Patents by Inventor Theodore J. Conley

Theodore J. Conley 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: 11305548
    Abstract: An ink tank includes a cap assembly attached to the ink tank by a preloaded hinge that defines a rotational axis of the cap assembly when the cap assembly is opened and closed. The preloaded hinge biases the cap assembly to an opened position when the cap assembly is unlatched. The cap assembly includes a cap housing, a bung retained within the cap housing, a spring disposed between the cap housing and the bung, a latch to hold the cap assembly in a closed position, where in the closed position the spring applies a force to provide a seal between the bung and the ink tank. The cap assembly also includes an effector that is operative when the cap assembly is unlatched, to sequence a closing of an internal valve of the ink tank and a breaking of the seal between the bung and the ink tank thereafter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: John J Cantrell, Keith Jariabka, Theodore J Conley, William S Osborne
  • Patent number: 11220111
    Abstract: An example ink tank includes a cap with a preloaded hinge that biases the cap to a fully opened position when the cap is unlatched. The cap in the fully opened position interferes with and prevents the closure of a door that provides access to the ink tank. The door includes a sensor that locks out the print function when the door is open, effecting a printer lockout when the cap of the ink tank is opened for filling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: John J. Cantrell, Keith Jariabka, Theodore J. Conley, William S. Osborne
  • Publication number: 20210370603
    Abstract: Examples of a fluid flow device for an additive manufacturing printer are disclosed. In an implementation, the fluid flow device includes a body including an inlet, an outlet, a first wall, a second wall opposite the first wall, and a fluid flow passage in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet. In addition, the fluid flow device includes a port into the fluid flow passage, through the first wall along an axis, the port to communicate with a chamber that receives powder during a printing operation. Further, the fluid flow device includes a plate within the fluid flow passage and axially spaced between the port and the second wall such that the fluid flow passage is divided into a first passage between the port and the plate and a second passage between the plate and the second wall, the first passage to receive powder from the chamber through the port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Theodore J. Conley, Robert Lawrence Winburne
  • Publication number: 20210291536
    Abstract: An example ink tank includes a cap with a preloaded hinge that biases the cap to a fully opened position when the cap is unlatched. The cap in the fully opened position interferes with and prevents the closure of a door that provides access to the ink tank. The door includes a sensor that locks out the print function when the door is open, effecting a printer lockout when the cap of the ink tank is opened for filling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: John J. Cantrell, Keith Jariabka, Theodore J. Conley, William S. Osborne
  • Patent number: 11046102
    Abstract: An example ink tank includes an ink tank and a cap assembly attached to the ink tank with a preloaded hinge. The hinge rotates the cap assembly from a closed position to an open position when the cap assembly is unlatched. The cap assembly includes a bung to seal the ink tank during a partial rotation of the cap assembly when the cap assembly is unlatched. The ink tank also includes spring-loaded linkage connected to a valve in the ink tank. An effector extending from the cap assembly engages the spring-loaded linkage when the cap assembly is latched and disengages from the spring-loaded linkage after the cap assembly is unlatched. The spring-loaded linkage opens the valve when engaged with the effector, and closes the valve when disengaged from the effector, while the bung maintains a tank seal until the internal valve is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: John J. Cantrell, Keith Jariabka, Theodore J. Conley, William S. Osbome
  • Publication number: 20200338898
    Abstract: An ink tank includes a cap assembly attached to the ink tank by a preloaded hinge that defines a rotational axis of the cap assembly when the cap assembly is opened and closed. The preloaded hinge biases the cap assembly to an opened position when the cap assembly is unlatched. The cap assembly includes a cap housing, a bung retained within the cap housing, a spring disposed between the cap housing and the bung, a latch to hold the cap assembly in a closed position, where in the closed position the spring applies a force to provide a seal between the bung and the ink tank. The cap assembly also includes an effector that is operative when the cap assembly is unlatched, to sequence a closing of an internal valve of the ink tank and a breaking of the seal between the bung and the ink tank thereafter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: John J Cantrell, Keith Jariabka, Theodore J Conley, William S Osborne
  • Publication number: 20200238742
    Abstract: An example ink tank includes an ink tank and a cap assembly attached to the ink tank with a preloaded hinge. The hinge rotates the cap assembly from a closed position to an open position when the cap assembly is unlatched. The cap assembly includes a bung to seal the ink tank during a partial rotation of the cap assembly when the cap assembly is unlatched. The ink tank also includes spring-loaded linkage connected to a valve in the ink tank. An effector extending from the cap assembly engages the spring-loaded linkage when the cap assembly is latched and disengages from the spring-loaded linkage after the cap assembly is unlatched. The spring-loaded linkage opens the valve when engaged with the effector, and closes the valve when disengaged from the effector, while the bung maintains a tank seal until the internal valve is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: John J. Cantrell, Keith Jariabka, Theodore J. Conley, William S. Osbome