Patents by Inventor Steven J. Fiore

Steven J. Fiore 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: 8231489
    Abstract: A guide useful to install or remove a belt from a belt module is shown. This guide is made up of an elongated structure with a center aperture over which an endless belt is initially draped during installation. Once rotably attached to a belt module, the guide is moved downwardly to form a belt form over a top of the top drive rollers. A tube is attached to a bottom drive roller to help transfer the belt to the bottom drive roller and form the belt around the entire module. Once the belt is slidably positioned adjacent each drive roller, the belt is transferred from the guide and tube to the drive rollers for final installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J Fiore, Brian J Perry
  • Patent number: 8216100
    Abstract: A guide useful to install or remove a belt from a belt module is shown. This guide is made up of two pivotable wings over which an endless belt is initially draped. Once pivotly attached to a belt module, the guide wings are moved away from each other to form a belt form over a top of the top drive rollers. A tube is attached to a bottom drive roller to help transfer the belt to the bottom drive roller. Once the belt is slidably positioned adjacent each drive roller, the belt is transferred from the guide and tube to the drive rollers for final installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J Fiore, Brian J Perry
  • Publication number: 20090239695
    Abstract: A guide useful to install or remove a belt from a belt module is shown. This guide is made up of two pivotable wings over which an endless belt is initially draped. Once pivotly attached to a belt module, the guide wings are moved away from each other to form a belt form over a top of the top drive rollers. A tube is attached to a bottom drive roller to help transfer the belt to the bottom drive roller. Once the belt is slidably positioned adjacent each drive roller, the belt is transferred from the guide and tube to the drive rollers for final installation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven J. Fiore, Brian J. Perry
  • Publication number: 20090239694
    Abstract: A guide useful to install or remove a belt from a belt module is shown. This guide is made up of an elongated structure with a center aperture over which an endless belt is initially draped during installation. Once rotably attached to a belt module, the guide is moved downwardly to form a belt form over a top of the top drive rollers. A tube is attached to a bottom drive roller to help transfer the belt to the bottom drive roller and form the belt around the entire module. Once the belt is slidably positioned adjacent each drive roller, the belt is transferred from the guide and tube to the drive rollers for final installation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven J. Fiore, Brian J. Perry
  • Patent number: 7162177
    Abstract: A rotating cleaning brush positioned to clean toner and debris from the back of an imaging belt. Additionally, a plurality of cleaning brushes assembled to clean the back of the imaging belt wherein charging a first and a second brush to approximately equal potential but opposite polarity provides superior discharge of static and other electrical charges from the back of the imaging belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Fiore, Michael N. Soures, Steven R. LeRoy, Nero R. Lindblad
  • Patent number: 7151905
    Abstract: A belt photoreceptor in a xerographic printer is entrained on a roller formed from a set of discs. Each disc defines an outer circumference and a flexible main portion. The outer circumferences of a set of discs effectively form a single outer surface of the roller. The discs are flexible and can move against each other, to allow stabilization of the photoreceptor belt, but are in sufficient contact with one another to enable heat to be distributed evenly across the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Fiore, Jennifer A. Kciuk, Michael N. Soures, Richard C. Dray, Jr., Michael L. Povio, Gregory P. Mahoney
  • Patent number: 7024136
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for extending the lifetime of belts, especially photoreceptor belts inside of a printing device, which includes detensioning the belt during periods where the belt is not in use, such as where a printing device is in an idle state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Fiore, Diego Alejandro Pereda, Michael Nicholas Soures, Jennifer Kciuk, Michael Povio, David R. Kamprath
  • Patent number: 6973278
    Abstract: A photoreceptor module for an electrophotographic device that includes a tension roller, a photoreceptor belt, which wraps around a plurality of backing members and the tension roller, and a rotatable handle. When the handle is in a first position it engages at least one other module within the device to maintain proper spacing between the at least one other module and the photoreceptor module. When the handle is in a second position, the tension roller is retracted so that the belt may be removed more easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory P. Miller, Erwin Ruiz, Steven J. Fiore
  • Patent number: 6961534
    Abstract: A rotating flicker bar assembly for cleaning fibers of a rotating brush where the flicker bar is rotatably mounted in an interfering relationship with the fibers of the rotating brush and wherein the rotating flicker bar and brush are rotationally coupled in order to impart rotational force therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Fiore, Michael Nicholas Soures
  • Patent number: 6167223
    Abstract: A drive module for a photoreceptor in an electrophotographic printing machine. The drive module has retractable features that allow the insertion and removal of the xerographic CRU without causing damage to the photoreceptor and other critical subsystems. The unit further has many locating members for other subsystems so that critical tolerances are maintained. A single handle assembly retracts/unlocks and extends/locks the drive module and the associated CRU subsystems into an operative position. The drive module also has electrical and drive connections for the cleaning system, the charging system and transfer/detack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Fiore, Frank A. Porter, Carmen J. Sofia, Anthony G. Poletto, Edward T. Hinton
  • Patent number: 6035161
    Abstract: A developer backer bar having a surface having a plurality of radii for interfacing with a noncontact developer member. The backer bar is arranged so that it can be retracted for clearance purposes when removing or inserting a xerographic CRU. Upon installation of the CRU, the backer bar is biased into position to maintain a development zone within predetermined parameters. The multiple radii surface eliminates or minimizes errors that may result from slight variations in axial alignment between the backer bar and the developer member while additionally providing low drag forces on the photoreceptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Fiore, Frank A. Porter, Lam F. Wong
  • Patent number: 5953565
    Abstract: A developer backer bar having a substantially flat surface for interfacing with a noncontact developer member. The backer bar is arranged so that it can be retracted for clearance purposes when removing or inserting a xerographic CRU. Upon installation of the CRU, the backer bar is biased into position to maintain a development zone within predetermined parameters. The substantially flat surface eliminates or minimizes errors that may result from slight variations in axial alignment between the backer bar and the developer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Fiore, Dan F. Lockwood
  • Patent number: 5911531
    Abstract: A plastic molded article including a body is provided. The body includes a first surface thereof and a second surface thereof. The second surface is spaced from the first surface. The body defines a first cavity extending inwardly from the first surface and a second cavity extending inwardly from the second surface. The first cavity overlaps the second cavity so as to form an aperture extending at least partially through the plastic molded article. The body further defines a recess extending inwardly from at least one of the first cavity and the second cavity at a location where the first cavity overlaps the second cavity so as to accommodate flash which may be formed during the molding process of the plastic molded article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Steven J. Fiore
  • Patent number: 5031000
    Abstract: In association with a primary cleaner device used to remove the preponderance of toner remaining on a charge retentive surface after transfer, a secondary cleaning member is provided, arranged for the removal of toner agglomerates formed by the agglomeration of tone, and toner and debris. The secondary cleaning member is characterized as a thin scraper member arranged at a low angle of attack with respect to the photoreceptor so that a maximum shearing force can be applied by the blade to the agglomerates for removal thereof. A relatively low load is applied to the blade, so that the problems associated with normal cleaning engagement of blades with a charge retentive surface are avoided. The blade is supported in a floating support assembly, that floats during break in of a new blade to prevent tuckunder and damage to the blade. The weight of the floating support assembly is optimized for the break in period when frictional forces are the highest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. Pozniakas, Steven J. Fiore