the elongated opening with the array of posts. After the two substrates are aligned and mated, the reservoir is in communication with the elongated opening, so that the ink from the reservoir is filtered prior to entering the channels by passing between and over the posts in the elongated opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Gary A. Kneezel, Andrew S. Yeh, Steven J. Dietl, Darron D. Lockett