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: 6604818
    Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus and method for ink jet printing is described. The apparatus includes an ink reservoir for containing a water based ink and a moisture barrier positioned between the ink in the ink reservoir and ambient air. The moisture barrier is formed of microencapsulated water beads adapted to provide a sustained release of the water into ambient air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Bernard Leibman, Steven J. Dietl
  • Publication number: 20030128259
    Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus and method for ink jet printing is described. The apparatus includes an ink reservoir for containing a water based ink and a moisture barrier positioned between the ink in the ink reservoir and ambient air. The moisture barrier is formed of microencapsulated water beads adapted to provide a sustained release of the water into ambient air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventors: Bernard Leibman, Steven J. Dietl
  • Patent number: 6585360
    Abstract: An ink tank, having an ink reservoir separated from an ink supply chamber which contains at least one foam element, is provided with one or more pipes in the partition which separates the ink reservoir from the ink supply chamber. The pipes transport ink from the ink reservoir to a portion of the ink supply chamber which does not contain the at least one foam element. This results in both minimizing leakage from the ink tank when the ink tank's protective seal is removed prior to inserting the ink tank into a print engine, and in more predictable ink supply pressure and accuracy from the ink tank to a print device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Steven J. Dietl
  • Publication number: 20030043225
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for priming a printhead. The method includes the steps of bringing a vacuum pump up to a predetermined speed and sealingly engaging a printhead with a capping mechanism after the pump reaches the predetermined speed. The pump is connected to the capping mechanism through a tube with a suitable volume. After a period of time long enough to prime the printhead, the capping mechanism is disengaged from the printhead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: David Cipolla, Charles T. Facchini, Steven J. Dietl, Stephen A. Smith
  • Patent number: 6523931
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for priming a printhead. The method includes the steps of bringing a vacuum pump up to a predetermined speed and sealingly engaging a printhead with a capping mechanism after the pump reaches the predetermined speed. The pump is connected to the capping mechanism through a tube with a suitable volume. After a period of time long enough to prime the printhead, the capping mechanism is disengaged from the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: David Cipolla, Charles T. Facchini, II, Steven J. Dietl, Stephen A. Smith
  • Publication number: 20030035019
    Abstract: A combination wiper actuator and spittoon assembly, which includes a service station for a printhead having a body and a spittoon assembly connected to the body. The spittoon assembly includes a spittoon having a receptacle. An elevation device is used to elevate the spittoon assembly with respect to the rest of the service station and a latch is used to maintain the spittoon assembly in an elevated position. Finally, a wiper is supported by the spittoon assembly and is used to wipe the printhead when the spittoon assembly is in an elevated position. A latch release tab is also disclosed. Also disclosed is a spring connecting the spittoon assembly to a wall of the service station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2001
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Dietl, David Cipolla
  • Patent number: 6517187
    Abstract: A positionable wiper blade is positioned by a translatable carriage contact and clean a printhead nozzle face. The carriage translates a removable ink tank support structure with an attached ink jet printhead from a printing location to a non-printing location where the positionable wiper blade is located. A replaceable ink supply tank is installed on the support structure and replaced when the ink is depleted. The wiper blade is moved into wiping position by movement of the carriage and when the carriage is translated away from the non-printing location towards the printing location, the wiper blade cleans the printhead nozzle face and flicks the ink removed from the nozzle face into a backstop receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Dietl, David Cipolla, Michael S. Defilippis
  • Patent number: 6491368
    Abstract: A priming system for selectively priming one of the two printheads of a multicolor ink jet printer. When one of the printheads require periodic priming, the printheads are transported to the printer's maintenance station where individual caps are moved to cover the nozzle faces of the printheads. The priming system has two individual peristaltic pumps, each one of which is connected to a respective one of the caps. The two peristaltic pumps have a single mechanical input to drive selectively one of the pumps and not the other by a positionable swing gear. Each one of the pumps is adapted to prime only one of the printheads. The swing gear engages the drive gear of one pump when the direction of rotation of the input is clockwise and the swing gear engages the drive gear of the other pump when the direction of rotation of the input is counterclockwise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: David Cipolla, Steven J. Dietl
  • Patent number: 6491371
    Abstract: An improved ink blotter method system usable in a maintenance station of an ink jet printer including wiper blades positioned to clean the printheads and an assembly of absorbent materials to clean the wiper blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Richard H. Berg, Christopher A. O'Dell, Steven J. Dietl
  • Patent number: 6478398
    Abstract: When a thermoplastic spacer is applied to a glass pane in the production of insulating glass panes, the nozzle from which the plastic with the desired cross sectional shape is extruded along the edge of the glass pane. The speed with which the plastic is applied along the edge of the glass pane is chosen depending on the temperature of the plastic. Here, for a stipulated temperature setpoint the speed with which the plastic is applied along the edge of the glass pane is stipulated. If the temperature increases, the speed is increased; conversely, when the temperature drops below the setpoint, the speed with which the plastic is applied along the edge of the glass pane is reduced. This ensures that the correct amount of thermoplastic is always extruded onto the glass pane and a spacer with a uniform cross section is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Dietl, Eduardo M. Freire
  • Patent number: 6460962
    Abstract: A printhead cartridge identification system is disclosed which ensures that an ink jet printer operates only with ink jet cartridges compatible with the specific printer function. An ink container which supplies ink to an associated printhead has a light reflector incorporated into a transparent wall of the ink container housing. The cartridge, comprising the ink container and associated printhead, is mounted on a scan carriage. Periodically, the carriage is conveyed to an optical station comprising a light source and a photosensor. The light source is energized and a beam of light is directed towards the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Dietl, Dennis M. Lengyel, Donald M. Stevens, Vincent J. Ouellette, Vladimir M. Kupchik
  • Patent number: 6447109
    Abstract: A fluid cartridge, such as a cartridge for filling with ink for use in ink jet printhead includes a wick chamber that has outer walls, and forms a wick chamber and a fluid chamber. The outer walls of the fluid chamber are formed to provide no fluid communication with the fluid chamber except through the wick chamber. The ink fluid cartridge is filled by evacuating gas from the ink chamber and from the wick chamber, and then supplying ink into the wick chamber until the ink substantially saturates the wick material, and flows into the ink chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Holly M. Williamson, Dennis M. Lengyel, Steven J. Dietl, Hiep H. Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20020089577
    Abstract: An ink jet printer for recording graphic and photo quality images is provided and includes a frame; a recording medium handling assembly mounted to the frame; and printing assembly including supplies of black, magenta, cyan and yellow liquid inks, and a printhead assembly mounted to the frame. The printhead assembly consists of (i) a first printhead including nozzles each having a first uniform size for recording high quality graphic images on a recording medium, and (ii) a second printhead including a printhead segment for each of the black, magenta, cyan and yellow liquid inks, and each printhead segment including a first set of nozzles having the first uniform size and a second set of nozzles having a second and different size, relative to the first uniform size, for recording photo quality images on the recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Dietl, Eduardo M. Freire
  • Patent number: 6409302
    Abstract: A low ink sensing system is combined with an ink cartridge detection system to enable a more efficient ink jet printer. An ink container which supplies ink to an associated printhead is modified by the incorporation of two light directing elements, in the preferred embodiment, a faceted prism and a roof mirror, into a transparent wall of the container housing. The cartridge, comprising the ink container and associated printhead, is mounted on a scan carriage. Periodically, the carriage is conveyed to a sensing station comprising a pair of light sources and a commonly used photosensor. A first light source is energized and a beam of light is directed to a location where the roof mirror, would be positioned if the cartridge is present. If the cartridge is absent, lack of a reflected return signal is sensed, indicating a cartridge has not been inserted. Print operation is halted until a cartridge is inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Altfather, Michael Carlotta, Steven J. Dietl, Donald M. Stevens, Fred F. Hubble, III
  • Publication number: 20020063760
    Abstract: A system is provided for identifying an ink cartridge. The system includes an a printer having a main body. An ink cartridge is provided which includes radio frequency identification structure having an integrated circuit and antenna structure. A sensing structure is attached to the main body of the printer. The sensing structure is constructed and arranged to transmit a powering signal. The radio frequency identification structure is constructed and arranged to (1) receive the powering signal and to convert the powering signal to a voltage to power the integrated circuit and (2) transmit a radio frequency digital signal which identifies at least one characteristic of the ink cartridge for receipt by the sensing structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventors: Steven J. Dietl, Frederick A. Donahue
  • Publication number: 20010035887
    Abstract: A low ink sensing system is combined with an ink cartridge detection system to enable a more efficient ink jet printer. An ink container which supplies ink to an associated printhead is modified by the incorporation of two light directing elements, in the preferred embodiment, a faceted prism and a roof mirror, into a transparent wall of the container housing. The cartridge, comprising the ink container and associated printhead, is mounted on a scan carriage. Periodically, the carriage is conveyed to a sensing station comprising a pair of light sources and a commonly used photosensor. A first light source is energized and a beam of light is directed to a location where the roof mirror, would be positioned if the cartridge is present. If the cartridge is absent, lack of a reflected return signal is sensed, indicating a cartridge has not been inserted. Print operation is halted until a cartridge is inserted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Publication date: November 1, 2001
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Altfather, Michael Carlotta, Steven J. Dietl, Donald M. Stevens, Fred F. Hubble
  • Patent number: 6264319
    Abstract: A pressure change accommodating liquid ink container is provided for installing onto the printhead of a liquid ink recording apparatus for supplying liquid ink to the printhead. The pressure change accommodating liquid ink container includes external walls, including a front wall and a top wall, defining a holding chamber for containing liquid ink; a pressure release hole formed through the top wall into the holding chamber; and a pressure compensator device mounted to the top wall over the pressure release hole and including an auxiliary chamber for accommodating a change in an internal pressure of the holding chamber when filled with liquid ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Altfather, Steven J. Dietl
  • Patent number: 6234603
    Abstract: A low ink sensing system is combined with an ink cartridge detection system to enable a more efficient ink jet printer. An ink container which supplies ink to an associated printhead is modified by the incorporation of two light directing elements, in the preferred embodiment, a faceted prism and a roof mirror, into a transparent wall of the container housing. The cartridge, comprising the ink container and associated printhead, is mounted on a scan carriage. Periodically, the carriage is conveyed to a sensing station comprising a pair of light sources and a commonly used photosensor. A first light source is energized and a beam of light is directed to a location where the roof mirror, would be positioned if the cartridge is present. If the cartridge is absent, lack of a reflected return signal is sensed, indicating a cartridge has not been inserted. Print operation is halted until a cartridge is inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Altfather, Michael Carlotta, Steven J. Dietl, Donald M. Stevens, Fred F. Hubble, III
  • Patent number: 5997121
    Abstract: A low ink sensing system is combined with an ink cartridge detection system to enable a more efficient ink jet printer. An ink container which supplies ink to an associated printhead is modified by the incorporation of two light directing elements, in the preferred embodiment, a faceted prism and a roof mirror, into a transparent wall of the container housing. The cartridge, comprising the ink container and associated printhead, is mounted on a scan carriage. Periodically, the carriage is conveyed to a sensing station comprising a pair of light sources and a commonly used photosensor. A first light source is energized and a beam of light is directed to a location where the roof mirror, would be positioned if the cartridge is present. If the cartridge is absent, lack of a reflected return signal is sensed, indicating a cartridge has not been inserted. Print operation is halted until a cartridge is inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Altfather, Michael Carlotta, Steven J. Dietl, Donald M. Stevens, Fred F. Hubble, III
  • Patent number: D425110
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Dietl, Roger W. Ellender, Dennis M. Lengyel