Patents by Inventor Thomas W. Palone

Thomas W. Palone 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: 9513543
    Abstract: A method for forming a non-deformable patterned template includes providing a stable mesh, wherein the stable mesh is resistant to deformation; providing a curable liquid polymer; placing the stable mesh in the curable liquid polymer such that the stable mesh is completely enclosed within the liquid polymer; curing the liquid polymer to form a polymer sheet with the stable mesh embedded therein; and forming a surface pattern on at least one of the faces of the polymer sheet, the surface pattern including at least two fiducial marks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventor: Thomas W. Palone
  • Patent number: 9193199
    Abstract: A non-deformable patterned template includes a stable mesh, wherein the stable mesh is resistant to deformation; a polymer sheet with the stable mesh embedded therein, wherein the polymer sheet is formed using a liquid polymer adapted to receive the stable mesh, and wherein the liquid polymer is cured after the stable mesh has been placed within the liquid polymer; and a surface pattern on at least one face of the polymer sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventor: Thomas W. Palone
  • Patent number: 9193198
    Abstract: A non-deformable patterned template includes a stable mesh, wherein the stable mesh is resistant to deformation; a polymer sheet with the stable mesh embedded therein, wherein the polymer sheet is formed using a liquid polymer adapted to receive the stable mesh, and wherein the liquid polymer is cured after the stable mesh has been placed within the liquid polymer; and a surface pattern on at least one face of the polymer sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventor: Thomas W. Palone
  • Publication number: 20150231909
    Abstract: A non-deformable patterned template includes a stable mesh, wherein the stable mesh is resistant to deformation; a polymer sheet with the stable mesh embedded therein, wherein the polymer sheet is formed using a liquid polymer adapted to receive the stable mesh, and wherein the liquid polymer is cured after the stable mesh has been placed within the liquid polymer; and a surface pattern on at least one face of the polymer sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas W. Palone
  • Publication number: 20150231908
    Abstract: A non-deformable patterned template includes a stable mesh, wherein the stable mesh is resistant to deformation; a polymer sheet with the stable mesh embedded therein, wherein the polymer sheet is formed using a liquid polymer adapted to receive the stable mesh, and wherein the liquid polymer is cured after the stable mesh has been placed within the liquid polymer; and a surface pattern on at least one face of the polymer sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas W. Palone
  • Publication number: 20150140156
    Abstract: A non-deformable patterned template includes a stable mesh, wherein the stable mesh is resistant to deformation; a polymer sheet with the stable mesh embedded therein, wherein the polymer sheet is formed using a liquid polymer adapted to receive the stable mesh, and wherein the liquid polymer is cured after the stable mesh has been placed within the liquid polymer; and a surface pattern on at least one face of the polymer sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas W. Palone
  • Publication number: 20150140220
    Abstract: A method for forming a non-deformable patterned template includes providing a stable mesh, wherein the stable mesh is resistant to deformation; providing a curable liquid polymer; placing the stable mesh in the curable liquid polymer such that the stable mesh is completely enclosed within the liquid polymer; curing the liquid polymer to form a polymer sheet with the stable mesh embedded therein; and forming a surface pattern on at least one of the faces of the polymer sheet, the surface pattern including at least two fiducial marks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas W. Palone
  • Patent number: 8939551
    Abstract: A liquid dispensing system includes a liquid dispenser array structure that includes a functional liquid transfer region located between a liquid dispensing channel and a liquid return channel. A first liquid supply provides a carrier liquid that flows continuously through the dispensing channel, functional liquid transfer region, and return channel during a drop dispensing operation. Liquid dispensers, located on a common substrate, include a second liquid supply that provides a functional liquid, immiscible in the carrier liquid, to the dispensing channel. A drop formation device, associated with an interface of the supply channel and the dispensing channel, is selectively actuated to form discrete functional liquid drops in the flowing carrier liquid. A receiver conveyance mechanism and the functional liquid transfer region are positioned relative to each other such that functional liquid drops are applied to a receiver while the carrier liquid flows through the functional liquid transfer region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Hrishikesh V. Panchawagh, Thomas W. Palone
  • Patent number: 8936353
    Abstract: A liquid dispenser array structure includes a liquid dispensing channel. A first liquid supply provides a carrier liquid that flows continuously through an outlet of the liquid dispensing channel during a drop dispensing operation. A plurality of liquid dispensers, located on a common substrate, includes a liquid supply channel and a second liquid supply that provides a functional liquid, immiscible in the carrier liquid, to the liquid dispensing channel through the liquid supply channel. A drop formation device, associated with an interface of the liquid supply channel and the liquid dispensing channel, is selectively actuated to form a discrete drop of the functional liquid in the carrier liquid flowing through the liquid dispensing channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Hrishikesh V. Panchawagh, Thomas W. Palone, Jeremy M. Grace, Michael A. Marcus, Carolyn R. Ellinger, Kathleen M. Vaeth
  • Patent number: 8936354
    Abstract: A liquid dispensing system includes a liquid dispenser array structure. A first liquid supply provides a carrier liquid that flows continuously through an outlet of a liquid dispensing channel during a drop dispensing operation. A plurality of liquid dispensers, located on a common substrate, includes a second liquid supply that provides a functional liquid, immiscible in the carrier liquid, to the liquid dispensing channel through a liquid supply channel. A drop formation device, associated with an interface of the liquid supply channel and the liquid dispensing channel, is selectively actuated to form discrete drops of the functional liquid in the carrier liquid flowing through the liquid dispensing channel. A receiver conveyance mechanism and the liquid dispenser array structure are positioned relative to each other such that the discrete drops of the functional liquid are applied to a receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Hrishikesh V. Panchawagh, Thomas W. Palone, Jeremy M. Grace, Michael A. Marcus, Carolyn R. Ellinger, Kathleen M. Vaeth
  • Patent number: 8857954
    Abstract: A printhead includes a jetting module, deflection mechanism, and catcher. The jetting module includes a linear array of nozzles having a pitch and extending along a length of the jetting module. The jetting module is configured to form drops travelling along a first path from liquid jets emitted from the nozzles. The deflection mechanism is configured to cause selected drops to deviate from the first path and begin travelling along a second path. The catcher, positioned to intercept drops travelling along one of the first and second paths, includes a drop contact surface and a liquid removal conduit connected in fluid communication by a Coanda surface including a radial surface having an array of grooves extending in the same direction as that of the nozzle array. For a given groove, the groove is positioned at an angle relative to the drop contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Thomas W. Palone, Kathleen M. Vaeth, Kam C. Ng
  • Publication number: 20140253642
    Abstract: A printhead includes a jetting module, deflection mechanism, and catcher. The jetting module includes a linear array of nozzles having a pitch and extending along a length of the jetting module. The jetting module is configured to form drops travelling along a first path from liquid jets emitted from the nozzles. The deflection mechanism is configured to cause selected drops to deviate from the first path and begin travelling along a second path. The catcher, positioned to intercept drops travelling along one of the first and second paths, includes a drop contact surface and a liquid removal conduit connected in fluid communication by a Coanda surface including a radial surface having an array of grooves extending in the same direction as that of the nozzle array. For a given groove, the groove is positioned at an angle relative to the drop contact surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventors: Thomas W. Palone, Kathleen M. Vaeth, Kam C. Ng
  • Patent number: 8783804
    Abstract: A method of dispensing liquid includes providing a carrier liquid under pressure using a first liquid supply that flows from the first liquid supply through a first liquid supply channel through a liquid dispensing channel through a liquid return channel and back to the first liquid supply continuously during a drop dispensing operation. A functional liquid is provided to the liquid dispensing channel through a second liquid supply channel using a second liquid supply. A drop formation device is selectively actuated to form a discrete drop of the functional liquid in the carrier liquid flowing through the liquid dispensing channel. The functional liquid is immiscible in the carrier liquid. The drop ejection device is selectively actuated to divert the discrete drop of the functional liquid and a portion of the carrier liquid flowing through the liquid dispensing channel toward an outlet opening of the liquid dispensing channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Hrishikesh V. Panchawagh, Yonglin Xie, Carolyn R. Ellinger, Michael A. Marcus, Thomas W. Palone
  • Patent number: 8777387
    Abstract: A printhead includes a jetting module, deflection mechanism, and catcher. The jetting module includes a nozzle array extending along a length of the jetting module and forms drops travelling along a first path from liquid jets emitted from the nozzles. The deflection mechanism causes selected drops to deviate from the first path to a second path. The catcher intercepts drops travelling along one of the paths, includes a drop contact surface and a liquid removal conduit connected in fluid communication by a Coanda surface including a radial surface having an array of grooves. The array of grooves extends in the same direction as that of the nozzle array. For a given groove, the groove includes a depth that varies along the radial surface as viewed relative to the drop contact surface and a liquid removal conduit surface adjacent to the Coanda surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Thomas W. Palone, Kathleen M. Vaeth, Kam C. Ng
  • Patent number: 8770722
    Abstract: A liquid dispenser includes a first liquid supply that provides a carrier liquid under pressure that flows from the first liquid supply through a first liquid supply channel through a liquid dispensing channel through a liquid return channel and back to the first liquid supply continuously during a drop dispensing operation. A second liquid supply provides a functional liquid to the liquid dispensing channel through a second liquid supply channel. A drop formation device, associated with an interface of the second liquid supply channel and the liquid dispensing channel, is selectively actuated to form a discrete drop of the functional liquid in the carrier liquid flowing through the liquid dispensing channel. The functional liquid is immiscible in the carrier liquid. A drop ejection device is selectively actuated to divert the discrete drop of the functional liquid and a portion of the carrier liquid flowing through the liquid dispensing channel toward the outlet opening of the liquid dispensing channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Hrishikesh V. Panchawagh, Yonglin Xie, Carolyn R. Ellinger, Michael A. Marcus, Thomas W. Palone
  • Patent number: 8746863
    Abstract: A printhead includes a jetting module, deflection mechanism, and catcher. The jetting module includes a linear array of nozzles having a pitch and extending along a length of the jetting module. The jetting module is configured to form drops travelling along a first path from liquid jets emitted from the nozzles. The deflection mechanism is configured to cause selected drops to deviate from the first path and begin travelling along a second path. The catcher, positioned to intercept drops travelling along one of the first and second paths, includes a drop contact surface and a liquid removal conduit connected in fluid communication by a Coanda surface including a radial surface having an array of grooves extending in the same direction as that of the nozzles. The array of grooves has a pitch that is greater than the pitch of the nozzle array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Thomas W. Palone, Kathleen M. Vaeth, Kam C. Ng
  • Patent number: 8740366
    Abstract: A printhead includes a jetting module, deflection mechanism, and catcher. The jetting module includes a nozzle array extending along a length of the jetting module. The jetting module forms drops travelling along a first path from liquid jets emitted from the nozzles. The deflection mechanism causes selected liquid drops formed by the jetting module to deviate from the first path to a second path. The catcher, positioned to intercept liquid drops travelling along one of the paths, includes a drop contact surface and a liquid removal conduit connected in fluid communication by a Coanda surface including a radial surface including an array of grooves. The liquid removal conduit includes a surface that is positioned opposite and spaced apart from the radial surface such that the opposite surface of the liquid removal conduit does not contact the radial surface that includes the array of grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Thomas W. Palone, Kathleen M. Vaeth, Kam C. Ng
  • Patent number: 8602535
    Abstract: A method of dispensing liquid drops includes providing a liquid dispenser array structure. Liquid dispensers, located on a common substrate, include a liquid supply channel and a drop formation device associated with an interface of a liquid dispensing channel and the liquid supply channel. A carrier liquid is provided by a first liquid supply that flows continuously through an outlet of the liquid dispensing channel during a drop dispensing operation. A functional liquid, immiscible in the carrier liquid, is provided by a second liquid supply to the liquid dispensing channel through the liquid supply channel. The drop formation device is selectively actuated to form a discrete drop of the functional liquid in the carrier liquid flowing through the liquid dispensing channel. The flowing carrier liquid causes the discrete drops of the functional liquid to move through the outlet of the liquid dispensing channel during the drop dispensing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Hrishikesh V. Panchawagh, Thomas W. Palone, Jeremy M. Grace, Michael A. Marcus, Carolyn R. Ellinger, Kathleen M. Vaeth
  • Publication number: 20130257997
    Abstract: A liquid dispensing system includes a liquid dispenser array structure. A first liquid supply provides a carrier liquid that flows continuously through an outlet of a liquid dispensing channel during a drop dispensing operation. A plurality of liquid dispensers, located on a common substrate, includes a second liquid supply that provides a functional liquid, immiscible in the carrier liquid, to the liquid dispensing channel through a liquid supply channel. A drop formation device, associated with an interface of the liquid supply channel and the liquid dispensing channel, is selectively actuated to form discrete drops of the functional liquid in the carrier liquid flowing through the liquid dispensing channel. A receiver conveyance mechanism and the liquid dispenser array structure are positioned relative to each other such that the discrete drops of the functional liquid are applied to a receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: Hrishikesh V. Panchawagh, Thomas W. Palone, Jeremy M. Grace, Michael A. Marcus, Carolyn R. Ellinger, Kathleen M. Vaeth
  • Publication number: 20130257996
    Abstract: A liquid dispenser array structure includes a liquid dispensing channel. A first liquid supply provides a carrier liquid that flows continuously through an outlet of the liquid dispensing channel during a drop dispensing operation. A plurality of liquid dispensers, located on a common substrate, includes a liquid supply channel and a second liquid supply that provides a functional liquid, immiscible in the carrier liquid, to the liquid dispensing channel through the liquid supply channel. A drop formation device, associated with an interface of the liquid supply channel and the liquid dispensing channel, is selectively actuated to form a discrete drop of the functional liquid in the carrier liquid flowing through the liquid dispensing channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: Hrishikesh V. Panchawagh, Thomas W. Palone, Jeremy M. Grace, Michael A. Marcus, Carolyn R. Ellinger, Kathleen M. Vaeth