Patents by Inventor Thomas N. Tombs

Thomas N. Tombs 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).

  • Publication number: 20110116814
    Abstract: A method and system for printing image documents using a variety of toners where some toners using a multi-development station having two or more development stations. These toners are co-printed prior to fixing, on the receiver by the multi-development station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventors: James D. Shifley, Alan J. Swire, Thomas N. Tombs
  • Publication number: 20110116838
    Abstract: A method and system for printing image documents using a variety of toners where some toners using a multi-development station having two or more development stations. These toners are co-printed prior to fixing, on the receiver by the multi-development station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventors: James D. Shifley, Rodney R. Bucks, Thomas N. Tombs
  • Publication number: 20110117487
    Abstract: A method and system for printing image documents using a variety of toners where some toners using a multi-development station having two or more development stations. These toners are co-printed prior to fixing, on the receiver by the multi-development station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventors: James D. Shifley, Alan J. Swire, Thomas N. Tombs
  • Publication number: 20110116840
    Abstract: A method and system for printing image documents using a variety of toners where some toners using a multi-development station having two or more development stations. These toners are co-printed prior to fixing, on the receiver by the multi-development station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas N. Tombs, James D. Shifley, Rodney R. Bucks, Donald S. Rimai
  • Publication number: 20110052234
    Abstract: Printing of information with a distinct tactile feel can be accomplished by electrographic techniques. Such electrographic printing includes electrographic printing of raised images to selected areas of a receiver member using electrographic techniques so that they are fixed according to the properties of the raised print such as according to the mass per unit area or toner height. In one embodiment, by slowing down the process speed of the fuser to allow for a longer dwell so that the large toner particles and/or toner mass needed to make raised image will properly adhere to the print media without artifacts. To keep the energy requirements and the cost of the equipment down a speed switching technique is used that slows the process speed of the fuser so that the raised image is properly fused on a wide range of paper types.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas N. Tombs, Muhammed Aslam
  • Patent number: 7892160
    Abstract: The present invention provides a double-sleeved roller for use in an electrostatographic machine. The double-sleeved member includes a cylindrical rigid core member. A removable inner sleeve member (ISM) is provided that includes a compliant layer that surrounds and intimately contacts the rigid core member. A removable electrically conductive outer sleeve member (OSM) such that the OSM surrounds and intimately contacts said ISM wherein the ISM and OSM are removable or mountable simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Andrew P. Kittleson, Thomas N. Tombs, Craig M. Cody, Mark C. Zaretsky
  • Patent number: 7831178
    Abstract: Electrographic printing of one or more optical elements having a particular profile by electrographic techniques. Such electrographic printing comprises the steps of forming a desired print image, electrographically, on a receiver member utilizing predetermined sized marking particles; and, where desired, forming one or more final optical elements utilizing marking particles of a predetermined size or size distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Alan R. Priebe, Thomas N. Tombs
  • Patent number: 7823996
    Abstract: In an apparatus for printing images on a moving primary imaging member by jetting ink, containing a fluid and marking particles, in an image-wise fashion onto the primary imaging member, a device for concentrating the ink prior to transferring a marking particle image to a receiver member. The ink concentrating device includes a fractionating unit for separating fluid of the ink from the marking particles. The fractionating unit is located a predetermined spaced distance from the primary image bearing member. An electrostatic field is established between the primary image bearing member and the fractionating unit for concentrating the marking particles in the liquid of the ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Benjamin E. Rimai, Donald S. Rimai, Thomas N. Tombs, James R. Flick, Robert E. Zeman, James G. Popowich
  • Patent number: 7819518
    Abstract: A high speed digital printing apparatus having an imaging member, an ink jet head capable of image-wise jetting ink onto the imaging member, a mechanism for fractionating such image-wise ink on the imaging member to remove liquid therefrom, an intermediate transfer member onto which such image-wise ink is transferred from the imaging member, and a transfer member forming a nip with the intermediate transfer member for transferring a liquid-depleted image-wise ink to a receiver. An ink suitable for use in the printing press apparatus is formed by dispersing an ink concentrate with a suitable solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Donald S. Rimai, Thomas N. Tombs, Robert E. Zeman, Michael T. Regan
  • Publication number: 20100232821
    Abstract: Printing of information with a distinct tactile feel can be accomplished by electrographic techniques. Such electrographic printing includes the steps of forming a desired print image, electrographically, on a receiver member utilizing standard size marking particles; and in areas of the formed print image, forming raised information by printing at least a first raised image and a second raised image. The print and raised images are fixing on the receiver member. The raised images are applied using toner particles having diameters substantially larger than the diameters standard size toner particles used for applying the print image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventors: Mark C. Zaretsky, Thomas N. Tombs, William J. Hagen
  • Publication number: 20100159373
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method producing printed electronic circuits using electrophotography.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas N. Tombs, Donald S. Rimai
  • Publication number: 20100159648
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device for producing printed electronic circuits using electrophotography
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas N. Tombs, Donald S. Rimai
  • Publication number: 20100155128
    Abstract: The present invention provides an article of manufacture using an electrophotographic printer to produce printed electronic circuits by printing a second conductive powder layer and a first thermoplastic layer in registration. The second conductive powder layer is permanently fixed to the first layer before removing conductive powder from portions of the substrate other than that coated with the thermoplastic patterned image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas N. Tombs, Donald S. Rimai
  • Publication number: 20100104336
    Abstract: A printing method for producing a textured thin film image (142) upon a receiver (20(R)) is provided. The method may include the steps of a. depositing one or more toner images (50) to form a predetermined adhesive image (50) with more than one level of height; and b. applying and fixing a foil (30) to at least a portion of the adhesive image to create a textured thin film image (142).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Leonard R. Christopher, Thomas N. Tombs
  • Publication number: 20100051165
    Abstract: Electrographic printing of one or more toner layers having a particular pattern by electrographic techniques so that one layer acts as an adhesive, when fixed, for a thin film. Such electrographic printing comprises the steps of forming a desired print image, electrographically, on a receiver member utilizing marking particles; and applying the thin film in registration before activating the toner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas N. Tombs, Dinesh Tyagi, Arun Chowdry, Leonard R. Christopher
  • Publication number: 20090291274
    Abstract: The use of electrographic printing to prepare prints which have a desired tactile feel or raised information in a controlled manner by utilizing a developer having toner particle size larger than 50 microns volume average diameter and carrier particles larger than the toner particle size such that the volume average distribution overlap between the toner distribution curve and carrier particle distribution curve is less than 35% and the carrier and toner particles have a volume average diameter size differential equal to or greater than 5 microns or the ratio of carrier-to-toner volume average diameter exceeds 1.25.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventors: Dinesh Tyagi, Patrick M. Lambert, Mark C. Zaretsky, Thomas N. Tombs
  • Publication number: 20090016757
    Abstract: Electrographic printing of one or more optical elements having a particular profile by electrographic techniques. Such electrographic printing comprises the steps of forming a desired print image, electrographically, on a receiver member utilizing predetermined sized marking particles; and, where desired, forming one or more final optical elements utilizing marking particles of a predetermined size or size distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: Alan R. Priebe, Thomas N. Tombs
  • Publication number: 20090016776
    Abstract: Electrographic printing of raised multidimensional toner shapes having a particular profile by electrographic techniques. Such electrographic printing comprises the steps of forming a desired print image, electrographically, on a receiver member utilizing predetermined sized marking particles; and, where desired, forming a final predetermined multidimensional shape utilizing marking particles of a predetermined size or size distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: Alan R. Priebe, Thomas N. Tombs
  • Publication number: 20080304846
    Abstract: An electrostatographic apparatus and method of forming a toner image on a receiver using a segmented roller in order to improve transfer of a pigmented toner image to a receiver. The pigmented toner image is applied using the segmented roller and is then transferred to a receiver sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas N. Tombs, Donna P. Suchy
  • Publication number: 20080131613
    Abstract: A system and method are provided including a coating method and apparatus using a dielectrophoretic fluid movement system to coat with a non-conducting fluid along a surface that includes a non-conducting surface to receive the non-conducting fluid and a first and second array of one or more substantially parallel microelectrodes positioned on the surface, said first array having microelectrode(s) positioned between, and alternating with, the microelectrode(s) of the second array, forming an interleaved pattern as well as an electric power source in communication with the first array and second array so that the first array and second array interact to create a non-uniform electric field such that the non-conducting fluid moves parallel to the microelectrodes in response to the applied non-uniform electric field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas B. Jones, Rajib Ahmed, Thomas N. Tombs