Patents by Inventor William Menk

William Menk 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: 20070053707
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to clear the accumulation of toner particles from a doctor element by periodically reversing a bias field between a doctor element and a developer member. The developer member may be biased to a first electrical potential while the doctor element may be biased to a second electrical potential. The second electrical potential may be higher than the first electrical potential. The doctor element and the developer member may be biased from a single voltage supply and a voltage dividing circuit. A bias reversing circuit may cause the second electrical potential to fall, at least temporarily, below that of the first electrical potential when power from the voltage supply is removed. The bias reversing circuit may also cause the first electrical potential to fall with a longer time constant than that of the second electrical potential when power from the voltage supply is removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Inventors: Gregory Ream, Michelle Morris, William Menk
  • Publication number: 20060291891
    Abstract: A power supply control system for a fuser assembly in an electrophotographic apparatus includes a power supply and a fuser assembly. The power supply includes a first electrical path designated for a fuser assembly that operates at a first voltage and a second electrical path designated for a fuser assembly that operates at a second voltage. The fuser assembly is configured to operate at a select one of the first voltage or the second voltage and is connected to the first electrical path if the fuser assembly operates at the first voltage, and the fuser assembly is connected to the second electrical path if the fuser assembly operates at the second voltage. The first and second electrical paths allow different device features including power limiting devices such as fuses, switches, relays, etc., to be placed in each path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Publication date: December 28, 2006
    Inventors: Mark DeMoor, John Kietzman, Gregory McClure, William Menk, Calvin Murphy, Lawrence Teply