Patents by Inventor Terrance L. Stephens
Terrance L. Stephens 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).
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Publication number: 20190061365Abstract: A print head has an ink source to supply and receive ink, a first channel to receive ink from the ink source, a second channel to return ink to the ink source, and a manifold structure connected to the two channels to receive ink from the first channel and return ink to the second channel. A method of operating a print head includes providing ink from an ink source at a first pressure through a first channel, routing the ink through an inlet port of at least one single jet, moving the ink through the single jet to an outlet port of the single jet, routing the ink from the outlet port of the single jet, directing the ink to a second channel, and returning ink through the second channel to the ink source at a second pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2017Publication date: February 28, 2019Inventor: TERRANCE L. STEPHENS
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Patent number: 10214023Abstract: A print head has an ink source to supply and receive ink, a first channel to receive ink from the ink source, a second channel to return ink to the ink source, and a manifold structure connected to the two channels to receive ink from the first channel and return ink to the second channel. A method of operating a print head includes providing ink from an ink source at a first pressure through a first channel, routing the ink through an inlet port of at least one single jet, moving the ink through the single jet to an outlet port of the single jet, routing the ink from the outlet port of the single jet, directing the ink to a second channel, and returning ink through the second channel to the ink source at a second pressure.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2017Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: XEROX CORPORATIONInventor: Terrance L. Stephens
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Patent number: 10118390Abstract: An inkjet print head including a plurality of single jet elements. Each of the single jet elements includes an aperture configured to eject ink during a jetting event, and a channel for receiving ink, the channeling including a recirculation portion configured to receive ink during a non-jetting event. The print head also includes a first manifold structured to supply ink to the channel, and a second manifold structured to receive ink from the recirculation portion of the channel. The ink flows from the inlet portion to the second outlet portion during non-jetting through the second outlet portion.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2017Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: XEROX CORPORATIONInventors: Terrance L. Stephens, David A. Tence, Ryan J. Evens
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Patent number: 9956785Abstract: A device includes a first connector arranged to connect to an ink supply, a second connector arranged to connect to a print head, a first chamber arranged between the first and second connectors, the first chamber forming an ink path from the first connector to the second connector, a second chamber arranged adjacent to the first chamber, and a compliant wall between the first and second chambers. A system includes a print head, an ink tank connected to the print head, and a compliant wall device connected between the print head and the ink tank, the compliant wall device having a first chamber forming an ink path between the print head and the ink tank and a second chamber, the first and second chamber separated by a compliant wall.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2016Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: XEROX CORPORATIONInventors: Robert Mark Jacobs, Rodney B. Hill, Terrance L. Stephens, Chad D. Freitag, Blake Terry Weimer
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Publication number: 20180086090Abstract: A device includes a first connector arranged to connect to an ink supply, a second connector arranged to connect to a print head, a first chamber arranged between the first and second connectors, the first chamber forming an ink path from the first connector to the second connector, a second chamber arranged adjacent to the first chamber, and a compliant wall between the first and second chambers. A system includes a print head, an ink tank connected to the print head, and a compliant wall device connected between the print head and the ink tank, the compliant wall device having a first chamber forming an ink path between the print head and the ink tank and a second chamber, the first and second chamber separated by a compliant wall.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2016Publication date: March 29, 2018Inventors: ROBERT MARK JACOBS, RODNEY B. HILL, TERRANCE L. STEPHENS, CHAD D. FREITAG, BLAKE TERRY WEIMER
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Publication number: 20180056647Abstract: An inkjet print head including a plurality of single jet elements. Each of the single jet elements includes an aperture configured to eject ink during a jetting event, and a channel for receiving ink, the channeling including a recirculation portion configured to receive ink during a non-jetting event. The print head also includes a first manifold structured to supply ink to the channel, and a second manifold structured to receive ink from the recirculation portion of the channel. The ink flows from the inlet portion to the second outlet portion during non-jetting through the second outlet portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2017Publication date: March 1, 2018Inventors: Terrance L. Stephens, David A. Tence, Ryan J. Evens
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Publication number: 20170282544Abstract: An inkjet print head including a plurality of single jet elements. Each of the single jet elements includes an aperture configured to eject ink during a jetting event, and a channel for receiving ink, the channeling including a recirculation portion configured to receive ink during a non-jetting event. The print head also includes a first manifold structured to supply ink to the channel, and a second manifold structured to receive ink from the recirculation portion of the channel. The ink flows from the inlet portion to the second outlet portion during non-jetting through the second outlet portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2016Publication date: October 5, 2017Inventors: Terrance L. Stephens, David A. Tence, Ryan J. Evens
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Patent number: 9694582Abstract: An inkjet print head including a plurality of single jet elements. Each single jet element includes an aperture configured to eject ink during a jetting event, a channel for receiving ink. The inkjet print head also includes a first manifold structured to supply ink to the channel; and a plurality of recirculation paths. Each recirculation path configured to receive ink during the jetting event and a non-jetting event. Each recirculation path includes a recirculation channel connected to the channel for receiving ink, the recirculation channel is formed by half-etching one of the steel plates that forms part of the each of the single jet elements and the recirculation paths, and a second manifold structured to receive ink from the recirculation channel. The ink flows from the first manifold to the second manifold through each of the plurality of single jet elements and the recirculation paths during a non-jetting event.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2016Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: XEROX CORPORATIONInventors: Terrance L. Stephens, David A. Tence, Ryan J. Evens
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Patent number: 9457560Abstract: Systems and methods for sensing degradation of a piezoelectric actuator in a print head. One or more electrical pulses may be transmitted to the piezoelectric actuator that cause the piezoelectric actuator to bend, thereby creating a pressure wave. The pressure wave may be sensed and converted into an electrical signal. The electrical signal may be compared to a reference signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2014Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignees: XEROX CORPORATION, PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATIONInventors: Steven E. Ready, Terrance L. Stephens, David L. Knierim, David Alan Tence
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Patent number: 9415594Abstract: A jet stack includes a set of plates forming an array of body chambers, the set of plates including a nozzle plate having an array of jets wherein each jet corresponds to a body chamber, each body chamber having a body chamber port that allows fluid to flow into and out of the body chamber, and a bubble screen between the body chamber port and a remainder of the jet.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2015Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: XEROX CORPORATIONInventor: Terrance L. Stephens
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Patent number: 9381737Abstract: A method of manufacturing a print head includes forming a jet stack having an array of jets, arranging an array of transducers on the jet stack such that each transducer in the array of transducers corresponds to each jet in the array of jets, embossing a flexible circuit substrate having contact pads such that the contact pads extend out of a plane of the flexible circuit substrate, and arranging the flexible circuit substrate such that the contact pads electrically connect to at least some of the transducers in the array of transducers.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2013Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignee: XEROX CORPORATIONInventors: Terrance L. Stephens, Dan Leo Massopust, John R. Andrews, Christopher J. Laharty
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Publication number: 20160082720Abstract: Systems and methods for sensing degradation of a piezoelectric actuator in a print head. One or more electrical pulses may be transmitted to the piezoelectric actuator that cause the piezoelectric actuator to bend, thereby creating a pressure wave. The pressure wave may be sensed and converted into an electrical signal. The electrical signal may be compared to a reference signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2014Publication date: March 24, 2016Inventors: Steven E. Ready, Terrance L. Stephens, David L. Knierim, David Alan Tence
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Patent number: 9242462Abstract: A jet stack has a set of plates forming an array of body chambers, the set of plates including a nozzle plate having an array of jets wherein each jet corresponds to a body chamber, each body chamber having an inlet to allow fluid to flow into the body chamber and an outlet to allow fluid to flow out of the body chamber, the outlet fluidically coupled to a jet in the array of jets, wherein the inlet and outlets are concentric.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2013Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignee: XEROX CORPORATIONInventor: Terrance L. Stephens
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Patent number: 9205651Abstract: A fluidic structure formed in a film, including a particle filter formed at a bottom surface of the film having a depth less than a thickness of the film, a cavity fluidically connected to the particle filter extending from a top of the particle filter to a top surface of the film, an inlet fluidically connected to and positioned adjacent to the cavity, the inlet having a depth less than or equal to a thickness of the film and extending to the top surface of the film, and a body port extending from the top surface of the film into some depth of the film , the body port fluidically connected to the inlet.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2014Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: XEROX CORPORATIONInventors: John R. Andrews, Terrance L. Stephens, Ruander Cardenas
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Patent number: 9162456Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fluid dispensing subassembly includes forming a body pressure chamber from a body plate or a set of plates including a body plate, and adhesively bonding a diaphragm plate to at least the body plate of the fluid dispensing subassembly, with an adhesive layer having a polymer core and thin adhesive layers on each side of the polymer core, wherein the diaphragm plate is bonded to one of the thin adhesive layers on a first side of the core and the body plate is bonded to the thin adhesive layer on a second side of the core.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2012Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: XEROX CORPORATIONInventors: Terrance L. Stephens, John R. Andrews
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Publication number: 20150217513Abstract: A method of correcting aperture size variations on an aperture plate, includes characterizing variations in aperture size in an array of apertures in a nozzle plate, obtaining a transfer function that relates mask aperture size to a final ablated aperture size, and using the transfer function to create a modified imaging mask.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2014Publication date: August 6, 2015Applicant: XEROX CORPORATIONInventors: RUANDER CARDENAS, JOHN R. ANDREWS, TERRANCE L. STEPHENS
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Publication number: 20150202868Abstract: A fluidic structure formed in a film, including a particle filter formed at a bottom surface of the film having a depth less than a thickness of the film, a cavity fluidically connected to the particle filter extending from a top of the particle filter to a top surface of the film, an inlet fluidically connected to and positioned adjacent to the cavity, the inlet having a depth less than or equal to a thickness of the film and extending to the top surface of the film, and a body port extending from the top surface of the film into some depth of the film , the body port fluidically connected to the inlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2014Publication date: July 23, 2015Applicant: XEROX CORPORATIONInventors: JOHN R. ANDREWS, TERRANCE L. STEPHENS, RUANDER CARDENAS
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Publication number: 20150151539Abstract: A jet stack has a set of plates forming an array of body chambers, the set of plates including a nozzle plate having an array of jets wherein each jet corresponds to a body chamber, each body chamber having an inlet to allow fluid to flow into the body chamber and an outlet to allow fluid to flow out of the body chamber, the outlet fluidically coupled to a jet in the array of jets, wherein the inlet and outlets are concentric.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2013Publication date: June 4, 2015Applicant: XEROX CORPORATIONInventor: Terrance L. Stephens
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Patent number: 8702216Abstract: A printhead for printing ink includes a particulate filter manufactured from a polymer sheet such as a polyimide sheet. Filter openings within the particulate filter can be formed using a mask and a laser beam to ablate exposed portions of the polymer sheet. Embodiments of the present teachings can result in the formation smaller filter openings at a smaller pitch within the polymer sheet than, for example, stainless steel particulate filters, and thus more openings which cover a larger percentage of the filter surface for a given filter size, which can result in a reduction of fluid pressure within the printhead. Thus smaller filter openings for improved filtering of smaller particulates can be formed while maintaining a sufficient ink flow at a sufficiently low pressure within the printhead during operation.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2011Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Terrance L Stephens, James D. Padgett, John R. Andrews, Andrew W. Hays
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Publication number: 20140090248Abstract: A method of manufacturing a print head includes forming a jet stack having an array of jets, arranging an array of transducers on the jet stack such that each transducer in the array of transducers corresponds to each jet in the array of jets, embossing a flexible circuit substrate having contact pads such that the contact pads extend out of a plane of the flexible circuit substrate, and arranging the flexible circuit substrate such that the contact pads electrically connect to at least some of the transducers in the array of transducers.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2013Publication date: April 3, 2014Applicant: Xerox CorporationInventors: Terrance L. Stephens, Dan Leo Massopust, John R. Andrews, Christopher J. Laharty