Patents by Inventor Thomas W. Smith

Thomas W. Smith 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: 20030105185
    Abstract: Disclosed is a phase change ink composition comprising a colorant and an ink vehicle, the ink being a solid at temperatures less than about 50° C. and exhibiting a viscosity of no more than about 20 centipoise at a jetting temperature of no more than about 160° C., wherein at a first temperature hydrogen bonds of sufficient strength exist between the ink vehicle molecules so that the ink vehicle forms hydrogen-bonded dimers, oligomers, or polymers, and wherein at a second temperature which is higher than the first temperature the hydrogen bonds between the ink vehicle molecules are sufficiently broken that fewer hydrogen-bonded dimers, oligomers, or polymers are present in the ink at the second temperature than are present in the ink at the first temperature, so that the viscosity of the ink at the second temperature is lower than the viscosity of the ink at the first temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: H. Bruce Goodbrand, Thomas W. Smith, Daniel A. Foucher, Kathleen M. McGrane, Dina Popovic
  • Patent number: 6569511
    Abstract: Disclosed is a recording sheet which comprises a substrate and an image-receiving coating situated on at least one surface of the substrate, said image-receiving coating being suitable for receiving images of an aqueous ink, said image-receiving coating comprising a lightfastness agent which is a polysiloxane having thereon a hydrophilic moiety and a lightfastness moiety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas W. Smith, Kathleen M. McGrane
  • Publication number: 20030096886
    Abstract: Disclosed is an ink composition comprising a liquid ink vehicle, a colorant, and a cyclic siloxane monomer composition capable of undergoing a ring-opening polymerization process upon contact with an anionic base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas W. Smith
  • Publication number: 20030079644
    Abstract: Disclosed is an aqueous ink composition comprising an aqueous liquid vehicle, a colorant, and an additive wherein, when the ink has been applied to a recording substrate in an image pattern and a substantial amount of the aqueous liquid vehicle has either evaporated from the ink image, hydrogen bonds of sufficient strength exist between the additive molecules so that the additive forms hydrogen-bonded oligomers or polymers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas W. Smith, David J. Luca, Kathleen M. McGrane
  • Patent number: 6547380
    Abstract: A process comprising (a) incorporating into an ink jet printing apparatus (1) a developing composition comprising a liquid vehicle and a color developer; (2) an oxidizing composition comprising a liquid vehicle and an oxidizing agent; (3) a coloring composition comprising a liquid vehicle and a dye coupler; and (4) a fixing composition comprising a liquid vehicle and a fixative; (b) causing droplets of the developing composition to be ejected in an imagewise pattern onto the substrate; (c) causing droplets of the oxidizing composition to be ejected in an imagewise pattern onto the substrate; (d) causing droplets of the coloring composition to be ejected in an imagewise pattern onto the substrate; and (e) causing droplets of the fixing composition to be ejected in an imagewise pattern onto the substrate; wherein the process results in at least some portions of the substrate bearing images comprising all four of the developing composition, the oxidizing composition, the coloring composition, and the fixing comp
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas W. Smith, Kathleen M. McGrane, David J. Luca, William W. Limburg
  • Patent number: 6544321
    Abstract: Disclosed are pigment particles prepared by a process which comprises (a) preparing a solution of a polyalkylene oxide compound in water; (b) preparing a solution of a cationic dye in water; (c) admixing the solution containing the polyalkylene oxide compound with the solution containing the cationic dye to form a mixture; (d) adding to the mixture a solution containing a heteropolyacid in water, an alcohol, or a mixture thereof, thereby resulting in formation of pigment particles having an average particle diameter of no more than about 300 nanometers; and (e) after addition of the heteropolyacid to the mixture, neutralizing the mixture by addition of a base. Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to an ink composition comprising water and the aforementioned pigment particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Maura A. Sweeney, Thomas W. Smith, Melvin D. Croucher
  • Patent number: 6409316
    Abstract: A thermal ink jet printhead having an upper substrate and a lower substrate in which one surface thereof has an array of heating elements and addressing electrodes formed thereon. The lower substrate has an insulative layer deposited on the surface thereof and over the heating elements and addressing electrodes and patterned to form recesses therethrough to expose the heating elements and terminal ends of the addressing electrodes. The upper and lower substrates are bonded together to form a thermal ink jet printhead having droplet emitting nozzles defined by the upper substrate, the insulative layer on the lower substrate, and the heating elements in the lower substrate. At least one of the upper substrate and the insulative layer comprises a crosslinked polymer formed by crosslinking a precursor polymer which is a phenolic novolac resin having glycidyl ether functional groups on the monomer repeat units thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Shan C. Clark, Thomas W. Smith
  • Publication number: 20020075366
    Abstract: A fluid cartridges, such as a cartridge for storing ink for use in an ink jet printer. The cartridge includes a fluid chamber for storing fluid, a fluid outlet and a vent opening. A capillary member having an internal capillary chamber is attached to the fluid outlet port. A plurality of ribs in the capillary chamber terminate a short distance from the inner surface of the capillary chamber, and thereby define a plurality of capillary gaps or openings. An ink outlet opening is formed in an end of the capillary member remote from the in outlet port in the cartridge, whereby the fluid chamber is in fluid communication with the external environment via the vent opening, the capillary chamber, and the ink outlet port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation.
    Inventors: Thomas W. Smith, Alexander N. Klymachyov
  • Patent number: 6348292
    Abstract: A liquid developer comprised of a nonpolar liquid, resin, optional colorant, and an alkaline earth charge acceptance additive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: David H. Pan, Christopher M. Knapp, Weizhong Zhao, Thomas W. Smith
  • Publication number: 20010050700
    Abstract: A process comprising (a) incorporating into an ink jet printing apparatus (1) a developing composition comprising a liquid vehicle and a color developer; (2) an oxidizing composition comprising a liquid vehicle and an oxidizing agent; (3) a coloring composition comprising a liquid vehicle and a dye coupler; and (4) a fixing composition comprising a liquid vehicle and a fixative; (b) causing droplets of the developing composition to be ejected in an imagewise pattern onto the substrate; (c) causing droplets of the oxidizing composition to be ejected in an imagewise pattern onto the substrate; (d) causing droplets of the coloring composition to be ejected in an imagewise pattern onto the substrate; and (e) causing droplets of the fixing composition to be ejected in an imagewise pattern onto the substrate; wherein the process results in at least some portions of the substrate bearing images comprising all four of the developing composition, the oxidizing composition, the coloring composition, and the fixing comp
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Publication date: December 13, 2001
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas W. Smith, Kathleen M. McGrane, David J. Luca, William W. Limburg
  • Patent number: 6323301
    Abstract: Disclosed is a composition comprising a polymer with a weight average molecular weight of from about 1,000 to about 100,000, said polymer containing at least some monomer repeat units with a first, photosensitivity-imparting substituent which enables crosslinking or chain extension of the polymer upon exposure to actinic radiation, said polymer also containing a second, thermal sensitivity-imparting substituent which enables further crosslinking or chain extension of the polymer upon exposure to temperatures of about 140° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas W. Smith, Timothy J. Fuller, Ram S. Narang, David J. Luca
  • Patent number: 6312121
    Abstract: A process comprising (a) incorporating into an ink jet printing apparatus (1) a developing composition comprising a liquid vehicle and a color developer; (2) an oxidizing composition comprising a liquid vehicle and an oxidizing agent; (3) a coloring composition comprising a liquid vehicle and a dye coupler; and (4) a fixing composition comprising a liquid vehicle and a fixative; (b) causing droplets of the developing composition to be ejected in an imagewise pattern onto the substrate; (c) causing droplets of the oxidizing composition to be ejected in an imagewise pattern onto the substrate; (d) causing droplets of the coloring composition to be ejected in an imagewise pattern onto the substrate; and (e) causing droplets of the fixing composition to be ejected in an imagewise pattern onto the substrate; wherein the process results in at least some portions of the substrate bearing images comprising all four of the developing composition, the oxidizing composition, the coloring composition, and the fixing comp
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas W. Smith, Kathleen M. McGrane, David J. Luca, William W. Limburg
  • Patent number: 6302523
    Abstract: Disclosed is an ink jet printhead comprising a plurality of channels, wherein the channels are capable of being filled with ink from an ink supply and wherein the channels terminate in nozzles on one surface of the printhead, said surface having covalently bonded thereto a coating of an organosiloxane polymer, said organosiloxane polymer coating being substantially uniform with no additional layers thereover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas W. Smith, John R. Andrews, Reinhold E. Drews
  • Patent number: 6270214
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process which comprises (a) applying to a substrate a fixing fluid which comprises a material selected from the group consisting of (1) block or graft copolymers of dialkylsiloxanes and polar, hydrophilic monomers capable of interacting with an ink colorant to cause the colorant to become complexed, laked, or mordanted, (2) organopolysiloxane copolymers having functional side groups capable of interacting with an ink colorant to cause the colorant to become complexed, laked, or mordanted, (3) perfluorinated polyalkoxy polymers, (4) perfluoroalkyl surfactants having thereon at least one group capable of interacting with an ink colorant to cause the colorant to become complexed, laked, or mordanted, and (5) mixtures thereof; (b) incorporating into an ink jet printing apparatus an ink composition which comprises water and a colorant which becomes complexed, laked, or mordanted upon contacting the fixing fluid; and (c) causing droplets of the ink composition to be ejected in an imagewise pattern on
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas W. Smith, Samuel Kaplan, Kathleen M. McGrane, David J. Luca
  • Patent number: 6260949
    Abstract: Disclosed is a composition comprising a blend of (a) a thermally reactive polymer selected from the group consisting of resoles, novolacs, thermally reactive polyarylene ethers, and mixtures thereof; and (b) a photoreactive epoxy resin that is photoreactive in the absence of a photocationic initiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas W. Smith, David J. Luca, Kathleen M. McGrane
  • Publication number: 20010000568
    Abstract: The invention relates to foam structures with enhanced physical properties which can be used in the areas of packaging, athletics, water sports, and construction. In general, the structures are laminated polymer foams that include a core of a low density foam and one or more skins of relatively high density foam covering the core. The skins provide improved physical properties to the foam structures by improving the flexural strength, resistance to bending, and resulting damage from bending in the laminated foam structure while modestly increasing the weight of the laminated structure, for example. Uses of the foam structures include, but are not limited to, packaging materials, gym mats, body boards, or eaves fillers. The skin can act as a hinge to fold a die cut piece into a collapsible packaging system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Publication date: May 3, 2001
    Inventors: John D. Bambara, Richard Bambara, Scott C. Smith, Thomas W. Smith
  • Patent number: 6187512
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process which comprises reacting a polymer of the general formula wherein x is an integer of 0 or 1, A is one of several specified groups, such as B is one of several specified groups, such as or mixtures thereof, and n is an integer representing the number of repeating monomer units, with a halomethyl alkyl ether, an acetyl halide, and methanol in the presence of a halogen-containing Lewis acid catalyst, thereby forming a halomethylated polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel A. Foucher, Nancy C. Stoffel, Roger T. Janezic, Thomas W. Smith, David J. Luca, Bidan Zhang
  • Patent number: 6167790
    Abstract: The invention relates to foam structures with enhanced physical properties which can be used in the areas of packaging, athletics, water sports, and construction. In general, the structures are laminated polymer foams that include a core of a low density foam and one or more skins of relatively high density foam covering the core. The skins provide improved physical properties to the foam structures by improving the flexural strength, resistance to bending, and resulting damage from bending in the laminated foam structure while modestly increasing the weight of the laminated structure, for example. Uses of the foam structures include, but are not limited to, packaging materials, gym mats, body boards, or eaves fillers. The skin can act as a hinge to fold a die cut piece into a collapsible packaging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Sentinel Products Corp.
    Inventors: John D. Bambara, Richard Bambara, Scott C. Smith, Thomas W. Smith
  • Patent number: 6151042
    Abstract: Disclosed is a composition comprising a polymer with a weight average molecular weight of from about 1,000 to about 100,000, said polymer containing at least some monomer repeat units with a first, photosensitivity-imparting substituent which enables crosslinking or chain extension of the polymer upon exposure to actinic radiation, said polymer also containing a second, thermal sensitivity-imparting substituent which enables further crosslinking or chain extension of the polymer upon exposure to temperatures of about 140.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas W. Smith, Timothy J. Fuller, Ram S. Narang, David J. Luca
  • Patent number: 6142618
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fluid deposition apparatus comprising (a) a fluid supply, (b) a porous fluid distribution member in operative connection with the fluid supply, enabling wetting of the fluid distribution member with a fluid, and (c) a porous metering membrane situated on the fluid distribution member, whereby the metering membrane enables uniform metering of the fluid from the fluid distribution member onto a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas W. Smith, Samuel Kaplan, Kathleen M. McGrane, David J. Luca, John S. Facci, Michael J. Levy