Steven M Downing

US Patent:

6407678, Jun 18, 2002

Filed:

May 30, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/584021

Inventors:

Steven B Elgee - Portland OR
Jeffrey C. Madsen - Vancouver WA
Steven P Downing - Camas WA

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Company - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

H03M 122

US Classification:

341 8, 400279

Abstract:

An encoding system is described for a media handling system including an endless belt. The encoding system includes encoding indicia associated with the endless belt. A first encoder transducer is responsive to the encoding indicia to provide a first encoder signal. A second encoder transducer is responsive to the encoding indicia to provide a second encoder signal, the second encoder transducer spatially separated from the first encoder transducer. An encoder processor is responsive to the first encoder signal and the second encoder signal to determine position data regarding the endless belt. Interruption of indicia due to a belt seam is accommodated by transferring belt position calculation from one transducer to the other as the seam passes between the two transducers. The processor is adapted to compensate for variations in the encoder indicia pitch caused by belt temperature differentials.

US Patent:

6454259, Sep 24, 2002

Filed:

Nov 6, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/012268

Inventors:

Jeffrey C. Madsen - Vancouver WA
Steven P. Downing - Camas WA

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Company - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

G11C 700

US Classification:

271276, 271195, 271196, 271197, 271183, 271905, 27137704

Abstract:

A vacuum holddown has a holddown member with an outer surface for temporarily capturing a flexible sheet material via a vacuum force distributed across the outer surface through discrete vacuum channels. A vacuum force valving mechanism abuts an inner surface of the holddown member in a selectable sliding engagement. The valving mechanism has a pattern of apertures therethrough in predetermined pattern such that discrete valve mechanism positions produce discrete vacuum force patterns at the outer surface of the holddown member.

US Patent:

6607458, Aug 19, 2003

Filed:

May 24, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/866354

Inventors:

Steven P Downing - Camas WA
Wade A. Powell - Vancouver WA
Edward Louis Feldhousen - Tualatin OR

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Houston TX

International Classification:

F16H 722

US Classification:

474102, 399165

Abstract:

A belt tracking system for an endless belt having left and right opposed edges, the belt driven in a first direction by a belt drive system. The tracking system includes a set of periodic belt indicia formed on the belt along one or more axes aligned with the first direction. A sensor system tracks movement of the belt in a lateral direction transverse to the first direction and senses the set of belt indicia to provide sensor system signals. An actuator system effects movement of the belt in the lateral direction, the actuator system responsive to the sensor system signals for nominally maintaining a position of the belt relative to the transverse direction. A controller is responsive to the sensor system signals for detecting that the belt has tracked outside an allowable belt movement range and taking protective actions to prevent the belt from damage due to undesired lateral tracking movement. A belt indicia sensor can optionally be employed to calibrate a belt drive system.

US Patent:

6682190, Jan 27, 2004

Filed:

Apr 24, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/132782

Inventors:

Steve O Rasmussen - Vancouver WA
Robert M. Yraceburu - Camas WA
Steven P Downing - Camas WA
Stuart D. Spencer - Vancouver WA
Jason S. Belbey - Vancouver WA
Vance M Stephens - Brush Prairie WA

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Houston TX

International Classification:

B41J 201

US Classification:

347104, 347101

Abstract:

In an inkjet printing apparatus an inkjet printhead ejects ink into a print-zone. A drive shaft, located upstream of the printhead, has a longitudinal axis, a first radius over a central length, and a second radius less than the first radius at a first recess and a second recess. Each recess is peripheral to the central length. A plurality of pinch devices stabilize the media against the drive shaft. A first guide and a second guide, spaced from the longitudinal axis, are aligned with and extend into the first recess and second recess.

US Patent:

6698878, Mar 2, 2004

Filed:

May 30, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/584019

Inventors:

Wesley Baxter Roche - Vancouver WA
Le Pham - Vancouver WA
Wade A. Powell - Vancouver WA
Steven P Downing - Camas WA

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Houston TX

International Classification:

B41J 201

US Classification:

347104, 134 9

Abstract:

A method and mechanism for cleaning a paper transport belt of undesirable ink deposits caused by ink-jet aerosol and printing overshoot operations uses a special cleaning medium. An absorbent material is positioned in the print zone of a hard copy apparatus to scrub the belt. An ink solvent is used to rehydrate dried ink. The scrubber can be in the form of consumable sheets or a continuous roll form.

US Patent:

6808259, Oct 26, 2004

Filed:

Jan 31, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/066111

Inventors:

Steve O. Rasmussen - Vancouver WA
Robert M. Yraceburu - Camas WA
Steven P. Downing - Camas WA
Stuart D. Spencer - Vancouver WA
Jason S. Belbey - Vancouver WA
Vance M. Stephens - Brush Prairie WA

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Houston TX

International Classification:

B41J 201

US Classification:

347104, 101232, 101477, 400642, 400656, 400645, 4006451, 271188, 399406

Abstract:

In an inkjet printing apparatus an inkjet printhead has a plurality of inkjet nozzles which eject ink onto media located within a print-zone. A drive shaft is located upstream of the printhead and is incrementally rotated to advance the media. The drive shaft has a longitudinal axis, a first radius over a central length and a second radius less than the first radius at a first recess and a second recess, each said recess being peripheral to the central length. A plurality of pinch devices stabilize the media against the drive shaft. A first guide is aligned with the first recess and is spaced from an axis of the drive shaft by a first distance which is less than the first radius. A second guide is aligned with the second recess and is spaced from the axis by a second distance less than the first radius.

US Patent:

7050193, May 23, 2006

Filed:

Feb 2, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/496451

Inventors:

Steven P Downing - Camas WA, US

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Houston TX

International Classification:

G06F 15/00
G06K 1/00

US Classification:

358 12, 358 11, 358 116, 382151, 382112, 382184

Abstract:

Techniques for high accuracy media positioning in a swath printer. A high accuracy media positioning method includes mounting a computer-controlled printing element for movement along a swath axis for swath printing of an image on a print medium, moving the printing element along the swath axis and printing at least a portion of a swath of the image on the print medium, sensing the position of an edge of the just printed portion of the image which is nominally aligned with the scan axis; providing relative motion between the print medium and the printing element to accurately position the printing element in dependence on the sensed position of the edge of the just printed portion of the image. The fine compensation needed to compensate positioning errors can be performed prior to printing a swath, or even “on the fly” during the printing of a swath. Coarse positioning errors can be measured by the sensor and compensated by use of the printer media advance system, by increasing or decreasing as appropriate the nominal commanded swath-to-swath advance distance.

US Patent:

7101033, Sep 5, 2006

Filed:

Nov 10, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/704852

Inventors:

Wesley Baxter Roche - Vancouver WA, US
Le Pham - Vancouver WA, US
Wade A. Powell - Vancouver WA, US
Steven P. Downing - Camas WA, US

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Houston TX

International Classification:

B41J 2/01

US Classification:

347104, 347 33

Abstract:

A printing system includes a printhead, a movable transport surface opposite the printhead and configured to transport a print medium relative to the printhead, and a cleaning medium in contact with the transport surface while at least one of the cleaning medium and the transport surface are moved relative to one another.